Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — August 12, 2025) A recent hire at Empire State University, Digital Accessibility Instructional Designer Melissa Fiori brings a deep passion for language and educational access to her daily work. Since June, she has contributed to quality assurance for online courses and assisted faculty members through the design and development process for new courses.  “One of the things that attracted me to Empire State University was the online presence and what they’re building,” Fiori explains, “and that they are interested in being Hispanic serving.”

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fiori’s upbringing sprawled across a range of locations as her mother relocated them to pursue career opportunities. Chicago, Tallahassee, Buffalo, and Los Angeles are the cities she lived in while in the U.S., though she also lived in Spain and Cyprus, and spent a summer in the British Virgin Islands. “It was an interesting childhood, moving from place to place, but it was very formative … it guided me in the things that I wanted to do later [and] gave me a passion for travel,” says Fiori.

Starting anew in places culturally distinct from one another challenged her: “I’m introverted, but I’m not shy,” she explains. “To come out of my shell, I needed to look inward. It helped me know myself better so that in new places, I could go out and explore.”  Growing up this way made Fiori an adaptable and introspective individual, ultimately teaching her more about herself and the world.

Her initial exposure to the Spanish language was through classes in high school, however, it wasn’t until college that her determination to learn the language blossomed. “I went to university and realized that there were classmates of mine walking down the hall speaking three languages, and here I was, barely bilingual,” Fiori explains, noting that this motivated her to pursue Spanish as a second language. She ended up being a double major in International Relations and Spanish, and even taking language classes in Italian, German, and Turkish. “Like so many people in the United States, [my] family didn’t carry over the language,” she adds. For Fiori, language also acted as a gateway into family history.

Once she began to gain fluency, she soon saw how knowing more than one language can be empowering. A Philadelphia newscast in Spanish was covering a local labor abuse story that none of the English-language outlets had on their radar—“You wouldn’t have known what was happening just a few miles down the road if you’re only watching the newscast in English,” she explains, “When you’re bilingual, you’re not at the mercy of someone’s bias or their translation decisions. You can think for yourself.”

Before her time at Empire State University, Fiori was a university professor with a strong belief in the power of language: “If you can help others become bilingual, you’re opening doors for them,” she says. As time went on, she saw an opportunity to make a greater, direct impact through instructional design, and took it. Now, as part of the Empire Online team, her work ensures that online learning at the university meets accessibility and quality criteria—having been a learner, instructor, and a current instructional designer, she approaches the process intentionally from several vantage points. Her appreciation for her work partly stems from the multifunctional team she collaborates with— “The dynamic team that we have here ensures that there really are no gaps in that process,” Fiori notes.

Another facet of herappreciation stems from her work with the bilingual support team for the university’s Spanish Bachelor of Business Administration (Spanish BBA), and how it is inclusive of the full spectrum of bilingualism. “Bilingualism is like this beautiful paisley—different shapes and colors and sizes—and here it’s celebrated,” Fiori says, underscoring the value in the range of perspectives encompassed by the group, from heritage speaker to Spanish as a Second Language learners, to native Speakers of varying dialects.

Fiori feels fortunate to be at the vanguard of transforming the landscape of higher education into a more inclusive one, particularly through increasing access through the removal of the language barrier with the Spanish BBA. “It brings access,” she says, “When you meet people where they are, you can have amazing results.”

Her own pedagogy rests on playing to each student’s linguistic strength—Fiori taught a bilingual course where students were allowed to use their strongest language. “[My students] realized they could work at a 300-level at the university. It helped them persist because they knew they could do it,” she says. Put simply, they thrived in the absence of a language barrier, and Fiori believes the Spanish BBA will achieve the same result, inviting people into an academic space where they can cultivate their interests, talents, and skills.  

Language learning has transformed Fiori’s life, presenting new possibilities to explore the world, meet and connect with people, and make an impact on her community. To those considering learning a second, or even third language, Fiori says: “Do it. Do it! Language is the one thing that every single human being has in common. We all have the capacity for language. You’re not going to regret the investment. No matter how long it takes, just do a little bit each day. Persist, and enjoy the process.”