Spanish BBA: One Year In
A year after the launch of Empire State University’s Spanish BBA program, its inaugural cohort of students has completed their first semester. 2025 made the possibility of higher education in their native language a reality for Spanish-speaking students, and with it, a breadth of opportunity for their careers, families, and communities. Read about the Spanish BBA’s first year.
January
Empire State University launched the Spanish BBA program, SUNY’s first Spanish-language online degree program.
Allwyn Avalos, bilingual call center representative, shared why the program resonates with him.
February
María Vega, bilingual student success coordinator, shared how her lifelong bilingualism led her to her role at Empire State University, where she delivers meaningful guidance to students.
Lyanne Garcia-Boswell, bilingual IT specialist, told the story of how they came to join SUNY Empire’s Spanish BBA team, and discussed their identity as a Spanish speaker.
March
Claire Ziamandanis, linguist, shed light on considerations that went into the university-wide translation project in anticipation of the program’s first cohort.
Brenda Manra, enrollment communications manager, offered insights into how matrixed Hispanic identity can be.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion launched the Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program.
April
Liv Thygesen, bilingual disability specialist, shared her experience learning Spanish as a Second Language and tips for language immersion.
Pam Doran, digital accessibility coordinator, two-time alum, and current Ed.D. student launched Linguo, a custom machine translation tool.
May
Pam Doran, digital accessibility coordinator, received an Innovative Instruction Technology Grant (IITG) for her proposal titled “Custom Machine Translation to Support Spanish-Language Higher Education Programs.”
June
Perla Zamitiz, linguist, gave an interview surrounding adaptability, bilingualism, and linguistics.
Ronnie Rivera, bilingual assistant registrar, discussed the benefits of the Spanish BBA program.
July
Carlos Aleman, bilingual student accounts coordinator, focused on discipline and dedication, traits that shine bright among SUNY Empire students.
Armando Flores, bilingual enrollment and partnership outreach officer, detailed the care with which he approaches helping students navigate higher education in their native language.
Kendra Elie, bilingual financial aid advisor, revealed the key to her Spanish fluency was international travel.
August
Irene Oramas Sosa, bilingual multimedia technologist, underscored the significance of bilingualism and biliteracy as tools of empowerment.
Melissa Fiori, digital accessibility instructional designer, discussed how bilingualism opens all kinds of doors.
September
Luis Camacho,academic coordinator of the Spanish BBA and assistant professor in the College of Business, chronicled his educational journey and highlighted what makes the program unique.
Claudia Lovegrove, assistant professor of business, framed the Spanish BBA as a way for Spanish speakers to lean on their strengths.
October
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic staff and faculty members shared their favorite recipes from home and told the stories behind them.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted a series of panel discussions broaching translation, accessibility, and language-learning throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, with involvement from Spanish speakers across the university and guest speakers.
Cristian Salazar, adjunct professor for the Spanish BBA, delved into his expertise and stressed the importance of technological empathy in online learning environments.
Jorge Martín Diez, adjunct professor of marketing, dissected the importance of learning multiple languages for success in an ever-evolving, globalized world.
November
Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto explained her teaching philosophy and how she gets students to become invested in their education.
December With the first semester of the program concluded, staff, faculty, and students celebrated its successes, including features in two of the foremost Hispanic media outlets of the country: Univision and Telemundo.