Originally from Puerto Rico, I am a PhD candidate (ABD) in Spanish Linguistics at Georgetown University. My specialization is in sociolinguistics, with interests spanning topics related to the sociology and social psychology of language, national identity, and language attitudes, to name a few. However, my dissertation research adopts quantitative methods to investigate how people’s perceptions of accented-speech are associated with social knowledge about speakers. All of this is ultimately done in an effort to understand how these perceptions might be tied to different social structures and systems. Beyond research, having worked with numerous students over the years, I am passionate about teaching in higher education, and hope to continue engaging with, and giving back to, both students and my community.