Deborah P. Kessler
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Education
Ph.D., Hispanic Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh
M.A., Spanish, Middlebury College
B.A., Spanish, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Teaching
Dr. Kessler teaches courses in Spanish language and culture, phonetics, translation, Spanish for healthcare professionals, Spanish for Social Workers, business Spanish, and world language teaching methodology. In addition to teaching at the university level, Dr. Kessler has experience in teaching Spanish in elementary schools and in supervising student teachers of Spanish. She also advises Spanish PK-12 Education majors.
Scholarship
Dr. Kessler earned her doctorate in Spanish Applied Linguistics and Methodology from the University of Pittsburgh. Other areas of extensive study and interest include 20th Century Latin American literature, FLES and secondary education teacher preparation. Her research interests include classroom interaction, intercultural competence, and community-based service learning. Recent publications deal with the use of virtual exchanges in the world language classroom and language disparities in access to healthcare and other social services.
Service
Dr. Kessler founded the Mesa Hispánica and organizes meetings each semester to practice conversational Spanish. She has led ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ students to Querétaro, Mexico, for summer study abroad and has taught J-term courses in Costa Rica. Dr. Kessler serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages as regional director. She is also a board member and current president of the Global Awareness Society International and serves on the board of PAFIS (Peoria Area Friends of International Students). In addition, Dr. Kessler has established community-based service-learning opportunities for Spanish students at the Heartland Clinic, Friendship House, and Dream Center of Peoria.