Ofelia Zepeda is a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation. She is a professor of linguistics and affiliate faculty of American Indian Studies and the Department of Language, Reading and Culture at the University of Arizona. She teaches Tohono O'odham language courses and survey courses on American Indian languages. Her research areas include language variation, language policy, and issues on endangered languages. She has authored numerous articles in these areas. She is also author of The Tohono O'odham Grammar and of two books of poetry, much of it written on the O'odham language. Dr. Zepeda is the director of AILDI and is the Principal Investigator and Director of the Ford Foundation Project on Training Native American Language Immersion Teachers. Dr. Zepeda is the recipient of a MacArthur fellowship for her work on Indigenous languages. |
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Regina L. Siquieros, Program Coordinator Sr., is a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation. She is a storyteller, singer of traditional O'odham songs and long time educator. She coordinated the Storytelling Project under CPSA and Compass Health Care, Inc. for nine years before joining AILDI in November 2003.She states: “ I am very excited about working with educators who touch the lives of our native children throughout the world. I strongly believe that knowing our tribal identity is key to reaching peace, balance, happiness and accomplishing our goals. That's what we hope AILDI will help you achieve.”
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Lupe Romero is the Administrative Assistant since May 2006. She has been with the Department of Language, Reading & Culture since beginning her higher education in 2001. She is a native Tucsonan who has completed her undergraduate studies in Creative Writing at the University of Arizona.. |
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Candace K. Galla, Graduate Assistant, is from the island of Hawai`i. She came to the University of Arizona in the Fall of 1998 for college. She is currenlty a PhD student in the Department of Language, Reading, and Culture with a focus on the use of technology within Indigenous Communities, specifically the Hawaiian Community. She was a student in AILDI (2004) and also a co-instructor (2005) for LRC 430/530 (Introduction to Computer Applications for Indigenous Communities). "The AILDI program is very powerful and evoked many emotions and feelings I never knew I had regarding my language and community. I know I am headed down the right path of giving back to my community. E `ola mau ka `olelo Hawai`i (Long live the Hawaiian Language)." |
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