Estephanie S. Lopez Contreras, Ph.D., joined Vanderbilt University's English Language Center as Assistant Director. With over a decade of experience in multilingual education, faculty development, and program coordination. Her work centers on designing equitable, data-informed language programs that serve culturally and linguistically diverse populations across educational contexts.
She earned her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Technology from Washington State University, where her research explored the convergence of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the WIDA framework to enhance language development and access to content learning. She also holds a Master’s of Education in English as a Foreign Language from Universidad Central de Chile, and a Bachelor’s in Education and English Teaching from Universidad de Santiago de Chile, in addition to multiple graduate certificates in educational research, instructional design, and technology integration.
Dr. Lopez Contreras has held academic appointments in both the United States and Chile, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in multilingual education, language teaching methodologies, and teacher training. Her instructional practice is informed by a commitment to inclusive pedagogy and technology-enhanced learning. She is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and the author of peer-reviewed publications and practitioner-facing resources focused on multilingual learner engagement, instructional design, and language development through UDL.
Tel +1 (615) 322-2277
Email: estephanie.lopez.contreras@vanderbilt.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elopezcontreras