School of Education well represented at La Cosecha Dual Language Conference 2025
Summary
W&M School of Education alumni, students and faculty presented at La Cosecha Dual Language Conference 2025, held in November in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Full Description
The La Cosecha Dual Language Conference returned for its 30th anniversary in Albuquerque, Nov. 11-15, 2025, with more than 280 professional sessions and workshops supporting two-way immersion, one-way developmental bilingual and heritage/tribal language programs.
The event drew educators, parents, researchers and practitioners from across the U.S., offering pre-conference institutes, school visits and special events — including a powwow and a parent/community institute called “Semillas y Raíces.”
W&M School of Education alumni, students and faculty were well represented at this conference. Attendees and presenters included alumni Sarah Olsen M.A.Ed. ’14, Cassandra Pacheco ’19, M.A.Ed. ’20 and Cristina Sherer ’21 , M.A.Ed. ’22, as well as current Ph.D. candidate María Pia Oerlich ’27.
With Associate Professor of ESL/Bilingual Education Katherine Barko-Alva and Kansas State University Professor Socorro Herrera, Oerlich delivered two full presentations: “Semillas and Raíces” at La Cosecha Family Institute and “Debí tirar más fotos (DTMF): Usando fotos familiares to amplify language learning opportunities.”
The presentations provided an outstanding opportunity for a doctoral student to collaborate with a leading figure in the field of dual language education. Professor Herrara is director of the Center for Intercultural and Multilingual Advocacy (CIMA) at Kansas State University and was a featured keynote speaker at the event.