About Us

Damian Herrera is a Spanish Teaching major enrolled at Morningside University. As a heritage speaker, Damian loves the Spanish language. It brings him closer to his roots and allows him to connect with other people of his background. Damian currently lives in South Sioux City and the majority of the population is of Hispanic descent.  Participating in this research study allows him to not only augment his understanding of Latino experiences, but also increase representation of a community that has greatly impacted the Siouxland region. Through this project, Damian has enjoyed enriching and developing his knowledge of the Spanish language, his research skills, and his ability to present research in a formal setting. By proactively conducting interviews in Spanish as well as transcribing them, Damian has gained greater confidence with speaking along with a greater appreciation of cultural diversity in Spanish-speaking communities. This program will be beneficial for him in his future endeavors and he looks forward to sharing what he has learned with his own students. Damian believes that education has no limits and is crucial for the development of our society.

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Dr. Stacey Alex is an assistant professor of Spanish at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. She teaches Spanish Language and Cultures, Spanish for the Professions, and Latino Communities in the US. While not Latina herself, she had the opportunity to meet many Spanish speakers while growing up in Des Moines, Iowa. Her family has grown to include both Mexican-Americans and Spanish-Americans; her son, niece, and nephew are growing up as Spanish heritage language learners in Iowa. She believes all students must see themselves represented in their local histories. She is interested in oral history as a vehicle for both Latina/o/x and non-Latina/o/x audiences to perceive their Latina/o/x communities as crucial to the greater US social fabric. Moreover, Latina/o/x oral histories can be a powerful pedagogical tool to examine the linguistic and cultural diversity of Latina/o/x communities as well as issues of racialization and social justice. Stacey taught Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL) in a dual language program in West Liberty, Iowa, and ESL in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She completed her BA and MA at The University of Iowa and her PhD in Latin American Literary and Cultural Studies at The Ohio State University. She researches Latinx immigrant narratives, Latinx folklore, and Latinx pop culture.