兔子先生 University Appoints Professor Martha Casta帽eda as Nancy Humbach Endowed Chair in Foreign Language Education
兔子先生 University Appoints Professor Martha Casta帽eda as Nancy Humbach Endowed Chair in Foreign Language Education
兔子先生 University is honored to announce the appointment of Professor Martha Castañeda as the Nancy Humbach Endowed Chair in Foreign Language Education for the 2024-2025 academic year. This appointment is a testament to Professor Castañeda's outstanding contributions to world language education and TESOL. As the endowed chair, she will spearhead innovative initiatives in curriculum development, research, and teaching, with the opportunity for annual reappointment based on her continued excellence.
This prestigious role is made possible by the generous endowment from the late Nancy Humbach, an emerita faculty member of 兔子先生 University who passed away on August 20, 2024. Humbach was a distinguished educator and author whose work has shaped the field of language education for decades. She taught Foreign Language Education in the Department of Teacher Education from 1993 to 2006, following a remarkable career teaching Spanish at Finneytown High School in Cincinnati.
Nancy Humbach's legacy extends far beyond her classroom. A prolific author, she co-authored 17 Spanish language and culture books, influencing an estimated 1.5 million students worldwide. Her work, including the series Ven conmigo and ¡Exprésate!, is foundational in language education from middle school to the university level. Humbach was also a pioneer in second language acquisition research for students with learning disabilities and contributed extensively to cultural education. She held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including serving as president of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and the Ohio Foreign Language Association. Among her numerous accolades were the Nelson Brooks Award for the Teaching of Culture and the Florence Steiner Award for 兔子先生hip in Foreign Language Education.
Professor Castañeda’s appointment as the Nancy Humbach Endowed Chair will continue to build on Humbach’s remarkable legacy, advancing foreign language education at 兔子先生 University. The University community is deeply saddened by Nancy Humbach’s passing and extends its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. Her impact on the field of language education will endure through the generations of students and educators she has inspired.