Meet Our Faculty

Education

• M.A. Spanish Literature — UCLA
• B.A. Spanish and Portuguese — UCLA
• Graduate Certificate: E-Learning and Online Teaching — University of Wisconsin @ Stout

Prof. Tseng was born in Taiwan but lived in Brazil and Colombia until age ten and spent the next eight years in Panama, where she attended Junior and Senior High at an American school in the former Panama Canal Zone.  She came to California in 1984 when she began her studies at UCLA. During her junior year, she studied in Madrid and traveled extensively in Europe. 

Professor Tseng has been teaching Spanish at Irvine Valley College since 1991. She is the co-author of the "Instructors' Resource Kit" which accompanies the Spanish textbook Dos mundos and has presented numerous workshops on the "Natural Approach", Dos mundos, and the usage of technology in foreign language classes. In 2007-2008 Professor Tseng completed a series of graduate courses through the University of Wisconsin @ Stout and earned a certificate on E-Learning and Online Teaching. Since then, she has taken courses and workshops on online teaching to stay current.

In 2003, Professor Tseng was selected IVC's 2004 Teacher of the Year and was awarded a "Model Online Course" grant by the California Virtual Campus for the exemplary design of her Spanish 4 Online course. In 2011, she was the recipient of the Most Inspiring Professor of the Year award presented by IVC's Psi Beta Chapter, the National Honor Society in Psychology. And in 2024, Prof. Tseng was honored with the Faculty Award for Excellence at the IVC Foundation Celebrating Excellence gala. 

In addition to teaching, Prof. Tseng enjoys traveling, gardening, spending time with her family and friends, volunteering at her children's school and in the community, and dining at ethnic restaurants. She breaks the stereotype of a "typical" Spanish instructor by bringing into her lectures her passion and knowledge of both of her heritages: the Hispanic and the Chinese.

• Call 949-451-5343
• Contact Professor Tseng

Education

• M.A. Spanish — Colorado State University
• M.A. TESOL — Colorado State University
• B.A. English and Spanish — University of Denver

Professor Ellis teaches both Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL). She has also worked as a teacher trainer, curriculum writer, and online course designer. The art, wonder, and power of words have always guided her professional and personal pursuits.

After receiving an undergraduate degree in Spanish and English at the University of Denver, she worked concurrently on two master's degrees at Colorado State University: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). During her graduate coursework, she had the opportunity to live and teach in Madrid, Spain, as a Fulbright grantee. Since that experience, she has returned to Spain as the coordinator of high school study abroad program and as a teacher trainer for new Fulbright grantees.

Professor Ellis has taught beginning level Spanish at Colorado State University, the University of Denver, and Irvine Valley College. She has also taught English as a Second Language in several intensive English programs. Her involvement in teacher training has allowed her to work with groups of teachers from several countries, both domestically and abroad.

In her free time, Professor Ellis enjoys reading, writing stories, running, and salsa dancing. For Professor Ellis, it is a sincere privilege to share her love of the Spanish language with her students at IVC.

• Contact Professor Ellis

Education

• M.A. Spanish Language and Literature — CSU Long Beach
• B.A. Spanish — CSU Long Beach

Originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, Professor Hernández moved to the United States at the age of 16. Her background and life experiences as an immigrant, bilingual speaker, and first-generation college student have shaped her passion for language, culture, and education.

She currently teaches Spanish at different community colleges, working with students across various levels. She enjoys helping students build confidence as they learn and use the language in meaningful ways. Her goal in every course is to help students confidently use Spanish in real-life situations beyond the classroom.

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys traveling, reading, and hiking. She especially enjoys reading English novels from the 19th century. She also enjoys spending time with her teenage daughter, especially going to aesthetic cafés together. These interests enrich both her personal and professional life.

• Contact Professor Hernández 

Education

• M.A. Spanish — CSU San Marcos
• B.A. Tourism and Hospitality — Universidad del Azuay, Ecuador
• Online Teaching Certification — Palomar College

Prof. Lemari began teaching Spanish in 2002 in her native country, Ecuador. In 2006, she moved to San Diego, California. She obtained her master's degree in Spanish at California State University San Marcos in 2016 and taught courses at the university while completing her degree. Additionally, Prof. Lemari has taught Spanish at Palomar College, and currently, she teaches Spanish at Irvine Valley College.

Prof. Lemari enjoys helping students learn about her native language and culture using differentiated instruction because she understands that every student has different needs and challenges. She takes advantage of her personal experience as a language learner in English and Italian to remind her students that the sky is the limit. Professor Lemari has presented workshops on the use of technology tools and strategies at the World Languages Symposiums hosted by Cal State San Marcos, Palomar College, and Mira Costa College. Additionally, Prof. Lemari has completed courses on online teaching including Irvine Valley College "Pedagogy for Online Teaching" and "Online Teaching & Design" @ONE.

In her spare time, Prof. Lemari is passionate about exploring new cities in the United States and other countries. She enjoys making connections and learning from people of different backgrounds. Also, she loves to dance Latin music. She gave salsa dance classes during several events hosted by the World Languages Department at Palomar College.

Prof. Lemari is living her dream of becoming a Spanish instructor. She is very grateful that Mark Twain's quote applies to her profession: "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

• Contact Professor Lemari

Education

• M.A. in Hispanic Culture and Society — CSU San Marcos
• B.A. Spanish — CSU San Marcos

Professor Mendoza, a native Spanish speaker, has dedicated her career to helping students discover the joy of learning Spanish. She has many years of experience teaching Spanish to students from preschool through college. She designed and developed the Spanish curriculum for Preschool through Grade 8 and has taught in independent schools, high school programs, and college classrooms. Her experience teaching learners of all ages has shaped a student-centered approach that encourages confidence, meaningful communication, and a love of language.

Prof. Mendoza believes the best way to learn a language is by using it. In her classes, students learn through Comprehensible Input (CI), Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), music, movement, and games that encourage students to communicate in Spanish from day one. She also uses digital tools and online resources to keep students engaged and help them use Spanish in real-life situations.

In her spare time, Prof. Lemari is passionate about exploring new cities in the United States and other countries. She enjoys making connections and learning from people of different backgrounds. Also, she loves to dance Latin music. She gave salsa dance classes during several events hosted by the World Languages Department at Palomar College.

Beyond the classroom, Prof. Mendoza enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, and exploring new ways to make language learning meaningful and fun. Her goal is for students to leave her classes not only with stronger language skills, but also with a deeper appreciation for the people and cultures behind the language. As Roger Bacon wisely observed, "Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom."

Education

• Ph.D. Spanish Literature — UCI
• M.A. and B.A. Spanish Literature — CSU Fresno

Born and raised in a small town in Sinaloa, Mexico, Professor Nuñez moved to the United States at the age of eighteen. His passion for teaching began at a young age in Mexico, and since 2014, he has been teaching Spanish as a second language at the university level, inspiring students to develop their language skills and cultural understanding.

In 2024, he earned his Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), with a specialized focus on the novel of sicariato. His academic work reflects a commitment to exploring the intersections of literature, culture, and contemporary social issues.

For the past four years, Professor Nuñez has had the opportunity to teach dual enrollment courses at various institutions, which has allowed him to engage with high school students from different schools across Orange County. He greatly enjoys teaching Spanish to these young learners and helping them expand their academic horizons at an early stage.

Outside of the classroom, Professor Nuñez enjoys hiking, reading, writing, and shopping. However, his greatest passion is traveling. He believes that travel offers a unique opportunity to learn not only about other cultures but also to gain a deeper understanding of his own. Through his teaching, he strives to bring a global perspective, encouraging students to appreciate the diverse world around them.

• Contact Professor Núñez

Education

• M.A. and B.A. Spanish — CSU Fresno

Professor Romero was born in Mexico City and moved to the United States when she was 11 years old. After graduating from high school, she attended Fresno State where she earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Spanish. During her journey as a college student, Professor Romero took various Spanish courses that not only taught her a lot about her own culture and identity but also inspired her to become a Spanish instructor.

Professor Romero had the opportunity to begin her career as an educator at Fresno State by joining the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures as a Teaching Associate. Later, she worked as a Spanish teacher at Bullard High School in Fresno and then decided to move to Los Angeles in search of a position as a Spanish instructor.

As a professor, she enjoys supporting students during the process of learning a foreign language. She aspires to create fun and engaging lessons that motivate students to learn about her native language and other cultures and languages as well.

• Contact Professor Romero Zanjas

Education

• M.A. Spanish (Hispanic Literature, Linguistics and Civilization) — CSU San Bernardino
• B.A. Spanish (Hispanic Literature, Language and Civilization) — CSU San Bernardino
• B.A. Spanish Cultural Studies — CSU San Bernardino
• Certificate in Spanish for Public Services — CSU San Bernardino

Professor Rosales was born and raised in Guatemala, Central America. In 2009, she moved to the United States. In 2013, she found her passion for teaching when she was a student and a tutor at the English as a Second Language Department at Victor Valley College.

Besides teaching, she also enjoys learning about people and the diverse population in the United States. As our country strives to become more progressive by the day, the importance of learning about our similarities and differences increases as well.

Teaching a foreign language allows Professor Rosales to inculcate in her students the desire to learn about other cultures, the importance in forming their own points of view and, consequently, the necessity to be more understanding towards each other. Additionally, it provides her with an individual opportunity to instill in her students a love for education as she shares her passion for teaching and learning with them.

• Contact Professor Rosales

Education

• M.A. and B.A. in Spanish Literature and Linguistics — CSU Fullerton

Professor Saldaña was born and raised in Morelos, Mexico, and moved to the United States at the age of fourteen. As an English language learner in high school, she experienced firsthand the challenges and rewards of learning a new language. This experience has shaped her passion for teaching and her commitment to helping students succeed.

She has taught Spanish as a tutor throughout her college and graduate school years and as an instructor at community colleges. She has worked with students of all ages helping them build confidence and proficiency in Spanish, and she also volunteers as a translator and interpreter for her church, supporting communication within the community.

Professor Saldaña believes that learning a language opens the door to new cultures, perspectives, and opportunities. She enjoys creating a supportive and engaging classroom where students feel encouraged to learn, ask questions, and grow. One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is watching students develop the confidence to communicate in Spanish and use the language to express their ideas, thoughts, and emotions. She looks forward to inspiring her students to appreciate the Spanish language and the rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world while helping them achieve their academic and personal goals.

In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, taking walks at the beach and in parks, reading, and watching movies.

• Contact Professor Saldaña 

Education

• M.A. and B.A. Spanish Linguistics and Literature — CSU Fullerton
• Online Teaching Certification — Rancho Santiago Community College District

Professor Alma Sura was born and raised in El Salvador and came to the United States when she was 18 years old. As a foreign high school graduate and with no English language skills, she had to practically start her education from scratch at a continuing education center. She later transferred to Sana Ana College and then to Cal State University at Fullerton to complete a Bachelor and a Master of Arts degrees in Spanish Linguistics and Literature.

She holds experience in various capacities teaching for Continuing Education with Rancho Santiago Community College District including Spanish tutoring as well as independent Spanish tutoring. Teaching has always been her passion; contributing to the student's journey towards higher education has and will continue to be one of her greatest joys in life.

She loves traveling and in her spare time she enjoys hiking and biking.

• Contact Professor Sura

Education

• M.A. and B.A. Spanish Linguistics — CSU Fullerton
• Online Teaching Certified at @ONE

Prof. Tamariz was born and raised in Lima, Perú. He moved to the United States in 2004 and started his fervor for the Spanish language while getting his A.A at Saddleback College, where he worked as a Spanish tutor for 4 semesters while getting his M.A. He considers himself an enthusiastic and professional Spanish instructor; he is passionate about his culture and his country. It is a wonderful experience for him to teach his language to different people. He enjoys engaging and motivating pupils to learn a foreign language by helping them to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of a different language and culture. Teaching Spanish is much more than just a job. Whether you call it a vocation, a calling or a passion, teaching Spanish requires a unique skill set that goes way beyond effective lesson planning (although, of course, that's essential, too!). Prof. Tamariz loves learning from students as well as colleagues.

Prof. Tamariz is also a singer. He leads a live salsa band and performs once in a while at private and public venues in OC.

• Contact Professor Tamariz

Education

• M.A. and B.A. in Spanish Literature and Linguistics — CSU Fullerton
• Online Teaching Certification — Santiago Canyon College District

Professor Villaseñor was born in Bogotá, Colombia. As a native Spanish speaker, she brings an authentic cultural perspective and a strong passion for language, education, and cross-cultural communication to her teaching. She began her teaching career in 2005 and teaches Spanish at Santiago Canyon College, Soka University of America, and Irvine Valley College.

She has extensive experience teaching beginning, intermediate, advanced, and conversational Spanish in both traditional and online learning environments and incorporates technology and interactive learning strategies into her courses.

In addition to teaching, Professor Villaseñor has also worked as a tutor, translator, editor, and mentor, experiences that have strengthened her ability to connect with learners from a wide variety of backgrounds. She enjoys bringing her experiences into the classroom to provide students with authentic and meaningful learning opportunities.

Professor Villaseñor is passionate about creating a welcoming, engaging, and student-centered learning environment where students develop confidence in their communication skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. She believes that learning a language extends beyond grammar and vocabulary; it provides opportunities to build connections, broaden perspectives, and foster cultural understanding.

Outside the classroom, Professor Villaseñor enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, exploring different cultures, and cheering on the Colombian National Soccer Team.

• Contact Professor Villaseñor