Mr. Ruiz-Perez has taught Spanish for ten years in higher education. He is a professional translator and interpreter, and currently a Graduate Part-Time Instructor and second year PhD student of Spanish Linguistics in the Department of Classical & Modern Languages and Literatures at Texas Tech University. He holds a M.A. in Foreign Languages from West Virginia University, and completed his undergraduate studies in Spain, in English studies, translation and interpreting. He formerly worked at Johns Hopkins University as a Spanish Lecturer in the German & Romance Languages Department. His research interests include second language writing, multiliteracies, critical pedagogies for heritage speakers, and maker center learning.