Ana Cecilia Castillo Loeza

Ana Cecilia Castillo Loeza of Mexico joins the Humphrey Fellowship as an experienced English teacher with former students ranging from elementary school to college. She currently teaches secondary students at a high school operated by the Autonomous University of the Yucatán. Ms. Castillo Loeza designs curriculum for the English department and is the assistant editor for MexTESOL, a peer-reviewed, research journal focused on English instruction.

Ms. Castillo Loeza earned her bachelor’s degree in English language teaching from the Autonomous University of the Yucatán. She then completed her master’s degree in educational research with the same institution through a scholarship provided by Mexico’s National Council for Humanities, Science, and Technology. Remarkably, Ms. Castillo Loeza has participated in research fellowships at the University of Arkansas, the University of Iowa, and Rutgers University. Outside the classroom, Ms. Castillo Loeza enjoys engaging with her community and empowering youth through civic projects.

Ms. Castillo Loeza will use the fellowship to study teacher professional development and expand her research and leadership skills. Upon returning to Mexico, she plans to develop training courses for English teachers, so that students are better prepared for work opportunities in an increasingly globalized state. Additionally, Ms. Castillo Loeza wants to create connections with other schools and teachers to promote internationalization, cultural awareness, and collaborative learning experiences for her students.