Work with thought leaders and academic experts from Colby College

Dr. R. Mata is an accomplished and experienced linguist, instructor, and researcher. He holds a M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California San Diego, as well as a M.F.A. in English from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. With over 15 years of teaching and research experience, Dr. Mata has a deep understanding of linguistics and language education. He has held various research & teaching positions, including associate professor of Linguistics & Spanish at Western Washington University, visiting assistant professor of Spanish at Colby College, and assistant academic coordinator & instructor of Spanish & Linguistics at University of California San Diego. His research interests lie in the areas of Spanish dialectology, language attitudes, language use in discourse, inclusive use of language, and language contact. He has published various articles and presented at conferences on these topics, making significant contributions to the field of Spanish linguistics. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Mata is also dedicated to promoting cultural understanding and appreciation for the Spanish language and its speakers, particularly minoritized communities. He has organized and participated in various community events and workshops, both academic and non-academic, sharing his expertise with a wider audience.

Catie Blair is a highly qualified environmental scientist and policy expert with a strong background in research and consulting. She graduated from Colby College in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science & Policy. During her time at Colby, Catie excelled in her studies, earning the F. Russel Cole Student Research Fellowship Grant for research related to climate change and its effects on reef-building corals in Panama. Catie's passion for environmental science and policy led her to pursue various research focused opportunities. She worked as a consultant at Endeavour Partners, where she collaborated with clients in the telecommunications and environmental technology sectors to foster business relationships with their strategic partners, identify industry specific consumer demands, and provide assessments of current markets and competitors. She also interned at Casebia Therapeutics, where she assisted in research on genome editing and developing methods to observe its efficiency, and at the Zon Zebrafish Laboratory at Boston Children's Hospital, where she gained valuable experience in molecular biology and animal husbandry. Catie's academic background and diverse research and internship experiences have equipped her with a strong understanding of environmental issues, through both academic and corporate lenses, and the policies and strategies needed to address them. She is driven to continue using her knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the field of environmental science and policy.