Sandra López Rocha

Intercultural Learning Specialist, University of Waterloo

Canada

About

Helping individuals and institutions build meaningful intercultural competence through research, facilitation, and program design. I am an intercultural development researcher and practitioner with a multidisciplinary background in anthropology, sociolinguistics, and instructional systems design. I design and facilitate learning experiences that help individuals and institutions navigate cultural complexity with critical insight, empathy, and practical tools. My work sits at the intersection of research, education, and program development, where I translate theory into impactful, real-world applications. I specialize in creating research-informed initiatives that support global learning, student engagement, and institutional internationalization, particularly within higher education contexts. My research explores ethnic identity, virtual ethnography, and the socio-cultural adaptation of migrants (both voluntary and forced), with a focus on how individuals make meaning across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Key Areas of Expertise * Intercultural competence in higher education * Curriculum internationalization (local and global contexts) * Migrant adaptation, identity, and resilience * Applied intercultural communication I am particularly passionate about facilitating reflective and sometimes challenging conversations around culture, identity, and belonging, and creating spaces where diverse perspectives can be explored with care and complexity. I thrive in collaborative environments where intercultural understanding is recognized as a strategic and human-centered asset. Whether through research, program design, or facilitation, my goal is to contribute to more inclusive, globally engaged learning environments. 🐾 Also, I’m a proud cat enthusiast; if you love animals, we already have something to talk about.

Experience

  • University of Waterloo (8 yrs 3 mos)
    • Intercultural Learning Specialist
      May 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 3 mos

    • Coordinator, Global Experience Certificate (GEC)
      May 2018 - Present · 8 yrs 3 mos

  • Board of Examiners, Department of Language and Linguistic Science at University of York
    Aug 2015 - Aug 2018 · 3 yrs 1 mo

  • University of Bristol (11 yrs 10 mos)
    • Teaching Fellow, Coordinator of Year Abroad Work Placements
      Mar 2014 - May 2018 · 4 yrs 3 mos

    • Senior Associate Teacher, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology
      Nov 2012 - Nov 2014 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Seminars in research methods: Virtual ethnography and methodological approaches for intercultural communication research

    • Tutor, Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
      Oct 2012 - Feb 2014 · 1 yr 5 mos

      Curriculum and instructional materials design in the Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies programme

  • Evaluator / Distance Education Advisor at University of Jyväskylä, Finland
    Mar 2004 - Aug 2005 · 1 yr 6 mos

    Developed online materials and monitored students' progress in written projects. Acted as an advisor and supervisor of online work in conjunction with the class instructor (Prof. Ivette Pérez de Kolari).

  • Research Associate in Intercultural Communication; Teacher Trainer; Language Instructor at UMBC
    1994 - Aug 2003 · 9 yrs 8 mos