Biography

Megan Echevarría is Professor of Spanish and Film/Media and Associate Director for Grants, Program Development, and the Global Internship Network in the International Engineering Program. In 2026, she is also returning to the role she previously held (2008–2014) as Director of the Spanish International Engineering Program, following the successful completion of the 2025-2026 cohort abroad under the leadership of her colleague Adriana Morales Wright. Her work centers on advancing interdisciplinary humanities education, strengthening global engagement, and preparing students to become bilingual, ethical, agile, and interculturally competent professionals with satisfying careers.

Her teaching and program leadership integrate language pedagogy, Spanish for specific purposes, and the study of literature, film, and contemporary cultural issues across Spain and Latin America. She designs learning environments that support and challenge students while fostering critical thinking, developing ethical reasoning, expanding intercultural capacity, and requiring meaningful, active engagement with a variety of voices and narratives. In her administrative roles, she builds sustainable academic initiatives, cultivates international partnerships, and secures external funding that expands access to opportunity and drives innovation.

Echevarría collaborates with industry and academic partners in Spanish America and Spain to develop high‑impact international internship pathways that align with organizational goals, address tangible needs, and support holistic student development. She has negotiated internship agreements, drafted bilateral exchange partnerships in English and Spanish, and supported students through all stages of preparation, study abroad, international internship placement, and re‑entry to the US after these transformative experiences. These collaborations strengthen the program’s reputation as a reliable partner for organizations seeking bilingual, interculturally savvy engineering talent.

Her scholarship focuses on Hispanic literary, cultural, and film studies; language and literature education; and interdisciplinary approaches to global and intercultural learning. She edited Rehumanizing the Language Curriculum (Peter Lang, 2023), bringing together leading scholars to explore the central role of literature in innovative, human‑centered language education.

Beyond her teaching and research, Echevarría has contributed extensively to institutional leadership and shared governance, including service as NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, President of the Faculty Senate, and member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

Selected roles in stewardship and leadership

• Associate Director for Grants, Program Development and Global Internship Network for the International Engineering Program (2026-present)
• Director, Spanish International Engineering Program (2026-present)
• Director, University of Rhode Island Research Foundation Board of Directors (2023-present)
• MLA Delegate Assembly, Academic Labor and the Profession seat (2022-2025)
• NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and Chair of Athletics Advisory Board (2021-2024)
• Faculty Senate Executive Committee (2019-2021; 2022-2024)
• Chair of Faculty Senate Constitution, By-Laws and University Manual Committee (2022-2023)
• President, Faculty Senate (2020-2021)
• Section Head, Spanish Program (2018-2021)
• Chair, Departmental Proficiency Implementation Committee (2017-2018)
• Chair, Departmental Strategic Planning Committee (2016-2017)
• Director, Spanish International Engineering Program (2008-2014)
• Chair, Academic Affairs Global Education Task Force (2010)
• Coordinator, Beginning and Intermediate Spanish Program (2004-2008)

Selected grants, awards and honors

• Co-Principal Investigator: “A New Model for Integrated Humanities and Engineering Education” (Principal Investigator: Sigrid Berka) National Endowment for the Humanities grant in the Humanities Connections program (2023-2025)
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow, RISE-UP (Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships), United States Office of Naval Research (2024)
• Project Completion Grant, URI Division of Research and Economic Development (2023)
• Global Mobility Award, URI Global (2023)
• President David M. Dooley and Reverend Lynn Baker Dooley Senate Faculty Award (2021)
• Career Enhancement Grant, URI Division of Research and Economic Development (2021)
• Consultant on interdisciplinary competitive grant “URI Preschool Development Grant” (Co-Principal Investigators: Sue Adams and Jessica MacLeod), State of Rhode Island Department of Health and Human Services (2019)
• Principal Investigator: “Launching the Spanish International Engineering Program in Chile,” 100K Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund Grant inaugurating President Obama’s 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative (2014)
• Students’ Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2004)
• Other award nominations: URI Foundation University Teaching Award (2010, 2018), Faculty Excellence Diversity Award (2008, 2010, 2015), and College of Arts & Sciences Mentoring Award (2008)