Students

Our lab includes both undergraduate and graduate students working on various child language projects.

Marin Alemán Ortiz

I have a BA in Anthropology from USFQ (Quito, Ecuador). My main research interests are language description and language documentation, particularly related to Ecuadorian Highland Kichwa, Afro-Esmeraldeño Spanish, and the Barbacoan languages. I am also interested in historical and queer linguistics.  

Isaac Brown

Isaac Brown earned his BA in Linguistics (minor: Honors Interdisciplinary Studies) and his BA in Languages (French & Russian) at UNM in 2020. His research interests include semantics, morphosyntax, typology, and translation processes. He also has a keen interest in East Asian languages’ orthographies and the educational merits of constructed languages.

Sharmaine Chee

Sharmaine Chee is an undergraduate student majoring in Speech and Hearing Science with a minor in Navajo at the University of New Mexico. She is born for the Sleeping Rock People and for the the Towering House People. Her maternal grandfather's clans are Meadow People, and her paternal grandfathers are Red Running into the Water People. She is originally from Pine Hill, New Mexico. She is overjoyed to work at the Indigenous Child Research Lab as a research assistant. She is interested in phonology and morphology in the Navajo language.  

Eliza Forrest

Eliza is a PhD student in Linguistics. Their interests are at the intersection of sociolinguistics, disability studies, and accessible design. They are the lab manager of the Lobo Language Acquisition Lab where they work on educational outreach projects that focus on language diversity and linguistic bias.

Alec Goldberg

Alec is pursuing a MA in linguistics at UNM. He works for the Indigenous Child Language Research Center under the direction of Dr. Melvatha Chee studying Navajo child language acquisition. His research interests are in the morphosyntax and semantics of the Navajo language. He is honored to work for ICLRC as a research assistant during his studies. As an undergraduate, he earned a BA in linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a BFA summa cum laude in art studio from UNM. He is originally from the Monterey Peninsula area of California.

Dawnadine Harvey

Yá'át'ééh. Shí éí Dawnadine Yazzie-Harvey yinishyé Tł’ízí łání nishłį́. Hashk’aa hadzohí báshíshchíín Kin Łichíinii dashichii' Táchii’nii  dashinalí. Ákót’éego diné asdzáán nishłį́.

Hello, my name is Dawnadine Yazzie-Harvey. I am of the Many Goat (Tł’ízí łání) clan, born for the Yucca Fruit Strung Out (Hashk’aa hadzohí) clan. My maternal grandfathers clans are Red House (Kin Łichíinii) clan and my paternal grandfathers clans are Red Running into the Water (Táchii’nii). In this way I am a Navajo woman.

 I am a member of the Teacher Outreach Team in the University of New Mexico’s Department of Linguistics with a focus on Linguistic Bias. I am a mother of seven beautiful souls and in continuing my education I am a lifelong scholar. In my educational endeavors I am a current Senior at UNM as a participant of the Native American Teachers Preparation Program. My major is Elementary Education with a focus in Language Arts. I am studying in preparation of becoming an elementary teacher and intend on becoming a children's book author with a focus on creating more resources for Indigenous students to connect with in the classroom and see themselves reflected in children's books.  Ahéhee’ Thank you, I am grateful.

Evelyna Johnson

Evelyna is an undergrad student pursing her BS in Signed Language Interpreting with a Minor in Fine Arts. 

Evelyna works with the signed language research team focusing on Hand Talk. Her goal is to become a signed language interpreter after graduation.

She is originally from Churchrock, a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. 

She is Navajo and part Mescalero Apache. Kinyaa'áanii nishłį́ (I am of the the Towering House Clan) Ta'neeszahnii bashíshichíín (Born for the Tangle Clan) 'Áshįįhi éí dashcheii (My maternal grandparents are the Salt People Clan), Tábąąhá éí dashinálí (My paternal grandparents are the Water’s Edge Clan).

Taye Johnson

Taye Johnson is an undergraduate student majoring in Management Information Systems at the University of New Mexico. She is born for the Sleeping Rock People and the Bitter Water People. Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Towering House People, and her Paternal grandfather's clan is the Mexican clan people. Taye is originally from Pinehill, New Mexico. She is grateful for the opportunity to work at the Indigenous Child Research Lab as a research assistant. Her interests include the Navajo Language. 

Bethany Lycan

Bethany Lycan is a PhD student in the Department of Linguistics at UNM. She is originally from Southern California and went to California State University Long Beach for her MA in Linguistics. Her interests are in morphosyntax, typology, and language revitalization. 

Mariana Marchesi

Originally from Argentina, Mariana is currently pursuing a PhD in Linguistics. She has an MA in TESOL, and her research focuses on children's acquisition of minority languages. She is currently investigating child heritage speakers' production of demonstratives in Spanish and English.

Fredy Mendieta

Fredy is currently pursuing a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics. His research focuses on Spanish-speaking adults' and children's co-speech gestures, in particular points accompanying the production of demonstratives in the interactional space.

Monica Perez

Kayleigh Russell

Kayleigh Russell is an undergraduate student in the Signed Language Interpreting program with a minor in Navajo at the University of New Mexico. She is grateful for the opportunity to work as a research assistant for the Indigenous Child Research Center and the Lobo Language Acquisition Lab. Her interests are on Indigenous forms of signing, specifically Hand Talk. Kayleigh grew up in Kayenta, AZ and her clans are: Kinłichiinii nilį́, Bisaan éí yáshichíín, Tabąąhá éí dabicheii, Dideschiin éí dabinálí (she is Navajo and Chiricahua Apache). 

Audriana Sauceda 

Audriana Sauceda was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, a small town on the southern border of the state. The rich Hispanic culture of Albuquerque drew her to the University of New Mexico, as a reminder of her own cultural upbringing. Audriana is pursuing an B.A in Speech and Hearing Sciences, with a minor in Family and Child Studies. Inspired by her younger brother and cousins, she is passionate about helping the younger generation. Her goal is to attend graduate school and become a certified Speech Language Pathologist who specializes in pediatric care.

Devin Tankersley

Devin is a researcher in the Lobo Language Acquisition Lab, working on topics related to phonological features of ASL and effects of language deprivation on neurodevelopment. His research interests also include documentation and analysis of Taiwan Sign Language, focusing on phonological patterns and lexical variation.