Skip to Main Content

A tribute to Dr. Martha Castañeda: A legacy of excellence, equity, and kindness

Castañeda was a committed teacher and internationally recognized scholar who leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in the field of language education

Dr. Martha Castañeda, a renowned educator, scholar, and friend

A tribute to Dr. Martha Castañeda: A legacy of excellence, equity, and kindness

The Miami University community mourns the loss of Dr. Martha Castañeda, a renowned educator, scholar, and friend whose influence will be felt far beyond her time with us. Dr. Castañeda passed away at home on Jan. 28, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was a committed teacher and internationally recognized scholar who leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in the field of language education. Throughout her career, she was committed not only to advancing knowledge but also to every person she encountered. She mentored, supported, advised, and cared for her many students, friends, and colleagues throughout her career at Miami.

Dr. Castañeda received her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2005 and started as an assistant professor in the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry (formerly the Department of Teacher Education) in the College of Education, Health, and Society in 2007. She was awarded tenure in 2013 and became a full professor in 2019 one of the tiny minority of Latinx women full professors in the US (only 3% of all full professors are Lantinx women). In 2021 she received the President’s Medal, and in 2024 she was named the Nancy Humbach Endowed Chair in Foreign Language Education.

Along the way, Dr. Castañeda advocated for bilingual education, mentored future Spanish-language teachers, carefully designed and fought for Miami’s Foreign Language Education program, took hundreds of students on study abroad trips to Belize and Honduras, received millions of dollars in grants, coordinated the Adolescent Young Adult Education Program, and was awarded numerous honors and accolades. However, what she will be most remembered for is her kindness and generosity to colleagues and students alike. Dr. Castañeda opened her arms, her office, and her home to anyone who needed her, and her loss will be felt across not only the US but in many Spanish-speaking countries as well. 

 

Dr. Martha Castañeda
Dr. Martha Castañeda

Dr. Castañeda was recognized throughout her career as an excellent classroom teacher, mentor of future teachers, and scholar of teaching and learning. She was awarded the University Distinguished Teaching Award in 2013, recognized as one of the Top 100 faculty by the Center for Teaching Excellence, and named the 2012 recipient of the Miami University Outstanding Professor Award. She was a Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities (GCCCU) honoree and Ohio Magazine featured her for “Excellence in Education.”

Her former students remember her as deeply committed to their wellbeing both in and outside of class. For example, Meg Zirger (Miami ‘10)  says, “Marta was, without a doubt, the most influential person during my time at Miami. Marta was always going above and beyond — not just for her profession, but for the lives it touched. She was constantly thinking: How can I make things better? How can I get more resources for my students? And she didn’t just ask — she acted.”

Her international students note her keen ability to make them feel welcomed and supported far from home. Beihong Wu (Miami ‘18) says, “Dr. C. was more than just a professor to me — she was like a mother to me in the United States. As an international student from China, her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering support shaped not only my journey as a teacher but also as a person. From my undergraduate years to graduate school and into my career, she always guided me with warmth and encouragement.”

Doris Yan  (Miami ‘18)  notes “Dr. C’s kindness extended far beyond the classroom. She knew that many international students didn’t have family in the U.S., so she welcomed us into her home for Christmas, making sure we had a place to celebrate and feel at home. She was always there when we needed guidance or support, and she built lasting connections with so many of us.”

Dr. Castañeda was also an internationally recognized scholar. She published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on topics such as curriculum design, digital storytelling, and supporting Latinx learners and faculty, as well as Teaching English Language Learners Through Technology. In 2021, she secured a $2.5 million grant for the PELEA (Preparing English Language Learner Educational Allies) project, an initiative designed to support and prepare educators to better serve English language learners in Southwest Ohio K-12 schools. This project, among others, embodied her lifelong commitment to improving education for all students, particularly those from underserved communities.

Dr. Castañeda was an influential leader in the field of foreign language education, serving as president of the Ohio Foreign Language Association, chair of the College/Teacher Education and Licensure Committee for the Ohio Foreign Language Association, and on the board of Ohio Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She annually co-coordinated the Miami University Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, attended by over 100 local K-12 teachers each year. She successfully testified before the House of Representatives to champion the Seal of Biliteracy, emphasizing the importance of recognizing bilingualism as a valuable asset in education and society. Her dedication to promoting language access and equity was a hallmark of her career.

Dr. Castañeda was committed to international experiences for students. She developed and oversaw the Belize Language and Technology Study Abroad Program, where she provided students with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in new languages and cultures, deepening their global perspective. For this and other work, she was awarded the John E. Dolibois Faculty Award for Innovation in Global Programming in 2019.

She made a lasting impact on everyone she encountered. A former colleague, Parna Sengupta, now director and associate vice provost of Stanford Introductory Studies, summed it up well: “Even after this many years, I think of her and smile (even as I find tears rolling down my face). She could make everyone feel so cared for and loved — it is hard to imagine this world without her light (at a time when this world so desperately needs such light).”

Dr. Castañeda’s husband, Dr. Darrel Davis, is professor and acting chair of the Department of Educational Psychology. Together, they share a 12-year old daughter, Mira. The family invites her many friends, colleagues, and students to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. at Kumler Chapel on the Miami University campus. A reception will follow at Hopedale Universalist Community, 3870 Millville-Oxford Road (US 27). The reception will include food following Dr. Castañeda’s recipes. The family encourages attendees to wear something colorful, in keeping with the birds that Dr. Castañeda loved so much.

In lieu of flowers, Dr. Castañeda requested donations to Camp Kesem, an organization committed to supporting children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. Camp Kesem has been an important part of Mira’s life these past few years. Donations may be made at https://donate.kesem.org/MarthaCastaneda.