David Balmaceda Marenco

Expertise

Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, Motivation and Persistence in Language Learning, Educational Leadership and Diversity.

Research Interests

David Balmaceda’s interdisciplinary research explores second language acquisition and use, drawing on theory from applied linguistics, social psychology, and higher education. His work focuses on the socio-psychological factors that drive students to enroll and persist in undergraduate language programs, particularly in Spanish. Utilizing Expectancy-Value Theory, he examines how students’ beliefs, attitudes, and gender influence their engagement and academic choices regarding language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. His research also seeks to address enrollment trends and gender disparities, with the goal of enhancing retention in advanced Spanish courses. Through his work, David aims to promote positive attitudes toward language learning, multilingualism, and linguistic diversity, fostering a deeper understanding of other cultures and the ethnic groups associated with them. Past projects include collaborative research on health literacy with linguistically diverse patients.

Education

Ph.D.: Education (Specialization in Applied Linguistics), (2024), Washington University in St. Louis
M.A: Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, (2017), Southern Illinois University
M.A: Teaching English as a Second or other Languages (Fulbright ), (2015), Southern Illinois University
B.A: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, (2011), Universidad Centroamericana

Biosketch

David Balmaceda Marenco, Ph.D., was born in Granada, Nicaragua, and has over nine years of teaching experience in both the U.S. and Nicaragua. A Fulbright Alumnus and a member of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, he is committed to improving language education through innovative research on student motivation and inclusive pedagogies. He is a recipient of two professional certificates and fellowships from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Dedicated to advancing knowledge and promoting diversity in academia, his work has been published in applied linguistics journals, and he regularly contributes to conferences and discussions on topics such as Spanish language enrollment, student motivation, the undervaluation of reading and writing in language learning, and the role of gender in language learning choices.

Outside of academia, David enjoys outdoor activities and exploring U.S. National Parks.

Selected Awards and Honors

• Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (2023), Washington University in St. Louis
• Excellence in Educational Research Award (2024), Washington University in St. Louis
• Fulbright Fellowship (2013-2015), U.S. Department of State

Selected Publications

• Balmaceda M., D., Brantmeier, C., & Hogrebe, M.C. (2024). Spanish enrollment decline and student’s beliefs and attitudes: Does gender matter? Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics, 37(1), 109-142.
• Balmaceda M., D. (2023). Navigating diverse career paths in applied linguistics: Insights from a DEI fellowship program. The American Association for Applied Linguistics Graduate Student Council Newsletter, 8(1), 13-16.
• Brantmeier C, Dube AR, Li SS, Strube M, Balmaceda M.D, & van Rheenneen, J., (2021). Health Care Workers and Self-Assessed Communication with Language Diverse Patients in the St. Louis Region at the Onset and One Year into COVID-19. Journal of Nursing and Patient Health Care, 3(1): 103-121.
• Brantmeier, C., Dolosic, H., Balmaceda, D. & Li, Y. (2019). Revisiting gender and L2 reading Spanish at the University: The evolution of reading skill components across instructional levels. Hispania, 102(4), 513–527.

Selected Presentations

• Balmaceda M., D. & Brantmeier, C. (2024, July 1st). “Tackling Spanish Enrollment Decline: A Mixed Methods Study on Beliefs in the Four Skills Across Instructional Levels. The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Portland, OR, United States.
• Balmaceda M., D. (2024, March 16-19). “Leveling the Influence: A Comparative Analysis of Spanish Learners’ Rankings on LSRW.” The American Association for Applied Linguistics. Houston, Texas, United States.
• Balmaceda M., D. & Tucker, T. (2024, March 11). “Empowering Student Agency: A Deep Dive into the Making of a DEI Fellowship- General Interest Session.” NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Seattle, Washington, United States. This presentation was supported in part as a Washington University in St. Louis Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity Graduate Student Conference Travel Award.
• Balmaceda M., D. & Brantmeier, C. (2023, March 21). “L2 Learners’ Undervalue of Reading and Writing: What Instructors Can Do About It.” The American Association for Applied Linguistics. Funded by the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Research and Conference Grant, Washington University Chapter. Portland, OR, United States.