Note: Content submitted to Linfield University from the Pacific Northwest Council for Languages. Shared with permission.
The Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL) is proud to announce that Sandra Terra, a distinguished faculty member at Linfield University, has been named the 2026 Ray Verzasconi Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year. Terra was officially recognized during the PNCFL Annual Conference held in Portland.
The Ray Verzasconi award is presented annually to a post-secondary educator who demonstrates a sustained commitment to teaching excellence, professional service, and scholarly engagement. Dr. Terra, who has taught for over twenty years — including more than adecade at Linfield University in McMinnville — was selected for her transformative impact on world language pedagogy and her dedication to student identity and belonging.
“Teaching is the foundation of my work and the part of my professional life that motivates and rewards me most,” Terra said. “I am deeply grateful for this recognition, which reflects not only my own efforts, but also the meaningful learning and exchanges that take place between my students and me.”
A legacy of excellence and innovation
Terra’s recognition by PNCFL follows her receipt of the 2024 Edith Green Distinguished Professor Award, the highest teaching honor at Linfield University. Her approach to education is rooted in a Ph.D. in second language acquisition and is characterized by a “student-centered” philosophy that balances intellectual rigor with an affirming environment.
Her achievements highlighted during the ceremony include:
- Championing heritage languages: In 2016, Terra founded Linfield’s Annual Spanglish Day Celebration. The event has become a cornerstone of the university’s cultural life, celebrating code-switching and linguistic strengths while challenging deficit-based views of bilingualism.
- Advancing professional language skills: As a Nationally Certified Medical Interpreter, Terra has been the driving force behind Linfield’s new Advanced Certificate in Medical Spanish. She is currently developing an Open Educational Resource (OER) Medical Spanish textbook to connect classroom learning with real-world health care needs.
- Leadership in the field: Terra’s service extends to the regional level, having served through the presidential cycle (vice president, president and past president) of the Confederation in Oregon for Language Teaching (COFLT), where she supported educators through the challenges of the pandemic.
- Scholarly contributions: Her research on service learning and heritage speaker empowerment has been published in the International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism and the Heritage Language Journal.
Impact beyond the classroom
In addition to her instructional roles, Terra serves as an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) tester and a qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Her leadership roles at Linfield include serving on the Institutional Review Board (IRB), mentoring students through the Fulbright application process, serving as Spanish program coordinator and overseeing and conducting departmental assessments, serving as faculty advisor to the Spanish Club and the new LEAD Honors Program, and will chair the Faculty Development Committee beginning next month.
“Dr. Terra’s work ensures that language courses reflect current research, professional standards, and, most importantly, inclusive practices,” noted PNCFL Executive Director Bridget Yaden. “Her ability to connect linguistic theory with community-engaged learning makes her a true leader in post-secondary education.”
