Professor Teresa Cadierno retires after a remarkable career in SLA research

Professor Cadierno joined SDU in 1996 as an Associate Professor of Spanish and was later appointed Professor of Second Language Acquisition in 2012. In 2022, she was named DIAS Chair of Humanities, a fitting recognition of her outstanding contributions to research and academic life. Her affiliation with SDU spanned nearly three decades, during which she became a central figure in the university’s language research community. 

Where language meets innovation 

Professor Cadierno earned her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992. Before coming to SDU,  she served at Aarhus University (1992-1996). From the outset, her work bridged linguistic theory and real-world language learning, an approach that continued to evolve and flourish throughout her time at SDU. Over the years, she has led several major research initiatives, including the Second Language Research Centre (2009–2017) and the Centre for Language Learning (2017–2023). Most recently, she served as Vice-Leader of the SISL Research Group, which explores the intersections of language, interaction, and social equality. 

Teresa Cadierno's academic work has left a lasting mark on the fields of second language acquisition, bilingualism, and foreign language pedagogy, with a particular focus on how learners process input, how language shapes thought, and how formal and informal learning environments interact. Her research has earned widespread recognition, including prestigious awards such as the SDU Research Communication Prize and the European Second Language Association Distinguished Scholar Award. 

A cherished colleague

 As she steps into retirement, Professor Cadierno leaves behind a legacy defined by intellectual rigour, generous mentorship, and a deep commitment to advancing language education. At SDU and within DIAS, she has not only been a leading scholar, but also a deeply valued colleague known for her ability to foster meaningful connections across disciplines. 

While she is stepping down from her role as Chair of Humanities, Professor Cadierno reflects fondly on her time at DIAS: 

“I have been extremely happy to be part of DIAS,” she says. “It has given me the possibility to get to know wonderful colleagues from other disciplines and faculties and have fruitful discussions on interesting topics from different perspectives than my own. I have also enjoyed attending the weekly lectures. All in all, it was a wonderful experience in which I feel I have learnt a lot.” 

Although she will miss being part of the community of Chairs, she plans to stay connected and assures us that she will continue to attend DIAS events – now in the role of DIAS Alum. 

On behalf of the entire DIAS community, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Teresa for her remarkable contributions and wish her a joyful and deserved retirement!