Melissa Simmermeyer

I was born and raised in rural Indiana. I am a first-generation college student.

I consider the fact that I learned, studied, and get to teach Spanish to be one of my greatest privileges.

I have been at Duke for more than 20 years.

I love being in the outdoors, especially the woods, especially walking and seeing trees.

I have way too many houseplants for my own good.

I love music, especially Latin jazz, and I really miss attending concerts live.

Some topics I am very passionate about: anti-racism, immigrant and refugee rights, language rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, the rights of indigenous peoples, decolonization, abolition, histories of the Americas, literature, and art.