Meet the Professors
At our Spanish program, excellence goes beyond language learning. We are a team of professors specialized in Spanish language, literature, and culture, dedicated to providing a rigorous and engaging educational experience. Our mission is to help students not only communicate in Spanish, but also understand the richness of Hispanic culture and the depth of its literary and linguistic traditions. With years of academic research, teaching, and professional experience, our professors bring a unique perspective that combines theory and practice.
Fiordaliza Ippolito, Ph.D.
CEO and Founder of Classic Spanish Classes and one of the Professors for the program. She is a native Spanish Speaker born in the Dominican Republic. She holds a PhD in Spanish from the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at SUNY University at Albany in New York. Additionally, she earned a master’s degree in Hispanic Literature from CUNY Brooklyn College and a second master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from CUNY Lehman College. She also obtained a bachelor’s degree in business from CUNY Lehman College and an associate degree from CUNY Hostos Community College. Dr. Ippolito has experience teaching at various universities, offering courses such as Spanish for Beginners, Intermediate Spanish, Advanced Spanish, Composition, and Spanish for Health Professionals. She is also skilled in online teaching, including Conversational Spanish and Medical Spanish for Nurses. Currently, she teaches at Helene Fuld College of Nursing and CUNY Hostos Community College. She has over seven years of experience at the college level. She has earned several certificates to enhance her teaching pedagogy, including the SUNY Lumen Circles Certificate of Effective Teaching: Active Learning. Additionally, she holds a certification from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and has a CUNY K-16 Pedagogy Fellowship. Fiordaliza is also certified in Voicethread. Dr. Ippolito is a published author of poetry, fiction, and literary critical analysis, with works appearing in both English as well as Spanish in anthologies and journals.
Stephen Ippolito, PhD, ABD Candidate
Director, responsible for marketing and communication. He is an educator, researcher, and advocate specializing in Sociology, Disability Studies, Africana, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies, as well as inclusive and accessible education. Currently, he is a PhD ABD Candidate in Africana, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies at the University at Albany (SUNY), where he teaches courses on Caribbean Tourism and “Power in the Americas.” At CUNY School of Professional Studies, he teaches Disability Studies and oversees capstone coursework for undergraduate and graduate thesis projects. Stephen actively supports college initiative programs focused on access and student success and serves on the Alumni Engagement Council at CUNY SPS. As a proud member of Lions Club International, District 20-R2, he serves as Chair and 2nd-year director for Diabetes Awareness and Disability Empowerment while promoting public health awareness through community outreach. Stephen’s work bridges teaching, research, and advocacy, demonstrating a strong commitment to education.
Anthony Díaz-Vázquez (he/him/they), Advanced Doctoral Student
advanced doctoral student in Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies at the University of Arizona. He holds a master’s in General Linguistics from the University of Puerto Rico, where he explored media representations of hate crime victims. His current research focuses on queer and trans students in higher education, examining how they utilize semiotic and communicative practices to negotiate their identities and resist normative pressures in the classroom. His dissertation, “Exploring the Identity of Queer and Trans Students in Learning Environments,” integrates semiotics, sociolinguistics, and critical pedagogy. Anthony also researches bilingual education, digital culture, and queer media. His recent works include “Advocating for LGBTQ+ Students in Bilingual Classrooms” and “The Digital Sacralization of Alexa.” With over eight years of teaching experience, he is committed to inclusive, justice-driven education rooted in language, identity, and cultural inquiry.
Mirna Leticia Álvarez, Ph.D.
instructor for Classic Spanish Classes. She holds a PhD in Spanish from the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at SUNY University at Albany, New York, and obtained her master’s degree from the University of North Texas. Additionally, she earned an associate degree in Spanish from Laredo Community College in Texas. Dr. Alvarez has experience teaching various Spanish courses, including Advanced Spanish Grammar I, Spanish Intermediate I and II, an Elementary Spanish Blended Course (Internet), Elementary Spanish Accelerated, and Elementary Spanish Lab. With over a decade of experience teaching Spanish at the college level, she is a native Spanish speaker.
Isael Real Ramírez
translator and language educator from Puerto Rico, where he was born and raised as a native Spanish speaker. He holds a Master of Arts in Translation and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. With a strong foundation in bilingual communication and academic support, Isael has helped both undergraduate and graduate students improve their Spanish and English skills. At the Center for the Development of Competencies in Languages (CDCL), he provided personalized tutoring, reviewed academic essays and theses, and led workshops on writing strategies, including coherence, cohesion, and style. He also developed digital learning resources, such as infographics, instructional modules, and podcasts, and coordinated tutoring requests to ensure students received timely and effective support. Isael has also contributed to the UPR Summer Institute, assisting new students with their transition to university-level learning, and to UPR Estudia Contigo, where he offered online English tutoring for younger learners. Dedicated and adaptable, he is recognized for his organization, creativity, and commitment to inclusive education.
Samayra Crooke-Grandel
bilingual professional, educator, and writer, born in the Dominican Republic and a native Spanish speaker. She holds a Master of Arts in Spanish Literature with a minor in Cultural Studies from the State University of New York at Albany, a Master of Science in Horticulture from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Water Management and Mechanization from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. Since 2016, Samayra has worked as a Medical Assistance Specialist at the New York State Department of Health. She has also worked as an independent Spanish tutor, a substitute science and Spanish teacher in New York, and an agricultural supervisor in Puerto Rico, where she managed seed production and supervised farm operations. Alongside her professional career, Samayra has published poetry and fiction.
About Classic Spanish Classes
Classic Spanish Classes, founded in 2015, is dedicated to teaching Spanish to students of all ages. We offer personalized classes for beginners to advanced learners.
Learn not just a language but also the rich cultural heritage that comes with the Spanish-speaking world.
Join a vibrant community of learners and instructors passionate about sharing their love for the Spanish language.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Become a Language Advocate
Support our mission to teach Spanish and promote cultural understanding in our community.