Originally from California, Adriana earned her B.A. in English Literature and Italian Studies from UCLA. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in English Literature from UVA. Her doctoral research focused on the social functions of Jewish stereotypes in early modern (Renaissance) drama. Before returning to UVA to join the CTE in 2016, she was a faculty member in the Writing Program at the University of Southern California.
Adriana’s research in educational development includes projects on course design practices, alternative grading schemes, and student perceptions of instructor race and gender. With colleagues Michael Palmer and Dorothe Bach, she won the 2014 POD Network Innovation Award for work on a valid and reliable syllabus rubric. Published accounts of her work can be found in To Improve the Academy and the Journal of Faculty Development.
Adriana is heavily involved in the Professional and Organizational Network in Higher Education (POD Network), currently serving as chair of the Innovation Award selection committee.
Adriana’s teaching interests include philosophies of education, inclusive and equitable teaching practices, writing pedagogy, Shakespeare, feminism and theater, and medieval and early modern literature.