College of Liberal Arts and Sciences names Pilar Marcé Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction

Honor recognizes excellence and impact among Lecturers advancing to Associate Professor of Instruction
Monday, April 13, 2020

Pilar MarcéThe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa has named Pilar Marcé of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese as Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction for 2020-2022. 

Dean Steve Goddard of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences praised Marcé's dedication to teaching and professional development.

"Dr. Marcé is an exemplary teacher and mentor who uses innovative pedagogy, backed up by extensive research, to deliver crucial instruction to students not just in her department, but also throughout the University of Iowa," Goddard said. "She is passionate about her field and seeks opportunities to expand her expertise to better serve her students. I'm delighted to recognize her accomplishments with the Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction award."

Marcé, who specializes in Spanish for Specific Purposes (SSP), joined the faculty of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese in 2008. She regularly teaches courses on Business Spanish, translation into Spanish, writing, and Hispanic culture, often using the UI’s innovative TILE classrooms. She has co-authored several textbooks of Spanish for business, tourism, and healthcare, and focuses her research on Language for Specific Purposes (LSP), foreign language curriculum, teacher training in SSP, and development of SSP instructional materials.

She serves her department as the the director of its Curriculum Committee and a member of its Executive Committee, and is co-organizer of Club de Conversación Básica, a weekly speaking practice session for students with an elementary level of Spanish-language knowledge.

A 2018-19 recipient of the CLAS Collegiate Teaching Award, Marcé holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from the UI College of Education.

The Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction award recognizes excellence in teaching, institutional and professional service, and record of publications among lecturers who are being considered for advancement to the position of Associate Professor of Instruction. The two-year award carries a one-time grant, which may be used for research and teaching initiatives.


The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.