Dr. Mary Risner has a diverse educational background, which includes Marketing, Latin American Studies, languages, and educational technology.  She has worked in the private and public sectors. As such she is a strong supporter of interdisciplinary approaches to education and understands the importance of connecting students, faculty and employers.   Mary is currently Associate Director of Outreach and Business Programs at the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida (UF).  At UF she develops and manages initiatives that infuse world languages and area studies into secondary and post-secondary education curriculum.  Throughout her 25 years as an educator, she has taught language in a variety of educational and corporate environments, always emphasizing the importance of global skills and career connections. Her research and course development focus on the integration of intercultural competence and language through the integration of emerging technologies and innovative pedagogies to provide students with authentic and experiential learning opportunities.