After earning an MA in Spanish Literature from the University of Iowa in 2015, Suzanne Wedeking was awarded a grant by the European Union to complete an Erasmus Mundus JMD in Cultural Heritage. Upon returning to Iowa in 2018, she developed Spanish-language courses for the University of Iowa’s undergraduate program in Des Moines. Now in Iowa City once again, she currently enjoys teaching a variety of courses in both Spanish and Portuguese and specializes in the field of court and conference interpretation outside of the classroom.

Suzanne has lived, worked, and studied abroad extensively. In addition to Iowa, she has lived in South America, Africa and Europe and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, with a considerable background in Arabic as well. She is associated with the Union des Français à l’Étranger and leads a weekly French conversation group through the organization. Her passion for her UI teaching is inextricably tied to her countless international experiences and linguistic endeavors. She deeply believes in the power of language and cross-cultural experiences and brings that frame of reference to the classroom each day, while inspiring students to follow a unique path of their own.

Suzanne is a Class A State-Certified court interpreter in Iowa, a parallel career which informs her UI teaching further. Her work in the Iowa courts and with attorneys across the Midwest provides her with an additional lens to be able to speak to the importance of language access and justice in our community and country today.