UNR Hosted Linguist for Heritage Month Series
Anthro-politics expert Ana Celia Zentella visited the Higginbotham Auditorium to discuss language and identity.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Hispanic
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University of Nevada, Reno students and faculty gathered to hear linguist Ana Celia Zentella discuss the preservation of Hispanic cultural heritage. The presentation was held as part of the university's ongoing Hispanic Heritage Month speaker series.
Why it matters
The event highlights the intersection of linguistic discrimination and identity for a growing community. With 31% of Nevadans identifying as Hispanic or Latino, these discussions focus on the challenges of maintaining language proficiency across generations.
The university reports a student body of 24,356, with Hispanic students accounting for 26.4% of that total. Nationwide, the U.S. Census Bureau identified 65 million people as Hispanic or Latino in 2024, though data indicates a trend of declining Spanish proficiency among third-generation speakers.
The players
Ana Celia Zentella
A linguist specializing in anthro-politics who presented on language discrimination and heritage.
University of Nevada, Reno
The institution that hosted the speaker series through its Department of Anthropology.
The details
Organized by the Department of Anthropology, the session featured Dr. Ana Celia Zentella, a specialist in anthro-politics. She addressed the social and political dynamics of language, aiming to connect academic research with the lived experiences of the campus community. The presentation offered a look at how language is used to navigate identity in modern American society.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: Ana Celia Zentella spoke at the University of Nevada, Reno.
September 2024: U.S. Census Bureau released population data regarding Hispanic and Latino identification.
Fall 2026: The University of Nevada, Reno hosted the event during the current enrollment period.
The Truckee Meadows View
This presentation follows the trend of declining Spanish-language proficiency among third-generation speakers documented by the Pew Research Center. The event extends the university's efforts to integrate these national demographic shifts into the local campus dialogue.
Students and faculty at the university had the opportunity to engage with experts on issues reflecting the state's 31% Hispanic population. Those interested in the cultural series can monitor university department calendars for future guest speakers through the end of the semester.
The takeaway
Understanding the interplay between language and heritage is central to navigating the region's demographic changes. Keep an eye on the Department of Anthropology website for follow-up resources or recordings from this month's speaker series.
Further reading
For more discussions on identity and community, visit our Hispanic section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by This Is Reno.
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