I am currently an Associate Professor of Education in the Department of Educational Studies in Teacher Education in the Faculty of Education (Fakultet for Lærerutdanning og Pedagogikk) at the University of Inland Norway (INN) (previously Høgskolen i Innlandet/Inland University of Applied Sciences). In this position, I research, teach, and supervise graduate student research. Prior to this, I held a postdoctoral fellowship at the same university in which I focused on the links between cultural and linguistic diversity in schools and language teacher experiences. Prior to joining INN, I was an instructor of academic and professional communications skills in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Sheridan College in Oakville, Canada. I have also taught at York University, Brock University, Seneca College (Canada) and Chiba University (Japan) as a visiting scholar.
I earned my PhD in linguistics and applied linguistics from York University in 2020. Through an interdisciplinary approach, my PhD thesis examined the multilingual international student experience in relation to language acquisition, identity development, and lived experience in light of internationalization of higher education. My thesis was nominated for the Barbara Godard Dissertation Prize for Best Dissertation on a Canadian Topic (The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, York University), the Michel Laferrière Award for exceptional research studies (Comparative and International Education Society of Canada), the George L. Geis Dissertation Award for an outstanding dissertation in Canadian universities that examines higher topics (Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education), the Gail P. Kelly Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation (Comparative and International Education Society), and the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Dissertation Prize (York University).
In 2021, I was the recipient of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award by the Canadian Bureau for International Education for having demonstrated “significant contributions via behaviour, research, initiatives or community engagement that fosters equity, diversity and inclusion through international education,” primarily through my years-long work in support of multilingual international students in Canada. I was the 2018 recipient of the John Lockwood Memorial Award at York University for my research focusing on cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding in Canada.
My career in higher education began in 2008. In addition to research, I have worked primarily in positions designed to support and promote student success. In 2017-18, I was the Academic Language Specialist at Brock University’s International Centre, where I taught workshops and developed programming to support multilingual international students’ social, linguistic, and academic success. Other similar roles I have worked in include ESL and Writing Tutor at the Saint Mary’s University’s Writing Centre (2011-14) and Language Facilitator at York University’s Open Learning Centre (2016-17).
Prior to my doctoral studies, I had completed a Master of Education, also at York University in Toronto, Canada. My MEd program addressed topics in international education, post-secondary education, second language education, and family/child literacy. I did my undergraduate work at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, where I completed a Bachelor of Arts with honours in linguistics. Besides theoretical linguistics, I undertook coursework in anthropology, sociology, education, psychology, and foreign languages (Spanish and French, with coursework at the Université de Montréal).
I am on the editorial board of the McGill Journal of Education as Associate Editor (English) (2021-pres) and the editorial board of The European Journal of Education (2023-pres).