Dr. Plamen Kushkiev (he/him) holds a doctorate in higher education studies from the University of Sheffield, UK. His doctoral work explored his English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teacher identity negotiation, facilitating in-person and virtual classes during the sudden shift to emergency remote teaching in 2020 and 2021. Plamen’s research results and implications make an important contribution to the literature on language teacher identity and EAP professional practice, as this inquiry is the first doctoral study to explore an EAP teacher identity negotiation in the Canadian public college context. A multilingual speaker and passionate educator, Plamen has facilitated EAL (English as an Additional Language), EAP, and communication skills courses at tertiary institutions for 18 years in Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. He is currently a professor at the School of ESL and Immigrant Education, which he proudly considers his academic home. Plamen derives inspiration for teaching excellence, learner success, and well-being when facilitating different core and selective classes and collaborating with fellow EAP professors.
With a rich publication record in peer-reviewed journals and TESL newsletters, his current research interests centre around EAP teacher identity, EAP pedagogy, teacher professional learning, humanizing the EAP classroom, and re-conceptualizing the effect of EAP teacher identity on the teaching practice, curriculum design, and interaction with the learners. An AI enthusiast, Plamen has completed a certificate in AI for Teaching and Learning from Ontario Tech University and is committed to exploring AI-based approaches to enhance learning in the EAP classroom. He has presented at national and international TESL conferences, webinars, and professional development events. Plamen is actively engaged in local and transnational communities of practice and currently serves on the SoTL-ESL Committee at the School of ESL and Immigrant Education.
