Dr. Amy S. Thompson
Trust, communication, and transparency
Leader
Since 2018, I have been serving as the Chair of the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at West Virginia University (WVU). Since 2021, I have also been the Director of International Relations and Strategic Planning of Eberly College of Arts & Sciences at WVU. WVU is a land-grant research intensive (R1) institution with approximately 25,000 main campus students offering more than 355 undergraduate and graduate programs across 13 colleges and schools.
Leadership development programs:
- Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE, June 2023)
- Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences (CCAS) annual meeting: Empowering Deans to Lead (November 2022)
- MLA’s Association of Language Departments (ALD) Chair’s summer seminar and leadership institute (Summer 2019; 2020; 2022)
- West Virginia University Women’s Leadership Initiative (Fall 2018 – present)
- West Virginia University Change Agent workshop (July 2020, 5-day workshop and Spring 2021, one meeting per month)
- University of South Florida System’s Professional Development in Higher Education Leadership Program (2017-2018)
Resources for langauge departments:
During the Fall 2023 semester at West Virginia University, I led a departmental self-study and created an appeal document in support of the study of languages, literatures, and linguistics. It is my hope that language departments across the country can use these documents as resources.
Appeal Document for World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
In a field of wheat evaluation, Reedsville, WV
Researcher
My research identity primarily revolves around Individual Differences in Language Learning (IDs in SLA) and the interaction of these IDs and multilingualism. I also work on issues involving linguistic racism and gender in higher education.
Highlights:
- 45+ peer reviewed publications and several community outreach publications
- Two books – one co-edited and one single-authored
- Editorial board member for journals (i.e. The Modern Language Journal)
- 20+ plenary lectures, invited lectures at academic institutions, and colloquia
- 60+ academic peer-reviewed presentations at professional meetings
PLL4 conference symposium
Cape Breton, Canada, June 2022
Fulbright FLTA conference plenary
Washington, D.C., November 2022
Educator
My teaching philosophy revolves around the notion of critical inquiry, whether the class is a language class or a theoretical class about language acquisition and pedagogy. Within this model of critical inquiry, I use a style of communicative class activities coupled with teacher-centered activities that promote active learning on all levels.
Highlights:
- Designed and taught 20+ graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of Applied Linguistics, research methods, and language pedagogy
- Designed, taught, and coordinated ESL courses and special programs
- Lead several teacher development workshops
- Chaired 9 dissertation committees, and served as member on additional committees, both internal and external
With Fulbright students at WVU
July 2023
