Dima Zaid-Kilani

Alum (PhD ALDS/25)

I am an educator and researcher with over a decade of experience in teacher training, English language teaching, and academic leadership. I currently teach in both the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa and the School of Linguistics and Language Studies (SLaLS) at Carleton University. My professional and research journeys are deeply grounded in equity, belonging, and inclusive language education.

I completed my PhD in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies at Carleton University under the supervision of Dr. Guillaume Gentil and Dr. Jaffer Sheyholislami. My dissertation centres on the lived experiences of Arabic-speaking female Muslim English as a second language (ESL) teachers in Ontario and explores how intersecting systems of Islamophobia, racism, linguicism, and sexism shape their professional identities, agency, and attrition. From this work, I developed the RRAAV model (Representation, Recognition, Acceptance, Acknowledgment, and Value), a framework for examining legitimacy and systemic exclusion in teachers’ workplaces.

In addition to teaching, I have held multiple leadership roles, including Acting English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Coordinator and Academic Advisor at Algonquin College, where I also contributed to the college’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan through its Policy Planning Working Group. I taught in the TESL, EAP programs, and communication courses at Algonquin and La Cité Collégiale, and I have supervised and designed curricula for public speaking and administrative writing.

My commitment to community building and advocacy is reflected in my service as an executive committee member for the Language Policy and Planning (LPP) conference at Carleton and as a graduate representative for the Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE).

My time at Carleton’s SLaLS was defined by mentorship, critical inquiry, and collaborative growth. I founded a graduate support group within the department to foster connection and peer mentorship, reinforcing the importance of academic community. I continue to draw on the educational foundation, mentorship, and professional experiences I gained at SLaLS, which continue to shape how I engage with students, design inclusive learning spaces, and collaborate with colleagues in meaningful ways.