Dr Olive Nabukeera

Profile

I have worked at the University of Leeds since 2023, teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and engaging in scholarship at the Language Center. My passion for international education and English language teaching is deeply rooted in my academic and professional career across three continents. Originally from Kampala, Uganda, I have lived, studied and worked at universities in Rwanda, England, and for the past ten years, in the United States. This diverse experience has profoundly influenced my teaching philosophy, classroom practices and scholarship interests. 

Research interests

My scholarship focuses on race in English language teaching, mental health, and Black teacher identities, demonstrating my commitment to inclusivity and equity in higher education.

Notable publications include; “The Positioning of Black ESL Teachers in the United States: Teacher Perspectives” (2022), featured in the CATESOL Journal special issue of Anti-racist Perspectives, Policies, and Practices in TESOL. This article stems from a comprehensive study conducted for my doctoral thesis that examined the racial and linguistic positioning of Black English language educators. 

I have also published a literature review on native speakerism in the Rwandan Journal of Education, titled “ The Plight of Non-native English speaking teachers of languages in the teaching profession: A case of African teachers of English” (2012).

I have delivered presentations on raciolinguistics and teacher identity at  TESOL International convention, The BELPaf symposium, TESOL France, and the International Conference on Advanced Research in Education. Currently, I am writing a book chapter about the (in)visibility of Black academics in higher education, slated for publication in the 2024 Bloomsbury series on Critical Approaches and Innovations in Language Teacher Education.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • Bachelors- Education, English & Literature (Makerere University, Uganda)
  • Masters-TESOL (University of Bath, England)
  • Masters- International Educational Management (University of Leeds, England)
  • Doctorate - TESOL (Alliant International University, USA)

Professional memberships

  • TESOL International
  • BALEAP
  • IATEFL

Student education

I presently teach the following in-sessional IFY courses: 

  • Academic Study Skills for Science Technology and Maths
  • Academic Study Skills for Dentistry, Medicine and Healthcare Professions 

Research groups and institutes

  • Language Centre