Education
2022
PhD in English: Composition and Applied Linguistics
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Advisor: Dr. David Hanauer
2010
MA in Comparative Literature
Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
2002
BA in English Language and Literature
San Jose State University, California, USA
Teaching Experience
Senior Lecturer
Boston University, Boston, MA
- ·WR 318: Public Speaking
- ·SJ 101: Social Justice
Instructor
American University of Beirut
- ·English language, world literature, rhetoric, and public speaking, instructor.
Instructor
Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
- ·English language, world literature, rhetoric, and public speaking, instructor.
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Publications
Our Overlooked Stories: Methodological Intervention of Arts-based Inquiry
Heise, M., Bernstein, S. N., Choi, C., Green, A., Rosa, M., Ward, A.
In Hardin, W. and Kiernan, J. E. (Eds.), Narratives of Persistence and Survival: At the Intersection of Neurodivergence, Academic Identity, and Systemic Ableist Structures.
The Geopolitical Power of English in a Post-Truth Era: Linguistic Injustice and the Architecture of Global Knowledge
Ward, A.
In S. Sundvall, C. Alford, I. Allen (Eds.), Rhetoric Before and Beyond "Post-Truth." University of Pennsylvania Press. (Forthcoming)
Partnering with Students with Disabilities: Informed Practices and Support Networks
Ward, A., Beauvais, C., Bennett-Zendzian, A., Kent, J., McDonough, M.S.
In G. Park, Q. Charles, S. Tanghe and M. Webb (Eds.), Radical Inclusivity: Critical Language Awareness in the Language and Writing Classroom. Multilingual Matters.
Exploring Identity Constructions of Transnational Language Teachers in the MENA: A Trioethnography
Fairley, M., Bhuyian, N., Ward, A.
Under review.
Dissertating in the Midst of Multiple Crises: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Two Transnational Doctoral Students
Bhuyian, N., Ward, A.
In E. Trinh, L. J. Penton Herrera, & B. Yazan (Eds.), Autoethnographies of Border-Crossing and In-Betweenness of International Doctoral Students' Voices in the United States. Brill.
Learning ownership through the use of photovoice in the production of an academic reader
Ward, A.
In C. Chen & L. Wilkes (Eds.), The Proceedings of the Annual Computers and Writing Conference 2019 (pp. 57-69). Fort Collins, Colorado: The WAC Clearinghouse.
Social justice pedagogy: Crossing the borders of self and language-teacher identity
Ward, A.
TESOLers for Social Responsibility. TESOL SRIS.
Women of the Lebanese Mountains: A fight for edification
Ward, A.
Women's Studies International Forum, Elsevier, 32(5).
Pages Apart
Ward, A., Hodeib, H., Lincoln, K., Moughabghab, E., Rantisi, R., Sinno, Z. (Eds.)
Educart. Print.
Shifting Narratives
Sinno, Z., Bioglu-Karkanawi, L., Fleszar, D., Jarkas, N., Moughabghab, E., Nish, J., Rantisi, R., and Ward, A. (Eds.)
Educart. Print.
The Gender Politics of Lebanese Pop Music
Ward, Abir.
Newsletter. Lebanese American University.
Conference Presentations
How students are engaging in critical public and digital humanities efforts on Wikipedia
National Humanities Conference, Providence, Rhode Island (with Blumenthal, H., Allbritton, D., & Wunsch, O.)
Gaming, self-care journaling, and shared note-taking: How to Partner with twice exceptional students and students with disabilities
Computers & Writing 2024, Texas Christian University (with Bennett-Zendzian, A., Beauvais, C., Kent, J., & McDonough, M.S.)
Strategies for Centering Students' Experiences and Embracing Diversity
Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA), Boston
Accessibility is our Response-Ability: How to better Design Justice-oriented Classes for Neurodiverse Students
Re-framing Sustainable Development: Approaches to Research, Pedagogy, and Practice. Lebanese American University, School of Arts and Sciences
Partnering with Students with Disabilities: Informed Practices and Support Networks
Twelfth International Conference on Effective Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (with Bennett-Zendzian, A., Beauvais, C., Kent, J., & McDonough, M.S.)
Social Media Activism as a Form of Multiliteracy in the Lebanese Uprisings
Computers and Writing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC (with Moghabghab, E.)
CCCC Wikipedia Initiative for Knowledge Equity in Writing Studies in Coverage (Panel)
Computers and Writing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Representation of Arab Women on Wikipedia: Student Engagement in Culture-Oriented Writing Projects
12th International Conference on Effective Teaching and Learning, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Using Community Building Exercises to Teach Digital Writing Skills
GSOLE Online Conference 2022
2Rāth: To Digitally Preserve Arab Literary Heritage
WikiConference North America 2021
Preserving Literary Heritage: A Collaboration between Wikipedia, AUB Libraries, and the Communication Skills Program as a form of Activism
Computers and Writing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC [Cancelled due to Covid-19]
Love Triangle: A Collaboration between Wikipedia, AUB Libraries, and Communication Skills Courses in Teaching Academic Writing
American International Consortium for Academic Libraries, Kuwait City, Kuwait (with Charafeddine, F.)
How Students Learn Ownership through the Use of Photovoice
Computers and Writing, Michigan State University, Michigan
Photovoice in the Compilation of a Locally Produced Academic Reader
Ninth International Conference on Effective Teaching and Learning, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Digitally Enhanced Collaborative Research Writing and the Question of the Author
Seventh International Conference on Effective Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (with Jarkas, N. & Fakhreddine, J.)
Academic Poster Presentations
2Rāth: When Heritage Revamps Traditional Writing Classrooms
Digital Praxis CCCC Chicago, IL 2022 (online)
Invited Keynote & Guest Presentations
The Impact of Post-truth on Linguistic Injustice in the Arab World
Boston University — Dr. Margaret Litvin's LY 572
How Teaching with Wikipedia Revolutionizes Higher Education Classrooms
Wikipedia Education
Linguistic Justice: The Myth that became a Buzzword (Lightning Talk)
Boston University — Center for Teaching and Learning
The Big Rhetorical Podcast: Emerging Scholar Series. Episode 111: Dr. Abir Ward (Podcast)
By Dr. Charles Woods
Graduating class valedictory address
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
TWIY EP3: Dr. Abir Ward: Applied Linguistics Expert and TEDx Trainer (Podcast)
When the Sum of All Knowledge Doesn't Quite Add Up: How Students are Tackling Knowledge Equity on Wikipedia
Wikipedia Education — The Cultural Politics of Representation / International Biodiversity Day, American University of Beirut
Awards & Grants
2021
CCCC Wikipedia Fellowship
Conference on College Composition and Communication
2020
Middle East Partnership Initiative Grant
US Department of State
2023
Gamma Iota Chapter, Tri-Alpha National Honor Society
Boston University
2019
Member, Phi Kappa Phi Collegiate Honor Society
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Chapter
2005
James D. Phelan Literary Award (Metrical Poetry)
2002
James D. Phelan Literary Award (Metrical Poetry)
2002
Outstanding Achievement in Diversity Award
San Jose State University
2002
Mentor Program Award
San Jose State University
2001
Outstanding Achievement in Diversity Award
San Jose State University
2001
Mentor Program Award
San Jose State University
Trainings & Workshops Conducted
Cambridge International Diploma in Teaching and Learning
Cambridge Assessment International Education, University of Cambridge
Glosso What? Speak Fearlessly in Public
Speaker training workshop for WR 318 and WR 415 students, Boston University
Deliver a Talk like a TED Head
Speaker training workshop for WR 415 students, Boston University
How to Deliver Effective Scientific Presentations
Speaker training workshop for evolutionary biology students, Boston University
Deliver a Talk like a TED Head
Speaker training workshop for WR 415 students, Boston University
Deliver a Talk like a TED Head
Speaker training workshop for WR 415 students, Boston University
Public Speaking for Professional and Business English
MBA program, Olayan School of Business, AUB
Public Speaking for Professional and Business English
Online MBA program, Olayan School of Business, AUB
Writing & Editing your Research
Continuing Medical Education Office (CRI), AUB
Public Speaking for Professional and Business English
Online MBA program, Olayan School of Business, AUB
Science Writing Seminar
School of Nursing, AUB
AMENAH II — Communication Skills Training for Peer Educators and Community Workers
American University of Beirut
English-Speaking Union National Public Speaking Competition Preparation
Trained Hassan Slika, AUB's representative, for the competition at the Lebanese American University
Communication and Writing Skills for Graduating Seniors
Department of Industrial Engineering, AUB
Communicating Across Cultures
The Leadership Program, Office of Student Affairs, AUB
United Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP)
Prepared and trained 90 Palestinian students from various UNRWA schools to take and pass the SAT
Trash Poetry
4th Annual Haas Mroue Creative Writing Workshop, Lebanese American University
The Annual Haas Mroue Creative Writing Workshop
Lebanese American University
Creative Writing Workshops — Beirut World Book Capital
Center for Lebanese Heritage, Lebanese American University
Lebanese American University's First Annual Poetry Competition
Lebanese American University
Service & Leadership
Founder & Director
2Rāth Social Justice Initiative
Founded initiative to create Wikipedia articles about notable Arab women; work has garnered over 20 million views.
Editorial Lead
Pages Apart Academic Reader, AUB
Led editorial work on a 700-page academic reader used for teaching English at the American University of Beirut.
Reviewer
Computers and Writing Conference
Peer reviewer for conference submissions.
Languages
Standard Arabic
Fluent
Lebanese Arabic
Native
English
Fluent
Spanish
Proficient
French
Basic
2Rāth Initiative
Founded in 2019, 2Rāth is a social justice initiative engaged in the politics of representation. 2Rāth helped create articles on Wikipedia about notable Arab women, and its work has so far garnered over 20 million views.
Learn more about 2Rāth