Ian Cushing

Dr. Ian Cushing is a Senior Lecturer in Critical Applied Linguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, affiliated with the Department of English under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He joined MMU in June 2023 after completing a PhD in Educational Linguistics and working in higher education across linguistics, education studies, and teacher training. His research focuses on dismantling deficit thinking about language in education, examining intersections of race, class, and language in schools, teacher education, and policy.

Education: PhD in Educational Linguistics (2019), prior career as a London school teacher.

Research Interests:

• Raciolinguistic ideologies and their impact on education equity
• Anti-deficit language policies and pedagogies
• Colonial histories in linguistic theory and policy
• Language policing in schools and assessments
• Teacher resistance to discriminatory practices

Awards: Recipient of prestigious awards including the 2023 UKLA/Wiley Research Award and BAAL Academic Book Prize for his work on raciolinguistic ideologies. Recognized for contributions to anti-racist education and transformative justice methodologies.

Grants & Projects: Current funding from the Spencer Foundation, British Academy/Leverhulme, and MMU’s AHEAD scheme for projects like 'Linguistic Justice in Manchester Schools' and transatlantic teacher education collaborations. Previously funded by BERA, UK Literacy Association, and others.

Labs/Teams: Leads an annual summer school on linguistic justice for teachers and serves on editorial boards for journals like Language in Society and Critical Studies in Education.