Michael Rushforth

Michael Rushforth serves as Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning Initiatives and Professor of Instruction in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Texas at San Antonio's College of Liberal and Fine Arts, where he bridges academic leadership with innovative language education practices.

His research spans computational linguistics, virtual reality applications in language pedagogy, dialogue systems for tactical questioning, and accessibility solutions for visually impaired learners. He integrates artificial intelligence with speech technologies to develop immersive language learning environments, with particular focus on Spanish fluency assessment and cross-cultural communication frameworks. His work addresses critical gaps in accessible linguistics education and equitable technology implementation.

Recent publications reveal a trajectory from foundational dialogue system research toward AI-driven language assessment tools, demonstrating consistent innovation in merging theoretical linguistics with practical educational technology. His 2024 dataset for Spanish fluency prediction exemplifies this evolution, building upon earlier work in virtual human interactions and tactical questioning systems developed since 2001.

Rushforth secured a $74,750 grant for an Intelligent Virtual Reality System for Language Learning (2020-2022) and maintains active conference engagement, presenting at Linguistics Society of America meetings on accessibility, pandemic-era online teaching adaptations, and virtual reality applications across national and international venues including Washington DC, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.