Ikram Easton

Ikram Easton is a Lecturer in the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies at Boston College, specializing in Arabic language instruction. She has held roles such as department chair, curriculum director, and mentor in foreign language education, with certifications in Arabic, ESL, and English across multiple states. Her research focuses on AI integration in language classrooms, competency-based learning, and teacher training.

Education:

• B.A. in Arabic Translation and English Literature, Tishreen University (Syria)
• B.S. and M.Ed. in Second Language Acquisition, English, and World Civilizations, Indiana University

Research Interests: Professor Easton pioneers the use of AI to enhance language skills, designs culturally immersive curricula, and advocates for competency-based education. She emphasizes teacher training and curriculum diversification to meet global educational demands.

Awards & Grants: Recipient of the Belin-Blank Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Iowa). Secured national STARTALK grants for K-12 Arabic curricula and a Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) grant to develop online language modules.

Professional Contributions: Serves as Co-chair of MEEA (Middle Eastern Employee and Allies group), executive board member of the American Association of Teachers of Arabic (AATA), and curriculum director at the Center for Arabic Culture in Boston. Founded Iowa’s first public school Arabic program in 2005, integrating four language levels and Middle East culture studies.