Jeff MacSwan

Jeff MacSwan is a Professor of Applied Linguistics and Language Education at the University of Maryland's College of Education, with affiliations in the Department of Linguistics and the Maryland Language Science Center. He also holds a joint appointment in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. His research focuses on bilingualism, codeswitching, and their implications for educational policy, particularly for multilingual students. MacSwan has authored and edited seminal works, including Grammatical Theory and Bilingual Codeswitching and Codeswitching in the Classroom.

He serves as editor of the International Multilingual Research Journal and has contributed to national committees such as the National Academies' study on Dual Language Learners. MacSwan received the 2021 AERA Lifetime Achievement Award and Leadership through Scholarship Award for his transformative work in bilingual education theory and practice. His advocacy challenges language-deficit perspectives, emphasizing translanguaging as a pedagogical asset.

MacSwan's interdisciplinary approach bridges linguistics, education, and cognitive science. His lab addresses policy-relevant research on language assessment validity and equitable educational practices for linguistic minorities. He collaborates with institutions like the National Education Policy Center, advancing evidence-based policies for multilingual learners.