Michelle Petersen

Michelle Petersen serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Canada Institute of Linguistics and Associate Instructor at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics. With Wycliffe since 1989, she has conducted fieldwork across West and Central Africa while teaching Linguistics and Scripture Engagement in Europe and North America.

Her educational background includes:

• 2006: M.A. in Language Development/Scripture Engagement (summa cum laude), Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, Texas
• 1992: Literacy Specialist training, University of Texas at Arlington
• 1988: B.A. in French/TESOL, University of Utah

Her research integrates Scripture Engagement with community development through literacy programs, local arts, and trauma healing. She pioneered Scripture-infused radio dramas across 58 stations in Francophone Africa and developed literacy curricula for Sango speakers in 116 Central African churches. Her work bridges academic linguistics with practical ministry applications, emphasizing culturally contextualized Scripture use.

As an American Bible Society-certified Trauma Healing Training Facilitator, she incorporates psychological resilience into Scripture engagement frameworks. Her teaching philosophy centers on helping students synthesize academic theory with field implementation across diverse cultural contexts.

Field collaborations span Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal with local pastors, musicians, and radio networks. She co-developed the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics' M.A. in World Arts curriculum and co-authored foundational texts including Worship and Mission for the Global Church and Creating Local Arts Together.