Navan N Govender

Navan N Govender is a Lecturer in Applied Language and Literacy Studies at the University of Strathclyde’s School of Education. He holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, specializing in critical literacy and LGBTQ+ inclusivity in education. His work bridges critical theory and practice through queer/trans/feminist, decolonial, and multimodal approaches.

Education:

• PhD in Applied Language & Literacy Education (University of the Witwatersrand, 2015)
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Applied English Language Studies (2011)
• Bachelor of Education (2010)

Research Interests: Focuses on power dynamics in literacy education, queer/decolonial pedagogies, and anti-racist praxis. Explores multimodal discourse analysis, social semiotics, and inclusive curriculum design.

Awards:

• Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2021)
• British Association for Applied Linguistics Book Award (2023)

Grants & Projects: Leads projects like "Queer Critical Literacies" and "Finding a Place for Critical Literacies in Scotland." Collaborates with UKLA on regional representation and communications.

Labs/Teams: Active in Strathclyde’s EDI Committee and UKLA’s Critical Literacy SIG. Co-editor of The Reading Teacher journal.