Soroush Sabbaghan

Soroush Sabbaghan is an Associate Professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary and serves as the inaugural Generative AI Educational Leader in Residence at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. He also holds the position of Area Chair for Language and Literacy Specialization at the Werklund School of Education. With dual PhDs in Curriculum and Learning from the University of Calgary (2015) and English Language Teaching from Tehran Azad University (2011), his academic journey spans both Canadian and international educational contexts.

Dr. Sabbaghan's research focuses on the critical intersection of educational technology, teacher development, and equity, with a particular emphasis on the ethical integration of generative AI in educational settings. His work explores how AI-powered tools can support inclusive and evidence-informed teaching practices across K-12 and higher education environments. He has developed multiple AI applications including REVIA, AI4Equity, CaseCraft, SMARTIE, COERI, and PEARL to enhance teaching and learning experiences while maintaining academic integrity.

His scholarly output reveals a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated applications of AI in education, with his most recent publications (2023-2025) centering on ethical frameworks, human-centered AI design, and practical implementations of generative technologies in academic settings. These works collectively address critical tensions between technological innovation and educational values, particularly regarding academic integrity, equity, and professional development.

• Teaching Award for Experiential Learning (2025)
• Teaching Award for Teaching in Online Environments (2021)

Dr. Sabbaghan has secured significant research funding, including SSHRC grants and multiple University of Calgary Teaching and Learning Grants, to explore AI's impact on education. He actively collaborates with educators across Canada and internationally, serving as Principal Investigator on studies examining co-designed AI tools in teacher education. His leadership extends to directing the Generative AI Resource Development Working Group and co-chairing the Academic Generative AI Working Group at the institutional level. He has also developed numerous AI-powered educational applications through projects like the Math Minds initiative and various teaching innovation grants.

As an active member of the AI Community of Practice at the University of Calgary and host of the AI Speaker Series, Dr. Sabbaghan fosters interdisciplinary dialogue about AI's role in education. His work with the International Foundations Program and as Liaison to the Haskayne School of Business demonstrates his commitment to cross-institutional collaboration. His recent development of tools like SMARTIE (an AI-powered course design tool featured in CityNews Calgary) exemplifies his practical approach to translating research into classroom applications.