Susan Atkins

Susan Atkins serves as the English Language Development (ELD) Lead Faculty, Lecturer III in Teacher Education, and Research and Design Specialist at TeachingWorks within the University of Michigan's Marsal Family School of Education. Her work focuses on preparing teachers to support multilingual learners through curriculum development, professional development, and program direction.

She holds a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley and has 10 years of experience as a bilingual teacher in California. Her current roles include directing the ELD abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and collaborating with the Mitchell Scarlett Teaching and Learning Collaborative. Susan also consults for the Center for Applied Linguistics and the Michigan Department of Education’s SIOP Trainer program.

Her research emphasizes accessible literacy and language instruction for multilingual students, informed by her classroom experience and leadership in Title III programs. Susan frequently presents at conferences like TESOL and CABE, advocating for equitable educational practices.