Tonda Liggett

Tonda Liggett serves as an Associate Professor and Graduate ESOL Program Director within the Department of Education at Linfield University, actively shaping teacher preparation for linguistically diverse classrooms.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.A. in English Literature from Hillsdale College
• M.A. in Language & Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire
• Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of New Hampshire

Dr. Liggett's research critically examines intersections between English language education, multicultural pedagogy, and contemporary immigration, with particular focus on how race, language, and culture shape teacher identity and classroom practices. Her current work investigates immigration's role in multilingual student learning to better equip educators for the complex realities English learners navigate.

As Graduate ESOL Program Director, she teaches foundational courses including Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (EDUC 260), Foundations for Teaching Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Learners (EDUC 240/540), and Language, Power, and Advocacy for ESOL (EDUC 550), directly applying her research to teacher development.