Recent Doctoral Program Alumni

Explore the Linguistics Department Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Theses.

View our Masters program alumni job placement.

Keith Cunningham, PhD (2024)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Analyst for the Federal Government

Khalid Alharbi, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Jennifer Nycz, PhD
• Current Position: Lecturer, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia

Talal Alharbi, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Natalie Schilling, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

Amani Aloufi, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Ruth Kramer, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia

Bertille Baron, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Digital Product Owner, Data for Ethic

Amelia Becker, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, the LexLab, Boston University

Şeyma Toker Bradshaw, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Senior UX Researcher, Bixal

Hofai Viggo Cheng, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Cynthia Gordon, PhD
• Current Position: Conversational AI (LLM) Dialogue Writer, Mother Tongue

Helen Dominic, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Natalie Schilling, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Researcher, Georgetown University Medical Center

Rima Elabdali, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, English Department, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Luke Gessler, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Amir Zeldes, PhD
• Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder

Christiana McGrady, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD

Lynn Nakazawa, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lara Bryfonski, PhD
• Current Position: Global Learner Support Specialist (Arlington Campus), Northeastern University

Siyao (Logan) Peng, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Amir Zeldes, PhD
• Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich

Minnie Quartey Annan, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Natalie Schilling, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington

Derek Reagan, PhD (2023)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD & Lara Bryfonski, PhD

Lydia Felice, PhD (2022)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Ruth Kramer, PhD
• Current Position: Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, University of Oklahoma

Didem Ikizoglu, PhD (2022)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Cynthia Gordon, PhD
• Current Position: Language Engineer, Amazon

Arianna Janoff, PhD (2022)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Heidi Hamilton, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Analyst, Listening & Linguistics, inVibe

Yoojin Kang, PhD (2022)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Jennifer Nycz, PhD

Nick Mararac, PhD (2022)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Cynthia Gordon, PhD
• Current Position: Research Associate, Fors Marsh

Ayşenur Sağdıç, PhD (2022)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD
• Current Position: Director of Market Research, Amplify

Maya Barzilai, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Analytical Linguist, Grammarly

Austin Blodgett, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Nathan Schneider, PhD
• Current Position: Natural Language Processing Researcher, Army Research Lab

Margaret Borowczyk, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Nicholas Subtirelu, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Design Researcher, Intuit

Jason D’Angelo, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: AUx Instructor / Advisor, American University

Alix Fetch, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics & Cognitive Science | Advisor: Ruth Kramer, PhD & Elissa L Newport, PhD
• Current Position: Clinical Research Program Manager, Children’s National Hospital

Eric Gasperoni, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Ruth Kramer, PhD
• Current Position: Manager, Blue Water Thinking

Didem Ikizoglu, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Cynthia Gordon, PhD
• Current Position: Language Engineer, Advantis Global

Md. Jahurul Islam, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia

Amy Kim, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Task Analysis and Assessment Specialist, Language Testing International

Stephen Kunath, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD

Brent Laing, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Natalie Schilling, PhD
• Current Position: Conversation Design Consultant, GoodUnited

Xue Ma, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD
• Current Position: Distance Learning (ICLS), U.S. Department of State

Emma Manning, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Nathan Scheider, PhD
• Current Position: Linguist, Google

Shannon Mooney, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Jennifer Nycz, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Data Scientist, Coursera

Minh Nguyen, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Cynthia Gordon, PhD
• Current Position: Conversation Designer, Amazon

Madeleine Oakley, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: NSF postdoctoral research fellow, North Carolina State University

Alexandra Pfiffner, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, UC Berkeley

Di Qi, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Teaching Professor of Chinese, Georgetown University

Rachel Thorson, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD
• Current Position: Director of Content, Curiosity Media 

Francesca Venezia, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Nicholas Subtirelu, PhD
• Current Position: Researcher, Mathematica Policy Research

Mark Visonà, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Natalie Schilling, PhD
• Current Position: Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, PennWest California University

Yiran Xu, PhD (2021)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Global Arts, Media and Writing Studies, University of California, Merced

Laura Bell, PhD (2020)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Paul Portner, PhD
• Current Position: Data Science Linguist, Press Ganey

Sakol Suethanapornkul, PhD (2020)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Business Analyst, Baania.com

Brandon Tullock, PhD (2020)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of South Florida

Lara Bryfonski, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, Georgetown University

Jonathan Havenhill, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, The University of Hong Kong

Md. Jahurul Islam, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Lecturer in Linguistics, The University of British Columbia

Alexandria Marsters, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Natalie Schilling, PhD
• Current Position: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC

Todd McKay, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Jeff Connor-Linton, PhD
• Current Position:  Instructor in the Department of Educational Services’ Specialized English Language Program, St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies

Stacy Petersen, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Computational Linguist, MITRE

Ashleigh Pipes, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD
• Current Position: Lecturer, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Aisulu Raspayeva, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics | Advisor: Cynthia Gordon, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor of Linguistics, Northeastern University

Sean Simpson, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Jennifer Nycz, PhD & Amir Zeldes, PhD
• Current position: Senior Linguist (L5), Google

Yasser Teimouri, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Alison Mackey, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics, Boğaziçi University

Lindley Winchester, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Ruth Kramer, PhD
• Current Position: Senior Technical Program Manager, Amazon Smart Vehicles

Akitaka Yamada, PhD (2019)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics | Advisor: Paul Portner, PhD
• Current Position: Associate Professor, Division of Language and Culture, Graduate School of Humanities, Osaka University

Yuka Akiyama, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Junior Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Heidi Getz, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics & Cognitive Science | Advisor: Elissa L Newport, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Research Professor, Georgetown University

Hana Jan, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Andrea Tyler, PhD
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, English Language Institute at King AbdulAziz University, Saudi Arabia

Katherine Riestenberg, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Director of Content and Pedagogy, Transcendent Endeavors

Dan Simonson, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: Computational Linguistics | Advisor: Amir Zeldes, PhD
• Current position: Principal Computational Linguist, BlackBoiler

Young-A Son, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics | Advisor: Lourdes Ortega, PhD
• Current Position: Data Analytics and Visualization Specialist, Language Testing International

Shuo Zhang, PhD (2018)

• Concentration: General Linguistics | Advisor: Lisa Zsiga, PhD & Amir Zeldes, PhD
• Current Position: Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Bose Corporation

Edvan Brito, PhD (2017)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Faculty, Middlebury College

Hillary Harner, PhD (2017)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics
• Current Position: Data Scientist, Altamira Technologies Corporation

Mackenzie Price, PhD (2017)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Director, Anti-Bias Initiatives, Dotdash Meredith

Sylvia Sierra, PhD (2017)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies, Syracuse University

Fathiya Al Rashdi, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor at the Department of English Language and Literature, Sultan Qaboos University in Oman

Luke Amoroso, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: General Linguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Linguistics, Truman State University

Marta Baffy, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Professor of the Practice and Director of Academic Success, University of Baltimore School of Law

Yanyan Cui, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Academy for Research on Chinese Ethnic Minority Languages, Minzu University of China

Daniel Ginsberg, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Director, Strategic Initiatives, American Anthropological Association

Hae In Park, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Linguistics & Translation Studies, Kyung Hee University, South Korea

Shoko Sasayama, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor (Faculty Development Specialist), University of Tokyo

Yoonsang Song, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: General Linguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Hong Kong

Amelia Tseng, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, World Languages and Cultures, American University

Laura West, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Lead Insights Director, Cision

Sarah Young, PhD (2016)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics
• Current Position: Professorial Lecturer, MA TESOL Program, American University

Jessica Grieser, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Michigan

Sakiko Kajino, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Adjunct Instructor in Japanese, American University

Julie Lake, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics
• Current Position: Professor of Legal English, Georgetown University Law Center

Eunji Lee, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: General Linguistics
• Current Position: Lecturer, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania

Jinsok Lee, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Sociolinguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, The Catholic College, The Catholic University of Korea

Anastasia Mozgalina, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics
• Current Position: Assistant Professor, Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, Department of Slavic Studies at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

Laura Siebecker, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Theoretical Linguistics
• Current Position: Adjunct Professor, Green Mountain College; Second Language Acquisition Specialist, National Foreign Language Center, UMD

Kaitlyn Tagarelli, PhD (2015)

• Concentration: Applied Linguistics
• Current Position: Head of Research, Mango Languages

Don’t see your information listed here? Or is this information out of date? Contact the graduate coordinator to provide updated alumni information.