Dr. Suneeta Thomas

Details

Education

• PhD, English, Second Language Studies/ESL, Purdue University
• MA, English, Literary Studies, Purdue University

Teaching

• ENG 793 Seminar in Linguistics (Grammatical Analysis)
• ENG 793 Seminar in Linguistics (World Englishes)
• ENG 793 Seminar in Linguistics (Introduction to Corpus Linguistics)
• ENG 792 Linguistics in Rhetoric and Composition (Second Language Writing/ESL/Translingualism focus)
• ENG 591/691 Linguistics Theory
• ENG 595/695 Principles in Second Language Acquisition
• ENG 592/688 Sociolinguistics for Language Teaching
• ENG 590/690 Grammatical Analysis
• ENG 494 Dialects of American English
• ENG 390 Modern English Grammar
• ENG 296 Introduction to Linguistics

Professional experience

• MLA, Language Studies and Linguistics, Global English Forum Executive Committee, 2025-2030
• Reviewer for textbook in Language and Linguistics, Cambridge University Press, 2024
• Faculty Writing Retreats FLC Facilitator, Faculty Center of Teaching & Learning, Missouri State University, 2023-2024
• Graduate Faculty Research Mentoring (2017-present): 19 graduate students (as Research Director), 21 graduate students (as Reader). 
• Coordinator of TESOL Programs and Sole Academic Advisor of seated TESOL & ESOL Programs, Missouri State University, 2022-present
• RCASH College Representative, Inclusive Engagement Council, Missouri State University, 2023-
• Editorial Board, Ozarks Studies Institute, 2023-
• University Committee on Faculty Concerns, Missouri State University, 2022-present
• Graduate Committee; Planning Committee, Department of English, Missouri State University, 2022-present
• RCOAL Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism Council, Missouri State University, 2020-2023
• Conference Proposal Reviewer, TESOL 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2015 International Convention
• Journal Manuscript Reviewer: Frontiers in Communication, 2024; SALT, Journal of Contemporary Philology, 2020-present; World Englishes, 2020.
• Curriculum Committee, Department of English, Missouri State University, 2018-2023
• Co-Academic Advisor with Dr. Yili Shi, seated TESOL/ESOL programs, Missouri State University, 2018-2021
• Personnel Committee, Department of English, Missouri State University, 2017-2021
• Linguistics Program Committee, Missouri State University, 2016-present
• Content Developer, Online Writing Lab (OWL), Purdue University, 2015-2016
• Chair, Second Language Studies/ESL Graduate Symposium, Purdue University, 2015
• Certified Rater, Purdue University's Oral English Proficiency Test (OEPT), 2014-2016
• Graduate Instructor, Content Developer, Oral English Proficiency Program (OEPP), Purdue University, 2014-2016
• Chair, ESL Speaker Series, Second Language Studies/ESL Graduate Organization, Purdue University, 2013-2014
  
• Instructor, Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) Program, Department of English, Purdue University, 2010-2014

Research and professional interests

• World Englishes/sociolinguistics
• Second language writing/writing studies
• Corpus linguistics
• TESOL
• Applied linguistics

Selected publications

• Thomas, S. (forthcoming). Professional and cultural identity performances in transnational, middle-class migrants: A sociolinguistic case study of the United Arab Emirates. Atlantic Studies.
• Thomas, S. (2021). Perceiving Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” through Sociolinguistic and World Englishes lenses. In K. West &  L. T. Moser (Eds.), Critical Insights: Amy Tan (pp. 42-57). Amenia, NY: Salem Press.
• Thomas, S. (2021). Code-switching in spoken Indian English: A case study of sociopolitical talk. Journal of Contemporary Philology, 4(1), 7-40. https://doi.org/10.37834/JCP2141007t
• Thomas, S. (2021). English in the United Arab Emirates. World Englishes, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12560
• Thomas, S. (2017). Journalogue: Voicing student challenges in writing through a classroom blog. Educational Technology & Society, 20(1), 112-122.
• Thomas, S. (2016). [Review of the book Teaching and Learning English in the Arabic-Speaking World]. World Englishes, 35(4), 618-621.
• Silva, T., Thomas, S., Park, H. K., & Zhang, C. (Sept, 2014). Scholarship on L2 Writing in 2013: The Year in Review, SLW News. http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolslwis/issues/2014-09-24/6.html
• Silva, T., Lin, M-H., & Thomas, S. (Oct, 2013). Scholarship on L2 Writing in 2012: The Year in Review, SLW News. http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolslwis/issues/2013-10-07/9.html

Awards and honors

• Judy Award for Graduate Mentorship, Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Missouri State University, 2023.
• Assessment Grant, Missouri State University, 2021
• Diversity Scholar Award, Missouri State University, 2020
• Assessment Grant, Missouri State University, 2020
• Master Advisor, Missouri State University, 2019
• Faculty Travel Grant, Missouri State University, 2019
• Faculty Travel Grant, Missouri State University, 2017
• College of Arts and Letters Faculty Summer Fellowship, Missouri State University, 2017
• Master Advisor, Missouri State University, 2016
• Mary Gitzen Memorial OEPP Excellence in Teaching Award, Oral English Proficiency Program, Purdue University, Spring 2016, Fall 2015 and Spring 2015
• Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) Pedagogical Travel Grant, Purdue University, Spring 2016
• Summer Grant, Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University, 2015
• Instructor Travel Award, Oral English Proficiency Program, Purdue University, 2014-2016
• Teaching Assistantship, Oral English Proficiency Program, Purdue University, 2014-2016
• Q-Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Composition Program, Department of English, Purdue University, 2014
• Emerging Scholar Award, The Graduate Student English Association, Purdue University, 2014
• Graduate Student Travel Award, Department of English, Purdue University, 2013 and 2014
• Teaching Assistantship, Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP), Department of English, Purdue University, 2010-2014