I'm Dr. Marinka Swift—a language education consultant specializing in curriculum design, professional development, and research-informed practice. With a PhD in Linguistics from UC Davis, over 15 years of experience in higher education, and experience as co-PI and grant coordinator leading curriculum design supported by a $150,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant, I help educators and institutions strengthen their impact through strategic language development and inclusive pedagogical approaches.

My research examines how language ideologies shape educational equity, student belonging, and academic success—with a particular focus on multilingual learners and inclusive language practices. This work is featured in a forthcoming book chapter on raciolinguistic ideologies and has directly informed the curricula, professional development programs, and institutional strategies I design for clients.

Recently, I've developed comprehensive professional English development curriculum for Kazakh educators through UC Davis's Bolashak Scholars Program, integrating AI literacy and evidence-based pedagogical strategies for international teaching contexts. I've also created on-demand professional development courses on AI integration in higher education, helping educators across institutions use emerging technologies ethically and effectively.My love of languages began with a personal goal: learning Italian, the language of my family. What started as undergraduate electives grew into a double major in Italian and Psychology, and later into a career dedicated to language, education, and research. Over the years, I’ve developed original curricula and programs for international students and educators, helping scholars elevate their expertise, passions, and professional impact through strategic language development. I’ve also worked with institutions to create and deliver curricula that sustain meaningful global partnerships, fostering connections across borders and disciplines.

I believe deeply in the power of language to connect people to opportunity. Whether in education, business, travel, policy, or community, language shapes how we belong, communicate, and grow. It can bridge connections, inspire innovation, and cultivate inclusion.

As a first-generation college graduate and granddaughter of Italian immigrants, my passion for education and research grew from a desire to understand belonging and global perspectives. That journey led me to become a language instructor, curriculum designer, and consultant who helps others pursue their own goals in education and language development.

Today, I bring a proven record of supporting educators and institutions in strengthening research, curriculum, and professional development initiatives. My consulting services focus on advancing language development, fostering inclusion, and equipping educators—both domestic and international—to make a greater impact in their work, research, and academic communities.

My expertise spans:

• Curriculum & Program Design: Original curricula for international scholars, professional English development programs, and AI-integrated learning experiences

• Professional development & teacher training: Designed and facilitated workshops and courses for university faculty, staff, and administrators on topics including AI integration in education, inclusive language practices, and professional English development for international scholars.

• Research & Scholarship: Curriculum design, language ideologies, second language acquisition, educational equity, and raciolinguistics—with NEH-funded curricular work and forthcoming publications

• Higher Education Leadership: Previously served as Director of Research Operations at an R1 university (University of Denver) for the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (In)Equality (IRISE) and contributed to federal grant writing across multiple disciplines, helping to secure significant funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support an interdisciplinary curricular initiative. This funding informed student programming, researcher training, course development and instructional design, applications of research in curricula and community connected partnerships. Currently lead Instructional Designer at Focus on Language, LLC.

• International Partnerships: Expertise designing and delivering programs for global educator development and cross-border academic collaborations.

My training comes from some of the top institutions in the United States:

Ph.D. - Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, University of California at Davis

Dissertation: Language Ideologies and Belonging: Educational Experiences of Chicanx and Latinx University Students.

M.A. - Linguistics, University of California at Davis

M.A. - Italian Linguistics & Pedagogy, Middlebury College Italian School, Vermont

B.A. - Psychology & Italian Studies, Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

CV accessible here

Contact me to start a conversation about how my expertise can support your institutions’ goals and needs.