Fangzhi He Multilingual Assistant Professor of the Practice

Throughout my academic journey, I have contributed to thefield of applied linguistics by publishing journal articles and book chapters in both Chinese and English. My Chinese publications explore topics such as intercultural competence, humor, and laughter, while my English publications primarily center around academic writing.

Over time, I have developed a keen interest in the relationship between writing and identity. On the one hand, I have observed how individuals' cultural and social identities influence their literacy practices. On the other hand, people often adopt the practices of certain social groups to align themselves with those groups. My doctoral research examined multilingual writers’ identity development in writing their thesis. While pursuing my Ph.D., I have gained expertise as a professional writing tutor and instructor teaching academic writing and business writing.

Before starting my Ph.D. program in the United States, I worked as an English professor at a STEM university in China, where I taught various courses in English. I also had the opportunity to spend a year in the United Kingdom as a visiting associate professor, which has broadened my understanding of cross-cultural communication and pedagogical approaches.

Having completed a significant par of my education outside the U.S., I am fully aware of the challenges faced by international students when they start their education in the U.S. With years of experience as a writing consultant and instructor, I am confident that I can support the multilingual students at Davidson. It brings me great joy to assist them in their academic pursuits.