Didam Ekici Headshot

Didem Ekici

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Dr. Didem Ekici has worked in K-12 and higher education in the US and overseas for almost 20 years. She earned a doctoral degree on international and multicultural education from University of San Francisco, and her dissertation research was on intercultural competence development through online language teaching. She currently serves in the leadership team of a non-profit organization — Pax Populi — that aims to build peace through virtual exchange and intercultural communication.

Besides her adjunct faculty role at Golden Gate University, she is also a faculty member and department co-chair in the ESOL department in College of Alameda. She currently volunteers as the California TESOL Bay Area chapter coordinator to support ESOL teachers through community building and professional development. Her research interests are online language teaching, intercultural competence, peacebuilding, equity and digital divide, and teacher training.

Research Areas

  • Online language teaching
  • Intercultural competence
  • Peacebuilding
  • Virtual exchange
  • Equity and digital divide
  • Teacher training

Education

  • University of San Francisco, EdD in International and Multicultural Education, 2014

Selected Publications

  • Kelly, K., Ekici, D., & Stark, I. (under review). Closing the Gaps with Online Equity Rubric. In B. Wuetherick (Ed.), Online Learning, Open Education and Equity in the Age of COVID-19 (pp. xx-xx).

  • Minett, A. J., Dietrich, S., & Ekici, D. (2022). Person to Person Peacebuilding and Intercultural Competence: Lessons and Voices from an Online Service-Learning Project. Bristol, UK: Multilingual Matters.

  • Dietrich, S., & Ekici, D. (in press). eService-Learning for Transformational Change. In J.R. Strait (Ed.), Taking eService-Learning to the Next Level: Addressing Social Problems in Communities in Times of Crisis (pp. xx-xx). Stylus.

  • Minett, A. J., Dietrich, S., & Ekici, D. (2021). Discourse Analysis of an Online Intercultural Service Learning Project. In I. Chiluwa (Ed.), Discourse and Conflict: Analyzing Text and Talk of Conflict, Hate and Peacebuilding. Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Ekici, D. (2018). Developing intercultural competence through online English language teaching (Doctoral Dissertation). University of San Francisco, San Francisco.