Liana Appelt holds a PhD in Educational Research from the University of Calgary (U of C). Her research interests encompass Indigenous Language Revitalization, the ethical integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 schools, STEM programs for secondary students, and teacher use of digital technology, including Generative AI (Gen AI), to reduce workload. She also has extensive training and expertise in the areas of Additional Language Acquisition, French Immersion and bilingual education programs in Canada, and effective strategies to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in K-12 settings.
With over 20 years of experience in the K-12 public school system as a classroom teacher, special education specialist, and school principal, Dr. Appelt brings a wealth of practical knowledge and leadership to her work in teacher education. While pursuing her PhD, she taught at the Werklund School of Education (U of C) and currently teaches in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, as well as for the Faculty of Education at Vancouver Island University (VIU). In addition to her teaching roles, Dr. Appelt supervises graduate students in the Master of Education programs at VIU, providing guidance on research method, study design, data analysis and thesis writing.
Outside of academia, Dr. Appelt enjoys trail running near her home, swimming at the UBC Aquatic Centre, and spending weekends hiking or mountain biking with her husband.