Negar Bakhshandeh
Graduate Assistant at MEP
Literacy and Language Education,
Curriculum and Instruction
About
I am a PhD Candidate in Literacy and Language Education at Purdue University with a strong passion for teacher education, educational policy and decision-making, high-stakes standardized testing, global assessment policies, educational reform, and test fairness.
My research interests center on the world of educational testing and assessment, with a particular commitment to improving how tests are designed, implemented, and experienced by both teachers and students. My dissertation focuses on the WIDA English Language Development Standards and assessments in K–12 contexts, exploring how educators understand and implement them in practice.
I am deeply motivated to contribute to conversations about equity, fairness, and reform in assessment, ensuring that educational systems better serve multilingual learners and diverse student populations.
Education
- Master of Art in Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching Tehran, Iran
- Allameh Tabataba’i University February 2021, GPA: 3.92
- Bachelor of Art in Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) Tehran, Iran
- Farhangian University (Iran’s one and only Teacher Training University), February 2017, GPA: 3.44
Career Experience
Higher Education Teaching & Graduate Assistantships
- Graduate Assistant, MEP, Purdue University
- June 2025 – Present
- Career Development Graduate Assistant, Center for Career Opportunities (CCO), Purdue University
- Aug 2024 – May 2025
- Instructor, “Teaching and Learning English as a New Language,” Purdue University
- Jan 2023 – May 2024
- Teaching Assistant, “Special Populations Seminar: English Language Learners and Students with Gifts, Creativity, and Talents,” Purdue University
- Aug 2022 – May 2024
- SAT Verbal and English Teacher, MEP, Purdue University
- Jun 2024 – Aug 2024
K–12 Teaching Experience (Iran’s Ministry of Education)
- Middle School English Teacher, Ministry of Education (Tehran, Iran)
- Feb 2013 – Sep 2021
International & Private Language Instruction
- English Times Language School, Istanbul, Turkey
- Jan 2022 – July 2022
- Lingo Phoenix / Afarinesh IELTS House, Tehran, Iran
- May 2019 – Sep 2021
- TAUTCO (Amirkabir University of Technology), Tehran, Iran
- Jan 2014 – Sep 2016
Research & Editorial Experience
- Assistant Editor, Fact Book, Allameh Tabataba’i University (Tehran, Iran)
- Jan 2019 – Aug 2019
Professional Affiliations/Memberships
Member, Life Team, Purdue Graduate Student Government (PGSG) – Support planning and hosting events aimed at enhancing graduate student life and building community.
Research & Publications
Selected Publications
- Tajeddin, Z., Hassani, A., & Bakhshandeh, N. (2023). Successful language learning out of the classroom: a case study of Iranian learners’ activities. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 18(4), 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2023.2296463
Advisor
Courses Typically Taught
- EDCI 370
- EDCI 20002
- ENGR 10301
Research Area / Dissertation Topic
Teacher Education, Belief, and Cognition; Educational Policy and Decision Making, High-Stake Standardized Testing, Global Assessment policies, Educational Reform, Test Fairness