Katy Arnett

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Photo of Katy Arnett

SMCM Alum , Class of 2000

Biography

Dr. Katy Arnett joined the faculty in 2005 and is a Professor of Educational Studies. Prior to moving into the role of Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs in July 2023, Dr. Arnett previously served as the Coordinator of Transparent Teaching & Assessment (2017-2023), Faculty Advisor for Academic Accessibility (2018-2021), as well as Department Chair in Educational Studies (2013-2016; 2022-2023), and Director of Teacher Education (2022-2023). 

A former Fulbright Scholar (Second Language Research Institute of Canada at the University of New Brunswick in 2012-2013), Dr. Arnett’s teaching and research interests in inclusive teaching practices and methods within second language classrooms began as an undergraduate student with her St. Mary’s Project. Her research has been disseminated in both English and French in multiple venues, including the Canadian Modern Language Review, the Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, and Exceptionality Education International.  She also regularly connects with practitioner audiences, via publications, conference presentations/workshops, and keynotes at both conferences and within school district professional learning events.  

Dr. Arnett has written or co-authored several books focused on inclusive education within language learning settings.  Her first book, Languages for all: How to support and challenge students in a second language classroom was published in 2013 by Pearson Education Canada. Also in 2013, and in collaboration with Dr. Callie Mady of Nipissing University, she co-edited and contributed a chapter to the volume, Minority populations in Canadian second language education, which was published by Multilingual Matters in the United Kingdom.   In 2018, with Dr. Renée Bourgoin, she co-authored Access for success: Making inclusion work for language learners, which grew out of her work as a Fulbright Scholar.  Dr. Arnett has also co-developed, developed, or contributed to multiple textbook programs for teaching French as an additional language to students in Canada, most notably Points de connexion with Dr. Callie Mady (Pearson Education Canada, 2015) and Jusqu’au bout (Pearson Education Canada, 2020).  She has a forthcoming co-authored chapter in a volume targeted to teacher education professionals and scholars within Canada.

Areas of Research Specialization

  • Second Language Development for students with Language-based learning difficulties
  • Educational Experiences of Newcomer Students
  • Teachers' beliefs and practices

Areas of Teaching Specialization

  • Methods of Teaching
  • Language-based learning challenges

Education

  • B.A. in Foreign Language (French) at St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2000
  • M.A. in Second Language Education at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, 2001
  • Ph.D. in Second Language Education at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, 2004