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Natalia Balyasnikova is an Associate Professor at York University, specializing in critical applied linguistics and adult education. Her research is focused on the complex interplay of language and literacy education for immigrants, particularly addressing the discourses surrounding older immigrants' language learning in community-based settings. Balyasnikova employs traditional ethnographic methods alongside creative approaches including storytelling, theatre, and poetry in her research. Her public scholarship has gained attention from major media outlets, reflecting her commitment to community activism. Balyasnikova is actively involved in various professional organizations and serves on the board of the Parkdale Project Read, a non-profit dedicated to promoting literacy. Her scholarly interests include narrative, biography, educational gerontology, English as an additional language, community-based education, and critical intercultural communication. She has been the principal investigator for numerous SSHRC grants aimed at exploring language-based stereotypes affecting older immigrants and innovative approaches to community literacy.
Department of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies graduate programs generally follow the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) B+ minimum requirement.