Education

• MA, Teaching English as a Second Language, University of Central Oklahoma (2017)

• BA, English with minor in Modern Languages-Spanish, University of Central Oklahoma (2015)

Areas of Interest & Expertise

Second language development research with a focus on the psychology of language learning and contemplative pedagogy in multilingual and immigrant education contexts. Specific interests include Vygotskian Sociocultural Theory, mindfulness-based pedagogies, second language writing, curriculum development and assessment, and adult and community-based education.

 

Selected Publications

Book Chapters

McKinney, B. S. (2025). Compassionate pedagogy in second language education. In H. Wang & J. Flory (Eds.), Curriculum as Lived: Currere, Mindfulness and Nonviolent Companionship (pp. TBD). Emerald Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80592-164-620251021

 

Journal Articles

McKinney, B. S. (2025). LyricsTraining and LingoClip. CALICO Journal, 42(2), 336–344. https://doi.org/10.3138/calico-2024-0005

 

Other Publications

McKinney, B. S., Williams, J., & Wessinger, L. (Forthcoming). On (Writing) Families: Exploring Kinship, Love, and Loss in Autoethnographic Narratives.

 

Walvoord, M., & McKinney, B. S. (May 2016). Promoting Tutoring Central as an Avenue to Transformation. Transformative Teacher-Scholar: Center for Excellence in Transformative Teaching & Learning (CETTL) Monthly E-publication.

https://tts.uco.edu/promoting-tutoring-central-as-an-avenue-to-transformation/

 

McKinney, B. (November 2012). Book review: American Indian Literature and Anthology, Alan R. Velie. New Plains Review. Edmond: UCO–New Plains Review. https://www.uco.edu/cla/academics/english/publications

 

Selected Conference Presentations

Featured & Invited Talks

McKinney, B. (November 2025). Affect in language education. Guest lecture for the Teaching English as a Second Language (4043/5243) course at Oklahoma State University.

 

McKinney, B. (October 2025). Emotions in academic writing: What applied linguistics can teach us. Workshop for the Department of English at Oklahoma State University.

 

McKinney, B. & Rahmati, P. (September 2023). AI for language learners. Invited talk presented at Friends of Oklahoma Language Studies. Stillwater, OK.

 

McKinney, B. & Gosset, C. (June 2023). Mindfulness in language learning. Session presented at the OSU English Language and Intercultural Center Well-Being Day Retreat, St. Francis of the Woods, Stillwater, OK.

 

Conference Presentations

McKinney, B. (April 2025). Pedagogical tools for mediating cognition-and-emotion in second language instruction. Presented at the 42nd Annual Multicultural Education Institute. University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK. https://www.uco.edu/ceps/academics/cni/mei

 

McKinney, B. (March 2024). Compassionate pedagogy in second language education. Presented at A Call of Our Time: Awakenings to Nonviolence in Curriculum and Education. Tulsa, OK. https://education.okstate.edu/site-files/documents/stles/osu-nonviolence-conference-program3.pdf

 

McKinney, B., Nicklas, R., Takebe, A. & Amory, M. (April 2022). Building and launching an intensive language program during the pandemic. Presented at the 7th Annual TESL & Applied Linguistics Spring Forum. Stillwater, OK.

 

McKinney, B., & Stephenson, A. (March 2018). Tutors on the Move. Using Peer-Tutoring to Connect with ESL Students in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Community. Presented at the 2018 Transformative Learning Conference in Oklahoma City, OK. https://jotl.uco.edu/index.php/jotl/article/view/344/214

 

McKinney, B. (March 2016). Community in the Age of Capitalism: An Analysis of Contemporary American Indian Poetry. Presented at the Popular Culture Association (PCA) 2016 Conference in Seattle, WA.

 

McKinney, B. (March 2015). Alisoun in “The Miller’s Tale:” A Fourteenth Century Image of a Third Wave Feminist. Presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2015 Conference at Eastern Washington University in Spokane, WA.

 

Academic and Professional Appointments

• Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of English, Oklahoma State University (2021-2025)

• Assistant Director, English Language & Intercultural Center, Oklahoma State University (2023 – 2024)

• Instructor & Language Specialist, English Language & Intercultural Center, Oklahoma State University (2021 – 2024)

• Grant Coordinator, Project ENGAGE, University of Central Oklahoma (2019 – 2021)

• Adjunct Instructor, Bilingual Education/TESOL Department, University of Central Oklahoma (2020 – 2021)

• ELL Coordinator & Literacy Instructor, Santa Fe South Charter High School, Oklahoma City (2017 – 2019)

• Administrative Assistant I, Tutoring Central, University of Central Oklahoma (2015 – 2017)

• ESL Conversation Coordinator & Writing Tutor, Tutoring Central, University of Central Oklahoma (2014 – 2015)

Professional Service

• Graduate Student Representative, Department Head Search Committee, Department of English, OSU (Spring 2026)
• Advisory Board Member, English Language & Intercultural Center, OSU (2025–Present)
• CEA Accreditation Lead, English Language & Intercultural Center, Oklahoma State University (2023–2024)
• TESOL & Linguistics Summit Committee Member, OSU (2023)
• Secretary, TESLing Student Association, OSU (2021–2023)
• Technology Director & Committee Member, Multicultural Education Institute, UCO (2020–2022)
• Reading Buddies Volunteer, Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools (2019–2020)

Dissertation

Contemplative Pedagogy and the Development of Conscious Awareness: A Microgenetic Study of International Students’ Perezhivaniya During First-Semester Study Abroad

• Committee: Dr. Michael Amory (Chair), Dr. Steph Link, Dr. An Cheng, Dr. Jane Vogler
• Expected completion: May 2026

Courses Taught

• ENGL 1123: International Freshman Composition I — Oklahoma State University, Spring 2025

• Academic Literacy II — English Language & Intercultural Center, 2021–2024

• Academic Literacy III — English Language & Intercultural Center, 2021–2024

• Academic Interactions I — English Language & Intercultural Center, 2021–2024

• University Immersion — English Language & Intercultural Center, 2021–2024

• Community English — English Language & Intercultural Center, 2021–2024

• TESL 5763: Second Language Acquisition — University of Central Oklahoma, Fall 2020

• TESL 5212: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity — University of Central Oklahoma, Spring 2021

• ELL Literacy — Santa Fe South Charter High School, Oklahoma City, 2017–2019

• Newcomer English — Santa Fe South Charter High School, Oklahoma City, 2017–2019

• Adult ESL — Community Literacy Centers, Oklahoma City, 2019

Grants

• UCO NEXUS Bilingual Education Project ($2.9M) — U.S. Department of Education (Co-Developer, 2019–2021) - link

• ENGAGE: Equipping a New Generation for Academic Growth and Excellence ($2.5M) — U.S. Department of Education (Grant Coordinator, 2019–2021) - link

• CLIC: The Content, Language, and Instruction Confluence at Oklahoma State University’s English Language and Intercultural Center ($69,999; $19,256 match from OSU Global) — Ministry of Education of Japan (Co-Developer, 2023–2024) - link

• Afghan Refugee Resettlement and English Services ($158,780) — Department of Human Services, OSU Global (Co-Developer, 2021–2022) - link

• ELIC English Classes for Stillwater Community ($2,920 raised of $5,000 goal) — OSU Foundation Philanthropete Campaign (Project Co-Owner, Fall 2023) - link

Awards

• TESLing Student Association Award for Excellence in Leadership, OSU (2023)

• Gene B. Halleck Annual Award for Outstanding Student Teacher, OSU (2021, 2022)

• Georgia Price Hensley Graduate Scholarship, Department of English, OSU (2021)

• Volunteer of the Year, Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools (2020)

Professional Development

• Level 1 Mindfulness in Education Teacher Certification, WakeUp Schools (2025) — link

• Mental Health First Aid Adult Provider Certification, National Council for Mental Wellbeing (2025) — link

• Mindfulness & Well-Being: Foundations Course Certificate, Rice University (2024)

• eLearning Facilitation Course, Center for eLearning and Connected Environments (CeCE), University of Central Oklahoma (2020)

• Certified Supplemental Instruction Program Supervisor, University of Central Oklahoma (2016)