Tony Silva

Ph.D.     Purdue University 1990
M.A.      University of Illinois 1981
B.A.        Kutztown State University 1977
A.A.       Northampton Community College 1975

Specialization

Second Language Writing

Tony Silva directed the Graduate Program in Second Language Studies in the English Department at Purdue University, where he taught graduate courses for Ph.D., M.A., and Certificate students; chaired 55, co-chaired 13, and was a member of 90 doctoral committees; and chaired 9 and was a member of 37 master’s committees. In addition, he directed the ESL Writing Program, where he supervised and mentored teachers and taught support courses for graduate and undergraduate international students. He also won 22 departmental Excellence in Teaching Awards, a School of Liberal Arts Departmental Excellence in Teaching Award, a College of Liberal Arts Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching, and was inducted into the Purdue Book of Great Teachers.

With Ilona Leki, he founded and edited the Journal of Second Language Writing; with Paul Matsuda, he founded and hosted the annual and international Symposium on Second Language Writing.

He has co-edited or co-authored 11 books, including: Reconciling Translingualism and Second Language Writing (2021), L2 writing in the global context: Represented, underrepresented, and unrepresented voices (2016), Second Language Writing in Secondary Classrooms: Student Experiences, Academic Issues, and Teacher Education (2013); Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing (2010); A Synthesis of Research on Second Language Writing in English (2008); Research on Second Language Writing: Perspectives on the Construction of Knowledge (2005); Landmark Essays on ESL Writing (2001); and On Second Language Writing (2001).

He has published articles in a number of journals, including, College Composition and Communication, Composition Studies, ELT Journal, Foreign Languages and their Teaching, Journal of Second Language Writing, Modern Language Journal, TESL Canada Journal, TESOL Journal, TESOL Quarterly, Writing Program Administration, and Written Communication.

He served the TESOL International Association as a member of their Board of Directors (2013-2016) and the Conference on College Composition and Communication as a member of their Executive Board (2004-2006).