Nurul Islam is a doctoral student in Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he works as a Graduate Teaching Associate in the English Department. He holds an M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and English Studies (CRES) from the University of Alabama and both B.A.(Honors) and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. 

With prior experience as a lecturer in Bangladesh and a Teaching Assistant and Instructor of Records at the University of Alabama, Nurul has taught process-based writing, facilitated peer feedback, and supported student voice and agency. Drawing inspiration from bell hooks’ engaged pedagogy, he fosters critical thinking and collaborative learning environments that challenge dominant ideologies and uplift marginalized voices.  

His current research explores the relationship between translanguaging and rhetorical theory—particularly how national and regional identities shape rhetorical practices in academic and political contexts. He is interested in how translingual approaches such as code-meshing and rhetorical flexibility can transform academic discourse and public engagement. 

Nurul aims to design inclusive teaching strategies that allow multilingual students to draw on their full linguistic and rhetorical repertoires. Outside academia, he enjoys traveling and exploring nature.