Contact Info

Email: michelle_petersen@sil.org
Phone: (972) 708-7340 ext. 2452

Back to faculty listing

Curriculum Vitae


Michelle S. Petersen
7500 W. Camp Wisdom Road
Dallas, Texas 75236
Michelle_Petersen@sil.org

Education

Master of Arts in Language Development, Major in Scripture Use, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, Dallas, TX, 2006.

Bachelor of Arts (Summa Cum Laude), Major in French, Minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Utah, 1988.

Graduate Certification to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Utah, 1988.

Teaching Experience

Course Head, LIN 575 Scripture Use, Canada Institute of Linguistics, Trinity Western University, Langley, Canada, summers 2008 to present.

Adjunct Professor of World Arts at Dallas International University, Dallas, TX, 2006 to present.

Oregon Summer Institute of Linguistics, Eugene, Oregon: Course Head for Ling 418/518 Scripture Use, summers 2004-2006; co-taught Scripture Use and Program Planning with Dr. Paul Lewis, summer 2002.

French Faculté libre de théologie évangélique, Vaux-sur-Seine, France: Taught Phonetics, summers 2000 and 2003.

French Cours d’Introduction à la Linguistique, Lamorlaye, France: Taught Sociolinguistics and Language and Culture Acquisition, summers 1995 and 1996.

French Cours d’Introduction à la Linguistique, Tête de Ran, Switzerland: Taught Literacy and Language and Culture Acquisition, summer 1997.

Co-taught Scripture Use and Ethnomusicology Workshops to participants representing 21 African language groups, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, 1998-2000.

Co-taught Literacy Methods at CEFCA Theological Seminary in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Africa, 1998.

Co-taught Literacy Supervisor Training Workshop for representatives of nine language groups in Gemena, Zaire, 1995.

Davis County School District, Kaysville, Utah, Secondary School Teacher of English as a Second Language for students from 20 countries representing 12 languages,1988-1991.

Field Work

SIL International Arts and Scripture Engagement Consultant, 2010-present; have worked with representatives of several languages of Burkina Faso and Senegal including Buamu, Kasa, Noon, Serer, Toussian, Wamey, and Wolof.

Scripture Use Specialist for Mali-Côte d’Ivoire, 1997-2004.

Sango Literacy Specialist, 1993-1996. Co-taught Sango Writers’ Workshop and Literacy Teacher Training Workshops in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Selected Publications

“Participatory Methods for Scripture Engagement.” Forum of Bible Agencies International, 2020. https://scripture-engagement.org/content/participatory-methods-scripture-engagement/ 

“Arts Development for Scripture Engagement.” EMS Occasional Bulletin 32:1(Fall 2018):26-35. https://www.emsweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/OB_Fall_2018.pdf

“How to Integrate Scripture Proclamation with Arts: Scripture Relevance Dramas.” Chapter 143 in Krabill, James, Frank Fortunato, Robin Harris, and Brian Schrag, eds. Worship and Mission for the Global Church: An Ethnodoxology Handbook. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2013.

Contributed sections to Schrag, Brian. Creating Local Arts Together: A Manual to Help Communities Reach Their Kingdom Goals. General editor, James Krabill. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2013.

Bûngbi tî dïköngö-mbëtï. (Sango language literacy program, Level 4 teacher’s manual). Bangui, Central African Republic: ACATBA, 1996.

Selected Conference Papers Presented

“Participatory Methods for Scripture Engagement,” paper presented at the Bible Translation 2019 International Conference as part of the theme “Bible Translation and Embodiment: Incarnated Word and Incarnational Mission.” October 11-15, 2019. The ILC Campus, Dallas, TX.

“Arts Development for Scripture Engagement.” Paper presented at the Bible Translation 2017 International Conference, Dallas, Texas, October 16, 2017. 

“Serving Scripture in Local Dishes: Seven Analytic Lenses.” Paper presented at the 2013 International Bible Translation Conference, October 14, 2013.

“Increasing Scripture Engagement through Local Arts: Decreasing Cultural Distance between the Message and Today’s Receptors.” Colloquium presented at Canada Institute of Linguistics, Langley, BC, July 22, 2011.

“To Engage Audiences with Scripture, Illustrate Stories, Not Dictionaries.” Poster Session presented at the Bible Translation 2011 International Conference, Dallas, Texas, October 15, 2011.

“Increasing Scripture Engagement through Local Arts: Decreasing Cultural Distance between the Message and Today’s Receptors.” Paper presented at Bible Translation 2009 International Conference, Dallas, Texas, October 19, 2009.

“Scripture Relevance Drama.” Paper presented at the International Orality Network conference, Dallas, Texas, September 16, 2008.

“Sango Literacy Case Study.” Paper presented at the Carrefour Linguistique, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 1998.