Ilka Kostka

As Academic Director, Dr. Kostka oversees a portfolio of science and technology bachelor’s completion programs at Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies. She provides leadership in curriculum innovation, academic quality, and faculty development, ensuring that programs remain responsive to industry needs and deliver strong student outcomes. As a Teaching Professor, she teaches English language courses and contributes to curriculum development at the course and program levels. Through her work as a faculty collaborator with the CPS LEARN Lab, she researches applications of AI in qualitative data analysis.

Programs Affiliated: Science and Technology Undergraduate Programs

Teaching and Research Focus Area: Her current work focuses on the strategic integration of generative AI in teaching and learning, with an emphasis on faculty development, human-centered learning, and innovation in educational practice.

Professional Background: Dr. Kostka is the Deputy Chair of the Women in Higher Education Fellowship, hosted by Professors Without Borders. The Fellowship provides professional development to women academics from around the world through learning, networking, and mentoring. She is passionate about developing women leaders, strengthening global professional networks, and creating pathways for their career advancement in higher education.

Academic Background: B.A. in German Studies from The Pennsylvania State University; Minors: International Studies and Political Science. M.A. in German Studies from the University of Connecticut. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Language Program Management from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Select Publications: 

Marshall, H.W., & Kostka, I. (2026). SOFLA: The synchronous online flipped learning approach. University of Michigan Press.

Toncelli, R. & Kostka, I. (2025). “Our voice is unique:” Integrating generative AI into multilingual writing instruction. Teaching English as a Second Language Electronic Journal (TESL-EJ), 29(3).

Paiz, J.M., Toncelli, R., & Kostka, I. (2025). Artificial intelligence, real teaching: A Guide to AI in ELT. University of Michigan Press.

Saxena, M., Reilly, J., Rego, M., Kostka, I., & Serig, D. (2026). From GenAI experimentation to integration: Vignettes in teaching, learning and assessment in higher education. International Journal of AI in Pedagogy, Innovation, and Learning Futures, 2(1), 1-22.

Toncelli, R., Kostka, I., McMartin-Miller, C., Zhou, L., & Szelenyi, B. (2025). Charting new waters: Exploring the role of ChatGPT in post-secondary pathways programs. In C. Wang & Z. Tian (Eds.), Artificial intelligence and language education: Promises, challenges, and applications (pp. 153-168). Routledge.

Toncelli, R., & Kostka, I. (2024). A love-hate relationship: Exploring faculty attitudes towards GenAI and its integration into teaching. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 6(3), 77-94.

Kostka, I., & Toncelli, R. (2023). Exploring applications of ChatGPT to English language teaching: Opportunities, challenges, and recommendations. The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, 27(3), 1-19.

Kostka, I., & McMartin-Miller, C. (2026). Reflections on using GenAI for multilingual writing feedback: Implications for practice. Feedback Research in Second Language, 4, 16-27.

Kostka, I. (2023). Using a flipped learning approach to teach source-based academic writing in English language courses. In R. Wette (Ed.), Teaching and learning source-based writing: Current perspectives and future directions (pp. 94-107). Routledge.

Kostka, I. (2026). Generative artificial intelligence and teacher development. In the Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Wiley.

Marshall, H.W., & Kostka, I. (2020). Fostering teaching presence: The Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach. The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, 24(2), 1-14.

Kostka, I. (2020). Teaching with collaborative technologies across borders. In J.K. Shin & P. Vinogradova (Eds.), Contemporary foundations for teaching English as an additional language: Pedagogical approaches and classroom applications (pp. 191-199). Routledge.

Recent Awards: 

2026: 20 to Watch Award (International Society for Transforming Education)

2024: Ron Chang Lee Award for Excellence in Classroom Technology (with Rachel Toncelli); given by TESOL International Association

2024: MagicSchool AI Educator Award Semifinalist, MagicSchool AI.

2024: Volunteer of the Year Award, given by Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester

2024: Linda Schulman Innovation Grant, given by Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages.