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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John P. Lesko

Meet Dr. John P. Lesko

Degrees and Experience
  • Ph.D., Applied Linguistics (University of Edinburgh, Scotland)
  • M.A., Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (Bowling Green State University)
  • B.S., Communications (Pensacola Christian College)
  • B.A., English (Pensacola Christian College)
Biography and Professional Achievements

Joining CCU in 2019, Dr. John P. Lesko brings over two decades of experience in diverse education and training contexts including research centers, military training institutes, various colleges and universities, and petroleum industry-specialized training centers.

His studies, teaching, and professional service have led to successful education and training endeavors in the U.S. and abroad: Canada, South Korea, France, Great Britain, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, and most recently, Saudi Arabia. Since first venturing abroad as a teaching intern in Gwangju, South Korea, he has served in various capacities and professional roles as an applied linguist, as a dedicated educator, as a tenured university faculty member, as a program coordinator, as a performance analyst, and as a Fulbright Scholar.

As an educational consultant from 2002-2006, concurrent with service in a university-level TESOL certificate and ESL endorsement program, Lesko conducted a series of workshops and seminars for teachers and paraprofessionals in the Flint Schools English Plus/Bilingual/Migrant Programs.

He has also been active in participating and presenting at numerous conferences (national and international), training sessions, and associated development activities. In corporate training contexts he has conducted site visits and accreditation reviews, program evaluations and assessments, policy reviews, credentials and qualifications reviews, performance indicator development projects, customer satisfaction surveys, and TVET benchmarking studies.

Outside the classroom and training environments, Lesko enjoys natural history pursuits, camping, fishing, and taking electric guitar lessons. He is also an avid cyclist and e-bike hobbyist.

Selected Publications and Conference Papers/Presentations
  • "A Refugee and Immigrant Literature Survey: Lived Experiences of the Global Refugee Crisis." The Evangelical Review of Theology and Politics.  Vol. 11, 2023.
  • With Marcela A. Maresh. “OE Assessments Provide Preparation for Corporate Assessments.” Saudi Aramco Training & Development Newsletter, 9 (4). Summer 2019: p. 22.
  • “Developing the Industrial Workforce.” Chapter 1 in Saudi Aramco Training & Development: 2011-2015.
  • With Ahmed Abdelmoeti “Portfolio Assessment.” Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Association of Language Teachers (KSAALT), conference presentation, 2013.
  • “Cross-cultural Impoliteness and Inter-lingual Word Taboos in the Language Classroom.” LIAR II (Linguistic Impoliteness and Rudeness) 2009 International Conference of the Linguistic Politeness Research Group. Lancaster University, United Kingdom. June 30 – July 2, 2009.
  • “Using ‘Special English’ Podcasts for Independent Learning.” 9th Annual Oman International ELT Conference. Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. April 22-23, 2009.
  • “Class Newsletters: Practical Steps for Successful Publication.” 15th International TESOL Arabia Conference. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. March 12-14, 2009.
  • “Using E-Learning Platforms to Effectively Deliver and/or Supplement Delivery of Course Content.” eLearning Trends 2008 Workshop, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, United Arab Emirates. Organized by Al Khawarizmi International College in Association with Liverpool John Moores University. May 20, 2008.
  • “Plagiarism.” International Encyclopedia of Education. (Eds. G. McCulloch & D. Crook). Routledge. 2007.
  • “ESL Endorsement and TESOL Certification: Preparing to Teach ESL Locally and Globally.” Presentation given to SVSU ACE Camp participants. Saginaw Valley State University. 16 August 2004.
  • With Kerry Segel. “ESL Training Partnerships: The SVSU-Flint Experience.” MITESOL Messages, Vol XXIX, No. 2. Michigan Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Ann Arbor, Michigan. August 2003: 10.
  • “Bahrain.” World Education Encyclopedia, vol. 1. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Group, 2002: 92-98.
  • “Kuwait.” World Education Encyclopedia, vol. 2. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Group, 2002: 747-57.
  • “Qatar.” World Education Encyclopedia, vol. 2. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Group, 2002: 1109-14.
  • “Sudan.” World Education Encyclopedia, vol. 3. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Group, 2002: 1290-1305.
  • With Grim, B., Tarwood, J., and Warren, T. “Beyond All Recognition: Moving Away from Multiple Choice/Cheat Tests.” In Syed, Z. (Ed.). The Process of Language Learning: An EFL Perspective. Abu Dhabi: Military Language Institute, 2002: 115-137.
  • "American Indian Rhetoric." The Encyclopedia of Rhetoric: Communication from Ancient Times to the Information Age. ed. Theresa Enos. Garland Publishing: New York. 1996: 7-9.