Nicole Houser, PhD is the Head of the Language Center and Director of the English Language Program at Webster Vienna Private University in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Houser specializes in applying critical and contextualized approaches for First Year Writing, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and World Language programs. She has written and taught courses for all levels of learners of English and Spanish, as well as Introduction to Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Translation, Intercultural Communication, and special topics courses on language ideologies and linguistic discrimination in the United States. Her current research focuses on applying critical, contextualized, and content-based curricula for Intensive English Programs, and developing community engaged courses through linguistic landscape research. Dr. Houser received her PhD from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in English Composition and Applied Linguistics.