Ahmet Dursun is an internationally respected leader in educational technology and language assessment, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Office of Language Assessment at the University of Chicago. With over 20 years of experience across academic research, international education, and organizational leadership, Ahmet has consistently advanced the field of language learning and assessment through evidence-based innovation and strategic implementation.
A Ph.D. candidate in Applied Linguistics and Technology at Iowa State University, Ahmet’s academic foundation is grounded in robust, interdisciplinary research. He has extensive experience in designing and developing cutting-edge assessment and evaluation strategies, systems, and instruments. His work ensures that testing and teaching practices in educational programs are underpinned by rigorous research and guarantees that learners are well-equipped with the necessary skills to excel in both academic and professional domains.
Throughout his career, Ahmet has led the design and validation of high-impact language assessments and curricula that empower students and institutions alike. As a thought leader in the educational sector, he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on topics ranging from automated writing evaluation and proficiency-based curriculum design to domain analysis, technology-driven language instruction, and language testing research and practice. His scholarship is regularly cited in top-tier journals and featured in critical handbooks and industry volumes.
Since assuming leadership at the University of Chicago’s Office of Language Assessment in 2017, Ahmet has transformed the office into a national hub for assessment-driven pedagogy. His initiatives span designing university-wide tests, leading reverse-design curriculum strategies, and orchestrating collaborations with Ivy League and Big Ten institutions. These partnerships have included organizing and delivering large-scale workshops and seminars for language instructors, with support from esteemed funders such as the Mellon Foundation and Luce Foundation. His impact stretches across the U.S. and into Europe and Asia, supporting teacher training and faculty development initiatives for world languages.
Ahmet’s work is driven by a deep commitment to aligning instructional practices with real-world learner outcomes. He plays key roles on global committees such as the Educational Testing Service’s (ETS) TOEFL Focus Group and serves as the Assessment and Evaluation Strand Coordinator for the American Association of Applied Linguistics conference. As Conference Chair of the 2022 Language Assessment Research Conference (LARC), he unified two major regional testing consortia to drive dialogue on assessment innovation.
Complementing his research and strategic leadership, Ahmet is also deeply engaged in executive education. He has completed leadership programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, focusing on inclusive leadership, team dynamics, and decision-making in high-stakes environments. These experiences highlight his vision to integrate academic rigor with leadership agility, enabling institutions to deliver educational impact at scale.
Fluent in Kurdish, Turkish, and English—with functional proficiency in Arabic—Ahmet brings a truly global perspective to his work. His international teaching and training background equips him to design culturally responsive solutions across multilingual and multicultural environments.
A former Fulbright Scholar and award-winning educator, Ahmet is now seeking to expand his impact by serving on corporate, nonprofit, or educational boards. His aim is to partner with mission-driven organizations to scale innovative learning and assessment frameworks that transform educational outcomes globally.
Ahmet Dursun’s personal mission is to advance world language education through research-driven, evidence-centered innovation, fostering transformative learning experiences for both students and educators.
Character: Ahmet Dursun is a mission-driven leader committed to integrity, equity, and the transformative power of education.
Knowledge: He brings over two decades of expertise in educational technology, educational measurement, language assessment and research, and curriculum design, project-based and inquiry-based learning, and constructivist pedagogy grounded in academic research.
Strategic: He has successfully led large-scale, evidence-based initiatives that align institutional goals with innovative learning and assessment strategies.
Communication: A skilled communicator and multilingual educator, he effectively engages diverse stakeholders through public speaking, leadership seminars, and collaborative academic work.
