Katrina Daly Thompson received her Ph.D. in African Languages and Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004. She specializes in African languages and identities with a focus on ethnicity, gender and sexuality in Zimbabwean and Tanzanian discourse.

She teaches all levels of Swahili language courses, coordinates the instruction of other African languages, and offers Applied Linguistics courses on multilingualism and LCTL learner autonomy. Thompson is also involved in developing materials, both print and online, for the teaching and learning of Shona and Swahili.