Renee Nielsen joined IPU New Zealand in 2024 as a lecturer in English Language Studies, where she teaches English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and contributes to teaching Language & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) papers in BCIS programmes. Prior to joining IPU New Zealand, Renee tutored mathematics, science, and social studies for intermediate and high school students in the Manawatū, and taught Japanese and English as second languages to both high school and adult learners. Her recent responsibilities at IPU New Zealand include primarily teaching NZCEL (New Zealand Certificate in English Language), and being involved in teaching and moderation in English Language Studies and Languages & TESOL, and assisting in the moderation of Japanese Studies papers.

Renee's research interests centre on multiliteracies in contemporary multicultural adult learning spaces, and on cross-cultural narrative expressions in storytelling. Her postgraduate research investigated intercultural and cross-linguistic dimensions of the internationally engaged "whump" fiction genre. She is currently exploring multiliteracies and critical thinking in intercultural English Language Studies classrooms, and has been recognised with the 2025 Student Choice Award for favourite teacher in the English Language Studies programme, and the 2021 IPU New Zealand Undergraduate Research Award for her BCIS research "Sociocultural identities within the whump community."