Faculty members selected as co-editors for journal

Two Utah State University faculty members were selected as co-editors for a nationally recognized journal, “Literacy Research and Instruction.”

Parker C. Fawson and Sylvia Read from the College of Education and Human Services were chosen and will begin accepting manuscripts for the journal in January 2008.

“This is a significant honor for Dr. Fawson and Dr. Read, but it is also a significant achievement for the department and the college,” said Jim Dorward, interim department head of elementary education.

The journal is published by the College Reading Association four times a year. It provides information contributing to literacy research, practice and policies internationally.

Fawson is associate professor of reading in the elementary education department. Prior to his career at USU, Fawson was a classroom teacher in first, third, fourth and sixth grades, where he had experience working with struggling readers from kindergarten to 12th grade. Fawson has experience working with readers in low-income settings around the country. He currently supports the Utah Reading First program as a technical assistant in a large urban school district where he works closely with at-risk readers between kindergarten and third grade.

Read is assistant professor in the elementary education department and former public school teacher with past experience reviewing manuscripts for numerous journals. Read’s research interests include young children’s writing development, effective writing instruction, children’s literature and teacher education.

For about half a century, the Literacy Research and Instruction journal has published research and instructional applications on pressing issues in reading and literacy.

“This is a top-tier journal that highlights the latest research and instructional techniques for elementary school teachers,” said Dorward. “To have a journal of this caliber residing at Utah State is a statement about the excellence of our programs.”