Professor Patricia A. Alexander
Named New Jean Mullan Professor of Literacy

COLLEGE PARK, MD (July 2008) – Professor and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Patricia A. Alexander, Department of Human Development, has been named the new Jean Mullan Professor of Literacy. Alexander is the second holder of this prestigious professorship, following Professor Emeritus John T. Guthrie, who retired earlier this year.

Patricia Alexander

"Professor Alexander is one of the world's leading scholars in the literacy field," noted Allan Wigfield, chair of the Department of Human Development. "She does seminal work on reading comprehension, and how children and adults' interest, knowledge, and beliefs impact their reading comprehension. The resources the professorship provides will enhance her work and she will use the resources in interesting and innovative ways as she continues her important work on literacy."

An endowed professorship is one of the highest honors a college can bestow, and is reserved for an eminent scholar whose work substantially advances the discipline.

A former middle-school teacher, Alexander has published over 200 articles, books, or chapters in the area of learning and instruction. Her many honors include the 2001 Oscar S. Causey Award from the National Reading Conference for outstanding contributions to literacy research, the 2007 Sylvia Scribner Award from Division C (Learning and Instruction) of the American Educational Research Association, and recently she was named one of the 10 most productive scholars in Educational Psychology. She has also received various national, university, and college awards for teaching. (See bio below)

"To be named the Jean Mullan Professor of Literacy is truly a crowning achievement in my career," said Alexander. "Much of my adult life has been dedicated to promoting literacy for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Whether serving as a middle-school reading teacher, educating future classroom teachers, or working with graduate students and scholars to study the nature of reading, literacy has remained a passion for me and a defining feature of my professional life."

Jean Mullan

Providing significant annual support for an esteemed scholar to conduct literacy-related research to improve education throughout all grades in American schools, the Jean Mullan Professorship in Literacy was endowed through a generous $500,000 gift by alumna Jean Mullan ('68). A former classroom educator and current chair of the College of Education Campaign Cabinet, Mullan is passionate in her belief that support for the college has a lasting and positive impact on the lives of children.

"My investment in the College of Education and its faculty is anchored in my belief that education truly transforms lives and opens many doors for kids," Mullan said. "I understand from firsthand experience the value of literacy, especially in young children. My hope is that my gift will help the college to remain at the forefront of research in this field and that many generations of students will benefit from the good work of Professor Alexander and her colleagues."

Alexander confirmed that, "in addition to the recognition this award brings, the endowment will allow me to undertake projects that will advance knowledge of reading and contribute to improved literacy teaching and learning."

Patricia A. Alexander

Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Patricia Alexander, Ph.D., is the Jean Mullan Professor of Literacy in the College of Education's Department of Human Development at the University of Maryland.

She has served as President of Division 15 (Educational Psychology) of the American Psychological Association, and as Vice-President of Division C (Learning and Instruction) of the American Educational Research Association. A former middle-school teacher, Alexander received her reading specialist degree from James Madison University (1979) and her Ph.D. in reading from the University of Maryland (1981). Since receiving her doctoral degree, she has published over 200 articles, books, or chapters in the area of learning and instruction. She has also presented over 200 papers or invited addresses at national and international conferences. Currently, she is the editor of Contemporary Educational Psychology, associate editor of American Educational Research Journal-Teaching, Learning, and Human Development, and serves on 12 editorial boards including those for Reading Research Quarterly, Journal of Literacy Research, Educational Psychologist, and the Journal of Educational Psychology.

Among her many honors and awards, Alexander is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), and was a Spencer Fellow of the National Academy of Education. Recently she was named one of the 10 most productive scholars in Educational Psychology, and was the 2001 recipient of the Oscar S. Causey Award for outstanding contributions to literacy research from the National Reading Conference. She is also the 2006 recipient of the E. L. Thorndike Award for Career Achievement in Educational Psychology from APA Division 15 and the 2007 recipient of the Sylvia Scribner Award from AERA Division C. In addition, she has received various national, university, and college awards for teaching.