The University of Rhode Island has appointed Danielle Dennis, an authority on reading, literacy, and professional development, as the new director of its School of Education on the university’s Kingston campus. Dr. Dennis had been serving as an associate professor of literacy studies and co-coordinator of the Urban Teacher Residency Partnership Program at the University of South Florida.
A literacy teacher educator, Dr. Dennis’ research focuses on literacy assessment, policy, and teacher professional development. She serves on the editorial review board for The Reading Teacher.
When announcing the appointment, R. Anthony Rolle, dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Rhode Island, said that “Dr. Dennis possesses a strong record of academic publications, research grant awards, and, by all other accounts, is an excellent professor. Her professional experiences in improving instructional practices, and student literacy, in both urban and suburban district and schools, are important assets to share with our students and faculty.”
Dr. Dennis is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, where she majored in elementary education. She earned a master’s degree in environmental education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a Ph.D. in language and literacy education from the University of Tennessee.