Kathy Ganske, Chair
Kathy Ganske is professor of the practice of literacy and director of the graduate elementary education program at peabody college, vanderbilt university. her research interests include: (a) inquiry-based word study practices that promote orthographic and vocabulary understandings, including academic vocabulary, through active learning and discussion, and (b) literacy reform/teacher development. her work is grounded in some 20 years of elementary classroom teaching. kathy is the author or coauthor/editor of numerous books, including word journeys: assessment-guided phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction (2nd edition); write now! empowering writers in today’s k-6 classroom; and other books on word study/vocabulary development, supporting struggling readers and writers, and perspectives and practices on comprehension. she is also the author of numerous articles, book chapters, webinars, and videos. she has presented her work at more than 50 national and international conferences.
Anita Hernández, Program Chair
Anita Hernández is an Associate Professor, Don and Sarrah Kidd Literacy Chair, and Director of Professional Development for Teachers of Bilingual Learners at New Mexico State University. Her research interests include: (a) vocabulary, English-Spanish cognates, and literacy development of second language learners, and (b) professional development for teachers of English and bilingual learners. Her work is grounded in 14 years as an elementary teacher and college migrant education coordinator. Anita Hernández is past president of the New Mexico International Reading Association, editor of the New Mexico Journal of Reading, and a co-author of two professional books: Interactive Student Notebooks for English Learners; Text Sets: Scaffolding Literature for Secondary Students. She is published in English Journal, Reading Teacher, Bilingual Research Journal, and Multicultural Perspectives.
Yuliya Ardasheva, Secretary/Treasurer
Yuliya Ardasheva is an Assistant Professor in ESL/Bilingual Education at the Department of Teaching and Learning, Washington State University Tri-Cities. Yuliya’s research interests focus on (a) contributions of individual differences to second language development and (b) the interplay between language and academic development in English language learner/bilingual students. Her latest efforts include research in the area of improving general academic and science-specific vocabulary among newcomer and long-term English language learners. She has presented her work over 30 national and international conferences, including American Educational Research Association (AERA) and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and published her work in TESOL Quarterly, TESOL Journal, Language Learning, and Modern Language Journal.
Yuliya Summers, Newsletter Editor
Yuliya Summers is currently a Bilingual/ESL lecturer and lead instructor at the College of Education at the University of North Texas (UNT). She has been in education for fourteen years, and during these years she taught at the elementary level as a classroom teacher, grade-level chair, and a campus instructional leader. Her teaching experiences include teaching in ESL, Bilingual (Spanish), and Gifted and Talented Programs. She holds eight teaching certifications, two master's degrees in ESL and Bilingual Education, and she is currently completing her doctoral dissertation in Bilingual Education at Texas A&M University, College Station. At UNT she teaches and develops undergraduate courses related to Bilingual/ESL and multicultural education. She also serves as an advisor to UNT BESO (Bilingual/ESL Education Student Organization). Her community involvement includes serving as a treasurer in the local TexTESOL V organization.
Tanya Wright, Program Chair Elect Tanya Wright is an Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. Wright is a former kindergarten teacher whose interests focus on curriculum and instruction in language and literacy during the early childhood and elementary years. Her research examines instructional practices that promote oral language, vocabulary and knowledge development for young children growing up in poverty. Wright is co-author of several books for teachers and parents including, All About Words: Increasing Vocabulary in the Common Core Classroom, PreK-2, and she is a co-editor of the Michigan Reading Journal. Her work has been published in journals such as The Elementary School Journal, The Journal of Literacy Research, American Educator, and The Reading Teacher.
Tanya Wright, Program Chair Elect
Tanya Wright is an Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. Wright is a former kindergarten teacher whose interests focus on curriculum and instruction in language and literacy during the early childhood and elementary years. Her research examines instructional practices that promote oral language, vocabulary and knowledge development for young children growing up in poverty. Wright is co-author of several books for teachers and parents including, All About Words: Increasing Vocabulary in the Common Core Classroom, PreK-2, and she is a co-editor of the Michigan Reading Journal. Her work has been published in journals such as The Elementary School Journal, The Journal of Literacy Research, American Educator, and The Reading Teacher.
Lauren Artzi, Co-Webmaster
Lauren Artzi is a researcher in the Education program at American Institutes for Research (AIR). She conducts technical assistance and knowledge utilization activities through national technical assistance and dissemination centers, including the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center, National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), and the Midwest Comprehensive Center (MWCC). Prior to her position at AIR, Ms. Artzi was a research associate at the Center for Applied Linguistics where she served on vocabulary intervention research teams. Artzi holds an M.A. in TESOL from Tel Aviv University and is completing a doctorate in curriculum and instruction at the University of Maryland. Her dissertation focuses on vocabulary instruction for English learners in a transitional bilingual program.
Dongbo Zhang, Co-Webmaster
Dongbo Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University where he also coordinates the Chinese Teacher Certification Program. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Zhang was a Research Scientist in the Center for Research in Pedagogy and Practice at National Institute of Education, Singapore. Dr. Zhang’s research interests include cross-linguistic studies of reading, bilingualism and biliteracy, second language acquisition, and language teacher education. His recent publications appeared in Applied Psycholinguistics, Modern Language Journal, Reading and Writing, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, International Journal of Bilingualism, among others. Dr. Zhang is a co-editor of two books currently under contract, including Assessing Chinese as a Second Language (Springer; with Chin-Hsi Lin) and Preparing Foreign Language Teachers for Next-Generation Education (IGI Global; with Chin-Hsi Lin and Binbin Zheng).
2015 Anita Hernandez
2014 Guy Trainen
2013 Guy Trainen
2012 Guy Trainen
2011 Lori Helman
2010 Lori Helman
Nominations and Elections Committee
Notable Vocabulary Researcher Award Committee
Student Vocabulary Paper Committee
2015 Anita Hernandez (Chair), Kathy Ganske, Jose Montelongo, Guy Trainen
2012 Karen Bostic (Co-Chair), Anita Hernandez (Co-Chair), Emily Hayden, Elaine Mo, Guy Trainen
2011 Anita Hernandez (Chair), Lori Helman, Jose Montelongo, Guy Trainen
Proposal Reviewers