Lesley Mandel Morrow, PhD

Lesley Mandel Morrow is a Distinguished Professor of Literacy at Rutgers University's Graduate School of Education, where she is Chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching. She began her career as a classroom teacher, then became a reading specialist, and later received her Ph.D. from Fordham University in New York City. Her area of research deals with early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs. Her research is carried out with children and...See more

Lesley Mandel Morrow is a Distinguished Professor of Literacy at Rutgers University's Graduate School of Education, where she is Chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching. She began her career as a classroom teacher, then became a reading specialist, and later received her Ph.D. from Fordham University in New York City. Her area of research deals with early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs. Her research is carried out with children and families from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Morrow has more than 300 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, monographs, and books. She received Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Service Awards from Rutgers University. She was the recipient of the International Reading Association's Outstanding Teacher Educator of Reading Award and their William S. Gray Citation of Merit. She also received Fordham University's Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement. In addition, Dr. Morrow has received numerous grants for research from the federal government and has served as a principal research investigator for the Center of English Language Arts, the National Reading Research Center, and the Center for Early Reading Achievement. She was an elected member of the Board of Directors and President of the International Reading Association (IRA), an organization of 60,000 educators from 100 countries. Dr. Morrow was elected into the Reading Hall of Fame and was president of the Hall of Fame as well. In 2010 she received the Literacy Research Association's Oscar Causey Award for research that has added knowledge and caused change in literacy practice. She is the extremely proud grandmother of James Ethan and Natalie Kate. See less