The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) continues to be a leader in literacy education. As leaders, we began to feel the necessity for someone to manage literacy initiatives within our college. Sherry Bell, former department head of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education and a professor of special education, has been appointed as the new Director of Literacy Initiatives.
In this new role, Bell will work to achieve the following:
- Enhance visibility in state, regional and national literacy related events and initiatives
- Improve teaching and enhance enrollment in literacy related undergraduate and graduate programs by working with faculty who teach and do research in literacy in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
- Support and enhance faculty scholarship in the area of literacy across our college’s diverse programs.
- Enhance quality and impact of engaged service by drawing on strengths and diversity of programs in CEHHS to make a difference in children’s lives.
“Access to strong literacy education is an issue of equity,” said Bell. “Our college has the breadth and depth of expertise and talent to positively and significantly impact literacy instruction and literacy attainment in the state of Tennessee and I look forward to contributing to this effort.”
The overall role of this new position is to work in collaboration with faculty and staff to facilitate and coordinate literacy initiatives within the college and with key stakeholders within and beyond the state of Tennessee.