Patricia Edwards, professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, has been elected into the Reading Hall of Fame for her lifelong efforts to improve literacy, particularly in regards to the role of families and parent involvement.
She will be inducted during the annual convention of the International Reading Association (IRA) in Chicago on May 1, 2012. With just over 100 living members, the Reading Hall of Fame honors only those professionals who have had a profound impact on the reading field.
Edwards, who is internationally known for her work on families and children, is the second African American to be elected to the group since its inception in 1973. She recently served as president of the International Reading Association.
Edwards developed two nationally acclaimed family literacy programs: Parents as Partners in Reading and Talking Your Way to Literacy. Much of her research has focused on reading instruction methods and engagement strategies needed for hard-to-reach students and their families. Her recent book, Change is Gonna Come: Transforming Literacy Education for African American Students, received the prestigious Edward B. Fry Book Award from the Literacy Research Association (LRA) in 2011.