Label

Elizabeth A. VanDeusen

Director, Augusta University Literacy Center
Director, Augusta University Literacy Center
augusta, georgia, united-states
advocacy, educator
literacy
dyslexia

Summary

Dr. Elizabeth A. VanDeusen is the Director of the Augusta University  (AU) Literacy Center, proud partners in the Hub for Community Innovation.  The AU Literacy Center mission is to make literacy accessible for all children, adolescents, and adults in the Metro-Augusta area. She also holds the Cree-Walker Endowed Chair at AU. She received her Ph.D. from Oakland University in Reading Education and spent 11 years at Central Michigan University as a Professor in Reading and Literacy and the Director of the Literacy Center. She has also served as the Marie Berrell Endowed Chair (in support of literacy development and community outreach in early childhood and elementary education) as well as Assessment Coordinator and Department Chairperson. Prior to that, she served as a Grant Administrator and Facilitator for the Michigan Department of Education.  Dr. VanDeusen has 12 years of K-12 teaching experience.

ACHIEVEMENTS
  • Marie Berrell Endowed Chair – Central Michigan University
  • Cree-Walker Endowed Chair – Augusta University
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
  • Director, Augusta University Literacy Center – College of Education
  • Professor, Central Michigan University – College of Education and Human Services
  • Assessment Coordinator, Central Michigan University - College of Education & Human Services
  • Director of The Literacy Center, Central Michigan University – College of Education & Human Services
  • Department Chairperson, Central Michigan University – Teacher Education & Professional Development
  • Instructional Specialist, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators
  • Grant Administrator & Facilitator for the Michigan Department of Education
  • Associate State Director for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Michigan Committee
  • 14 years of K-12 teaching experience, ranging from special education classroom teacher to teacher consultant

Qualifications

Education

  • Ph.D., Oakland University, Major: Reading Education, Minor: Instructional Technology (2009)
  • M.A., Eastern Michigan University, Major:  Learning Disabilities
  • B.S., Eastern Michigan University, Major:  Emotional Impairment
  • Harvard Graduate School of Education, Management Development Program (June 2015)
  • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Leadership Academy (June 2014)
  • National Summer Institute on Learning Communities, Team Leader - The Evergreen State College (July 2016)
  • Teaching Enhanced Active Learning Academy Participant and Fellow – Central Michigan University (2017)
  • Adaptive Schools/Thinking Collaborative – Foundations and Advanced Training (2019)
  • Harvard Professional Education, Strategies for Effective Facilitation, including virtual (June-September 2020)

Professional Memberships/ Associations

  • International Literacy Association
  • The Reading League
  • National School Reform Faculty
  • American Educational Research Association

Professional Experience

Augusta University (AU) – College of Education, Department of Teaching and Leading

  • Director, AU Literacy Center
  • Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Leading

Central Michigan University (CMU) – College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) Teacher Education & Professional Development

  • Professor, Reading & Literacy (August 2010-December 2021)
    • Marie Berrell Endowed Chair (2013-current); in support of literacy development and community outreach in early childhood and elementary education
    • Director: The Literacy Center at CMU
    • CEHS Assessment Coordinator (Spring 2018)
  • Teaching
    • Teach and design undergraduate and graduate degree courses in reading and literacy in face-to-face, hybrid and online formats
    • Courses frequently taught:
      • EDU 330 – Foundations of Reading Instruction
      • EDU 533 – Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties
      • EDU 540 – Literacy: Theory and Practice
      • EDU 603 – Elementary Diagnosis, Remediation, and Differentiation of Reading Instruction
      • EDU 623 – Understanding Literacy Research Methods
    • Service
      • Implementation Team Leader: Future Educator Learning Community
      • Member: Higher Education Learning Partnership in support of Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (ongoing)
      • Member: Michigan Department of Education Literacy Specialists and Coaches Action Team (2018)
      • Member: Michigan Department of Education Development Team for Elementary Literacy Standards for Professionals (concluding December 2018)
      • Member: CMU Language Arts Council (2014-2019), awarded the 2016 Provost’s Incentive Award for Assessment
      • Department Committee Member: Department Undergraduate Curriculum Committee; Professional Concerns; Literacy
      • College Committee Member: CEHS Sabbatical Committee (2018-2021)
      • University Committee Member: Academic Senate (2019-2020), Academic Planning Council (2019-2020), Assessment Council (2014-2020)
      • Member: PEU Reorganization (2019-2020); Educator Preparation Program Implementation Work Group (Fall 2020)
      • Faculty Leader, Pre-Student Teaching Study Abroad – Oaxaca, Mexico (2011-2013, 2016)
      • Facilitator: CEHS Interdisciplinary Network For Understanding Student Engagement (INFUSE), 2015-Current
      • Facilitator: Faculty Learning Community: Game-based Learning, 2015-2016
      • Facilitator: Faculty Learning Community: Interdisciplinary Instruction, 2012-2014
      • Member: Faculty Learning Community:  Blended Learning, 2010-2012
      • Faculty Advisor: First Book (2010-2014), Council of Future Educators (2012-2013)
  • Department Chairperson (August 2014-June 2017)
    • Served 35 faculty members and 4 administrative staff
    • Facilitated all aspects of the programs housed in Teacher Education: BS in Elementary Education (multiple majors/minors); MA programs (Educational Technology, Education, Reading & Literacy); and, the DET program (Doctorate in Educational Technology).
    • Managed all department budget planning and implementation within a Responsibility Centered Management model
    • Served as a Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Selectivity Committee Member: Professional Skills and Dispositions
    • Served on the Dean’s Advisory Council
    • Served on the Council of Chairs
    • Served as the Council of Chairs Representative, University Assessment Council
    • Core Team Member: Professional Development School Partnership ( Johns Public Schools)
  • Grants Awarded and Other Recognition
    • Recipient: 2016 CMU Faculty Excellence Recognition in Research, with Dr. Kathryn Dirkin
    • Recipient: President’s and Provost Innovation Award ($50,000) with Communication & Speech Disorders and TEPD, Structured Literacy and Language Intervention Certificate
    • Recipient: CEHS Innovation Award ($100,000) in support of The Literacy Center Initiative, a community partnership in support of local students and families, teacher candidates, and in-service educators (2015-2019)
    • Recipient: CMU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Internal Grant, New Research Initiative Grant, “Using Authentic Collaborative Projects to Support Technology Integration”, Co-Investigator with Dr. Kathryn Durkin (2013-2014)
    • Recipient: CEHS Faculty Scholarship Grant, “Facilitating a Teacher-in-Residence Program” (2012-2013)
    • Recipient: CMU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Internal Grant, Early Career Investigator, “Understanding the Work of Technical Assistance Providers”, (2011-2012)

Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators - Title I Accountability Grant as part of Michigan’s Statewide System of Support (January 2009-June 2010)

  • Instructional Specialist:
    • Served Michigan Title I K-12 schools that have not made adequate yearly progress in English Language Arts and/or Math
    • Chairperson, Evidence-based Intervention Workgroup
    • Member, Michigan’s State Implementation & Scaling Up of Evidence-based Practices (SISEP) State Management Team

Michigan Department of Education - Office of School Improvement (August 2004-January 2009)

  • Reading First Grant Administrator:
    • Responsible for the statewide coordination of Michigan’s Reading First K-3 grant (Title 1, Part B) including supervision of 21 statewide technical assistance facilitators, management of $28 million annual grant budget, coordination of professional development for funded and non-funded schools/districts, collaboration with the University of Michigan/Institute for Social Research as part of the grant’s external evaluation, and intensive technical assistance for schools.

Michigan Department of Education - Office of School Improvement  (August 2003-August 2004) Reading First Facilitator:

  • Served 6 grant-recipient elementary buildings in Romulus, MI as they implemented their $800,000 Reading First Grant

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools – Walled Lake, MI (December 2001-August 2003)

  • Reading Consultant:
    • Additional responsibilities also include literacy groups, literacy coaching, professional development and diagnostic assessment and consultation, working extensively with English Learners.

North Central Association (NCA) of Colleges & Schools, Michigan Committee (June 1999-December 2001) Associate State Director:

  • Primary professional developer for the K-12 school improvement process, assisting over 1500 NCA accredited schools throughout Michigan in establishing improvement goals, creating effective school improvement plans, documenting results and making effective transitions from home to school, between grade levels and into the world of work.

Lincoln Consolidated Schools – Ypsilanti, MI   (August 1988-June 1999)

  • Teacher Consultant:
    • Multidisciplinary consulting experience including curriculum adaptation, team teaching, instructional support, professional development, collaborative work with paraprofessionals, parent communication and training, assessment, and student support services
  • Resource Room & Basic Classroom Teacher:
    • Serviced students with moderate to severe emotional impairment and learning disabilities
    • Supervising teacher for university student teachers

Credits

Books

  • VanDeusen, E. (2021).  Change agents at work:  Brokering boundaries.  Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Journal Articles

  • Rouech, K.E., VanDeusen, B.A. & Reck, K (2021). Using a group process map to synthesize learning. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098655.2021.1997887
  • Rouech, K.E., VanDeusen, B.A., Hoffman, H.H., & Majorana, J.C. (2021, September 30). Five tips for launching an online writing group. The Scholarly Teacher. https://www.scholarlyteacher.com/post/five-tips-for-launching-an-online-writing-group
  • (BOOK) VanDeusen, E. (2021). Change agents at work: Brokering boundaries. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Majorana, J. & VanDeusen, E. (accepted 2021). Promoting emotional well-being in the university classroom through poetry. About Campus. (Per editor: slated to be published in Issue 2 of Volume 27 which is set to be published in May/June 2022.)
  • Brown, J., Hoffman, H., Rouech, K. & VanDeusen, B. (2018). The Future Educators Learning Community (FELC): Creating integrative experiences through linked courses. Learning Communities Research in Practice. https://washingtoncenter.evergreen.edu/lcrpjournal/vol6/iss2/4/
  • VanDeusen, E.A. & Block, M.K. (2018). Narrative inquiry to address community literacy needs: The early development of a university-based literacy center. Michigan Reading Journal, Vol. 50(3). Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Angera, J., Arnekrans, A., Deschaine, M., Rouech, K., VanDeusen, B. & Otteman, T., (2018). Launching an interdisciplinary network for understanding student engagement (INFUSE). Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, Vol. 2(1). https://journals.studentengagement.org.uk/index.php/raise/
  • Dirkin, K. & VanDeusen-MacLeod, E. (2015) Collaborative experiences for preservice teachers in authentic activities. Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2015 Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
  • VanDeusen-MacLeod, E. (2015). Classroom-Day-Life: Go. In P. Blessinger (Ed.), Teaching as a human experience. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • VanDeusen-Macleod, E. (2015) Faculty development through community partnerships. Proceedings of International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association Conference 2015 New York, USA: HETL.
  • Roberts, S. & VanDeusen-MacLeod, B. (2015). The jigsaw revisited: Social studies and ELA integration for the Common Core, Social Studies Research and Practice, Volume 10, Issue 2.
  • Klocko, B., Jankens, B., Ampaw, F., Harris, F., Johnson, M., Marshall, S., Partlo, M., Umpstead, R., & VanDeusen-MacLeod, E. (2013). Blended learning: Pedagogy across learning platforms. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, New York, August 2013.

Papers, Workshops & Webinars Presented

  • Hoffman, H., Rouech, K., VanDeusen, E. & Brown, J. (2021). Examining the effectiveness of a learning community through comparative experiences. 28th National Conference on Students in Transition, University of South Carolina, Virtual, October 2-4, 2021.
  • Rouech, K. & VanDeusen, E. (2021). Assessing student course knowledge using a group process map. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Summit 2021, Kennesaw State University, Virtual. October 7-8, 2021.
  • VanDeusen, E. (2021).  Structured literacy/Adolescent literacy. Invited presentation at St. Brigid of Midland, MI.  August 18, 2021.
  • VanDeusen, E. (2021). Unpacking the science of reading. Invited presentation at the CMU Center for Charter Schools Annual Conference, Novi, MI.  August 17, 2021.
  • VanDeusen, E. & Block, M. (2021). Inclusive literacy learning. Invited presentation at the CMU Center for Charter Schools Annual Conference, Novi, MI.  August 17, 2021.
  • VanDeusen, E. & Squires, K. (2021).  Foundational skills to support reading for understanding in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Presentations at the CMU Literacy Center 3rd Annual Summer Institute (virtual).  July 27-28, 2021.
  • Squires, K. & VanDeusen, E. (accepted – 2021).  Creating a structured language and literacy intervention certificate (SLLIC).  Accepted presentation at the International Dyslexia Association Conference, Charlotte, NC.  October 21-23, 2021.
  • VanDeusen, E., Block, M., Majorana, J., & Dirkin K. (2021).  A case study of teacher candidates’ Development in a virtual tutoring environment: Preliminary findings.  Presentation at the Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference, Virtual, June 14-15, 2021
  • Jetton, T., Block, M., Li, X., VanDeusen, E., Ewald, M. & Majorana, J. (2021). A content analysis of inquiry in elementary students’ English Language Arts informational units. Poster session at the American Educational Research Association Annual meeting, Virtual, April 9, 2021.
  • Walters, M., & VanDeusen, E. (2020).  Linguistic Landscapes.  Presentation at the Michigan Academy of Science and Letters, Virtual, September 26, 2020.
  • VanDeusen, E. (2020, February). Poetry as a synthesis tool in the college classroom.  Poster session at Conference for Academic Research in Education, Las Vegas, NV.
  • VanDeusen, E. (2020).  Leveraging the power of group work. 6th CMU Assessment Retreat, January 10, 2020
  • VanDeusen, B., Angera, J., & Rouech, K.E. (2019, October). A funny thing happened on the way to improving student engagement. Presented at International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Rouech, K.E., VanDeusen, B., Angera, J. (2019, October). Brokering Borders with Books. Presented at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • VanDeusen, E. (2019, February). Poetic transcription in qualitative research.  Presentation at Conference for Academic Research in Education, Las Vegas, NV.
  • VanDeusen, E. (2018, February). The power of poetic transcription.  Poster session at the Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
  • Angera, J., Arnekrans, A., Rouech, K., & VanDeusen, B., (2017, October). Creating a culture of engagement:  The INFUSE model.  Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning, Traverse City, MI.
  • Rouech, K. & VanDeusen, B., (2017).  Developing dispositions for professional educators.  Paper presented at AACTE 69th Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL, March 2-4, 2017
  • Block, M. & VanDeusen, E., (2016).  Narrative inquiry to address community literacy needs.  Paper presented to the Literacy Research Association Conference, Nashville, TN, November 30, 2016.
  • Corbett, L., VanDeusen, E., Rinke, K., Martin, D., Winkel, M. & Pingle, J. (2016, March).  A University and P-12 Partnership in an Ag-STEM Initiative.  National Professional Development School Conference, Washington, DC.
  • Ingles, S., VanDeusen, E., Riley, M., Stewart, A. & Allen, L. (2016, April).  Embedding an assessment of dispositions into an educator preparation program.  CAEP Spring Conference San Diego, CA.
  • Dirkin, K. & VanDeusen-MacLeod, E. (2015, April). More than just modeling: Supporting preservice teachers’ technology integration with authentic literacy tasks.  Paper accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Chicago, IL. (Best Paper Award Nominee)
  • VanDeusen, E., (2015, November). Teaching academic English to English learners in U.S.  elementary and middle schools.  Visiting Scholar Series, Shiga University:  Hikone, Japan.
  • Flippo, R., Edwards, P., Piazza, S., VanDeusen-MacLeod, B.,  Reutzel, D.R., & Dugan, J. (2012, November).  Literacy, politics, policies and practices:  What’s going on and where are we going:  An annual update. Conference symposium at the Association of Literacy Educators National Conference, Grand Rapids, MI.

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