U.S. Senate Confirms 3 Appointments to the National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board

The U.S. Senate has confirmed the appointments of three individuals to serve on the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy. Two of three individuals confirmed are new appointments to the Board. The appointments are:

M. Carmel Borders is the Board Chairwoman and has been reappointed to serve the remainder of a three-year term expiring November 25, 2008. She is president of the Tapestry Foundation, an organization that partners with literacy projects that emphasize family literacy and the early literacy environment for children.

Dr. Donald D. Deshler has been appointed to serve for the remainder of a three-year term expiring January 30, 2008. He is a Professor in the Department of Special Education and Director of the Center for Research on Learning (CRL) at the University of Kansas.

Dr. Timothy Shanahan has been appointed to serve for the remainder of a three-year term expiring November 25, 2007. He is a professor of urban education and Director of the Center for Literacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Three other individuals were nominated by the President in June and are awaiting confirmation by the Senate. They are Blanca E. Enriquez, a current board member, and Dr. Patricia Mathes and Eliza McFadden.

The Advisory Board is expected to meet at its next meeting October 25-26 at the Institute's offices in Washington, D.C.

The National Institute for Literacy provides leadership on literacy issues, including the improvement of reading instruction for children, youth, and adults. In consultation with the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, the Institute serves as a national resource on current, comprehensive literacy research, practice, and policy.

For more information, please see the Advisory Board's page.