Faculty and Staff Profiles

• Ed.d. Literacy - Sam Houston State University - 2020
• MS Reading - University of Houston--Clear Lake - 2016
• BA General Studies - Education - University of St. Thomas - 2013

• Assistant Professor of Literacy, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership - University of Memphis - 2023-Present
• Literacy Program Coordinator, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership (ICL) - University of Memphis - 2024-2025
• Family and Community Engagement Director (Part-Time),   - Shelby Literacy Center - Jan 2025- Aug 2025
• Adjunct Professor, Literacy, Language Arts, and Literature Studies - University of Houston--Clear Lake -  

• 30-under-30 Honoree - International Literacy Association (ILA) - 2019
• Robert Frost Scholarship Award - University of St. Thomas - 2013

• Literacy Development, 5-8, Undergraduate and Graduate (faculty lead) - University of Memphis
• Literacy Grade K-4, Undergraduate (faculty lead) - University of Memphis
• Literacy Instruction in Elementary School, Graduate (faculty lead) - University of Memphis
• Literacy, Leader, and Coach, Graduate (faculty lead) - University of Memphis
• Teaching Literacy in the Subject Areas, Graduate - University of Memphis
• Writing Theory and Practice, Graduate (faculty lead) - University of Memphis
• Assessment and Remediation of Reading and Language Arts Literacy, Graduate - University of Houston–Clear Lake
• Foundations of Early and Secondary Literacy/Integrating Literacy into the Curriculum, Graduate - University of Houston–Clear Lake
• Professional Writing and Communication, Graduate - University of Houston–Clear Lake
• Sociolinguistic Applications to Teaching Reading, Graduate - University of Houston–Clear Lake
• Survey of Children’s Literature, Undergraduate - University of Houston–Clear Lake
• 7th Grade English - Annunciation Orthodox School
• 9th, 10th, and 12th grade English - Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston

• Communities of Research Scholars (CoRS) Grant - Division of Research and Innovation - $2,500 - 2023-2024

• University of Memphis - New Faculty Orientation, Surviving and Thriving Panel - 2025
• University of Memphis - College of Education Annual Report Committee - 2025
• University of Memphis - Teacher Education Advisory Council - 2024-2025
• University of Memphis - ICL Undergraduate Engagement Committee - 2024-2025
• University of Memphis - 2+2/Dual Enrollment Committee - 2024-2025
• University of Memphis - Assistant/Associate Professor of Literacy Search Committee - 2023-2024
• University of Memphis - Clinical Assistant Professor of SPED (Lambuth) Search Committee - 2023-2024
• University of Memphis - Program Implementation Subcommittee - 2023-2024
• University of Memphis - Junior 1 - Site Supervisor - 2023
• University of Incarnate Word - Quality Enhancement Program Reviewer - 2024-2025
• University of Memphis - Pride and Equity Alliance - 2024-Present
• University of Memphis - Communication and Writing Center Support - 2025
• University of Memphis - Supernatural in Children’s Literature Event for Department of English - 2024
• University of Memphis - Inclusive Children’s Literature Practices Panel for Department of English - 2023
• Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH), Church of the River - Committee - 2023-2024
• Mama Dragons - Volunteer - 2025
• Cambridge University Press - Textbook Reviewer - 2025
• Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education - Consulting Editor - 2025
• Teacher's College Review - Reviewer - 2025
• Texas Association for Literacy Education - Conference Yearbook Reviewer - 2024-2025
• International Literacy Association - Literacy Today Guest Editor - 2024-2025
• Rowman & Littlefield - Textbook Reviewer - 2024
• Association of Literacy Education and Research - Conference Proposal Reviewer - 2024

• Houston Grand Opera - 2017

• Panozzo, M., & Eaton, P. W. (Eds.). (in press, 2026). Battle of the bans: Narratives on reading and engaging with banned books. Myers Education Press.

• Panozzo, M. (2024). Deaf Utopia: A book review focusing on literacy, culture, and understanding. The Reading Matrix: An International Online Journal, 24(2), 55-57. https://www.readingmatrix.com/files/33-219ia5k5.pdf
• Panozzo, M. (2018). Teaching, affirming, and recognizing trans* and gender creative youth: A queer literacy framework. READ: An Online Journal for Literacy Educators, 4(7), 105-109.
• Panozzo, M. (2017). Kids deserve it: Pushing boundaries and challenging conventional thinking. READ: An Online Journal for Literacy Educators, 3(5), 62-63.

• Panozzo, M. (in press, 2026). Get on the bus: Being seen and forging community through a banned books event. In M. Panozzo & P. W. Eaton (Eds). Battle of the bans: Narratives on reading and engaging with banned books. Myers Education Press.
• Panozzo, M., & Wright, N. L. (in press). No response: Lessons from preservice teacher silence on book bans and the politics of participation. Curriculum & Teaching Dialogue. 
• Grote-Garcia, S., Ortlieb, E., &  Panozzo, M. (2025). What’s Hot in Literacy: Foundational and Future-Oriented Practices. Literacy Research & Instruction. 10.1080/19388071.2025.2559861
• Panozzo, M. (2025). Queerly writing, queerly researching: Using art-based research to re-examine my past and the imagined future of queer educators. Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.60808/7dny-5n02 
• Panozzo, M., & Hockless, J. (2024). Immersing students in classics: Turning scenes from a short story into interactive posters using Makey Makey kits. Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching, 3(2), 1-9 https://doi.org/10.13001/jtilt.v3i2.8693 
• Panozzo, M., & Cook, C. (2024). Cultivating climate consciousness: Empowering elementary and middle school students to create a sustainable future through curriculum, Collaboration, and Community. Tennessee Literacy Journal, 5(3), 8-10.
• Panozzo, M., & LaRue, L. (2023). Tale as old as time: Balancing digital texts and print-based practices. The Oklahoma Reader, 59(2), 81-87.
• Panozzo, M. (2025). Approaching reading like basketball: Making the reading process visible. ALER Literacy News, 50(2), 2-3.
• Panozzo, M. (2024, September 23). “Get out or get comfortable”: Learning about the intersection of queer and rural identities through middle grade literature. Virginia Tech, Center for Rural Education Blog. https://rural.vt.edu/2024/09/23/get-out-or-get-comfortable-learning-about-the-intersection-of-queer-and-rural-identities-through-middle-grade-literature/ 
• Panozzo, M., & LaRue, L. (2024). Forming the reader: Cultivating active engagement in digital texts. Literacy Today, 42(1), 60-61.
• Panozzo, M. (2023). Books as gateways, teachers as guides: A reflection on the critical importance of protecting LGBTQ+ literature in the classroom. Literacy Today, 40(3), 74-75
• Panozzo, M. (2018). Using Padlet for professional book studies. Specialized Literacy Professionals Newsletter, 25(2), 6. http://www.literacyprofessional.org/uploads/4/8/0/3/48036385/slp_winter_2018__1_.pdf
• Childs, K., Jennings, I., & Panozzo-Schagene, M. (2020). READ: Accepting and interacting with the diverse needs of Texas literacy learners. Texas Association for Literacy Education Yearbook, 7. 32-36.

• Grote-Garcia, S., Ortlieb, E., & Panozzo, M. (2025). Supporting Readers and Literacy Leaders: Key Insights from the 2025 What’s Hot in Literacy Survey [session presentation]. ALER. Oklahoma City, OK.
• Kuehl, R., Eppley, K., & Panozzo, M. ( 2025) Turns Out, We Really Are Everywhere:  A Queer Critical Content Analysis of Rural Books for Middle Grade Readers. [session presentation]. AERA. Denver, CO.
• Eppley, K., Panozzo, M., & Kuehl, R. (2025). Queer Rural Representation in Middle Grade Fiction.  [virtual session presentation]. Children’s Literature Assembly Online Research Conference.
• Kuehl, R., Eppley, K., & Panozzo, M (2024). Queer and Rural Intersections in Contemporary Middle Grade Novels. [session presentation]. NCTE. Boston, MA. 
• Eppley, K., & Panozzo, M. (2024) Will and Tony are lucky: Queer rural lives in middle grade fiction.  [research session]. National Forum to Advance Rural Education, NREA. Savannah, GA.
• Panozzo, M. (2024). Returning Home: How Studying LGBTQ Children’s and Young Adult Texts Helped Me Reclaim my Childhood. [paper]. ChLA. Madision, WI.
• Panozzo, M. (2024). Using Art-Based Research to Re-Examine my Past and Imagine the Future as a Gay Educator. International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. [paper]. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
• Panozzo, M. (2024). Linking Through Literacy: Exploring Children and Young Adult Literature to Build Community. [session presentation]. Texas Association for Literacy Education. Waco, TX. 
• LaRue, L., & Panozzo, M. (2024). Balancing Bytes and Books: Exploring Digital and Printed Texts in the Classroom. [session presentation]. Texas Association for Literacy Education. Waco, TX. 
• Panozzo, M. (2023). Caught Between Closets: Determining How Arts-Based Educational Research can promote the Understanding of Queer Educators' Lived Experiences. [roundtable]. Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers Annual Conference. Santa Fe, NM.
• Panozzo, M., & Hockless, J. (2023). Exploring new worlds of storytelling through Makey Makey kits [session presentation]. Texas Association for Literacy Education. Houston, TX. 
• Panozzo, M. (2022). ’We don’t talk about that’: Using Children’s and YA Lit to Promote the Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Persons in School [session presentation]. Texas Association for Literacy Education. Plano, TX. 
• Panozzo, M. (2019). Queering Conversation of the ‘Other’ with Preservice Teachers Through Children and YA Texts[session presentation]. International Literacy Association Conference New Orleans, LA. 
• Panozzo, M. (2019). Taboo Topics: Using Literature to Help Teachers and Students Understand the ‘Other’[session presentation]. Texas Association for Literacy Education. Waco, TX.
• Panozzo, M. (2018). Opening the Closet of Your Classroom Library: Integrating YA Novels with LGBT Themes and Characters to Create a More Inclusive Classroom. [session presentation] Texas Association for Literacy Education. University. Canyon, TX
• Panozzo, M. (2025, February 27). We’re here. We’re Queer. So let us read! [Guest Lecture] ENGL 3405 Multicultural Children’s Literature. University of Memphis.
• Hockless, J., & Panozzo, M. (2025). From Idea to Impact: Publishing the story of your classroom. [invited workshop]. Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX. 
• Panozzo, M., Salem, W., & Cook, C. (2023). Acknowledged and Empowered ?at Home, School, and Abroad: Conversations and Resources for Inclusive Children’s Literature Practices [invited panel]. Department of English, University of Memphis.
• Panozzo, M. (2021). Taking queer texts out of our classroom closets [invited virtual presentation]. University of Southern Maine.
• Panozzo, M. (2020). LGBTQ Book Talks [invited virtual presentation]. University of Southern Maine.

• LITL 8304 - Writing Theory and Practice
• LITL 4241 - Literacy Development 5-8
• LITL 7545 - Teaching Literacy in the Subject Areas
• LITL 7560 - Literacy Leader and Coach
• LITL 8560 - Literacy Leader and Coach
• LITL 7540 - Literacy Instruction in Elementary Schools
• LITL 7554 - Literacy Development Grades 5-8
• LITL 7304 - Writing Theory and Practice
• LITL 4240 - Literacy Grades K-4