Faculty and Staff Profiles

• Ph.D. Literacy, Language, & Culture - Clemson University - 2017
• M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, Reading Specialist - Louisiana State University - 2014
• B.S. Early Childhood Education & Human Development - Lee University - 2011

• LITL 7540 Literacy in the Elementary School - University of Memphis
• ICL 7059 Models of Instruction - University of Memphis
• ICL 7709 Urban Learning Environments - University of Memphis
• ICL 7992 Masters' Project - University of Memphis
• LITL 4241 Literacy in Grades 4-8 - University of Memphis
• ELED 3242 Teaching & Learning in the Elementary School - University of Memphis
• ICL 7654 Methods of Elementary Social Studies - University of Memphis

• Co-PI, “Closing the Gap” in Literacy with Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) at Promise Academy Hollywood - Promise Academy Hollywood - $26,000 - 2019-2020
• University of Memphis - College of Education Faculty Research Grant - $5900 - 2019-2020

• University of Memphis - ICL Ed.D. Course Requirement Review Committee - 2019
• University of Memphis - HE Rumble Outstanding Teacher Candidate of the Year Award Committee - 2019
• University of Memphis - ICL Task Force - 2018 - Present
• University of Memphis - Dean's College of Education Scholarship Committee - 2018 - Present
• University of Memphis - Co-Advisor of the University of Memphis Student Chapter of the Literacy Association of Tennessee - 2018 - Present
• University of Memphis - Chapter Counselor of the Lambda Gammer Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education - 2018 - Present
• American Reading Forum - Conference Proposal Reviewer - 2019
• American Educational Research Association - Invited conference proposal reviewer - 2019
• Literacy Association of Tennessee - Diversity Panel, Co-Chair - 2019
• Urban Child Institute - Pinwheel Playrooms, Evaluator - 2019
• Reading Matters - Reviewer - 2019
• Tennessee Literacy Journal - Reviewer - 2019
• International Literacy Association - Conference Proposal Reviewer - 2018

• Ross, R.L. (in press). Finding mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors: A review of the year’s best YA literature. READ: An Online Journal for Literacy Educators.
• Bates, C. C, McClure, E., Ross, R. L., & Womac, P. (2019). Web-mediated professional development. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, DOI: 10.1080/21532974.2018.1537817.
• Fullerton, S. K., Schafer, G. J., Hubbard, K., McClure, E. L., Salley, L., & Ross, R. L. (2018). Considering quality and diversity: An analysis of read-aloud recommendations and rationales from children’s literature experts. New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, 24(1), 76-95.
• Farley, G., & Ross, R. L. (2017). Planting seeds for new perspectives: Bringing equity into the literacy classroom. Reading Matters, 17, 8-11.
• Salley, L., Ross, R. L., & Hubbard, K. (2017). From children’s books to Google hits: Honing reading skills using informational texts. Reading Matters, 17, 65-66.
• Bates, C. C., Klein, A. F., Schubert, B., McGee, L. M., Anderson, N., Dorn, L., Ross, R. L., & McClure, E. (2017). E-books and E-book apps: Considerations for beginning readers. The Reading Teacher 70(4), 401-411.
• Huber (Ross), R. L. & Bates, C. C. (2016). Are you (P)Interested in 21st century teaching and learning?. Young Children, 71(3), 25-30.
• Bates, C. C., Huber (Ross), R. L., & McClure, E. (2016). Stay connected: Using technology to enhance PLCs. The Reading Teacher, 70(1), 99-102.
• Hubbard, K., Huber (Ross), R. L., & Salley, L. (2016). They’re not too young: Unpacking vocabulary strategies for use with K-2 students. Reading Matters, 16, 48-51.

• Ross, R. L. (2019, December). The selective tradition: Does it continue 40 years later? Paper presented at the 69th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Tampa, FL.
• Ross, R. L. (2019, December). Diversity Panelist, Literacy Association of Tennessee Annual Conference. Murfreesboro, TN.
• Ross, R. L. (2019, October). Who’s reflection are we showing?: A look at teachers’ read-aloud book choices. Poster to be presented at the annual conference of the International Literacy Association, New Orleans, LA.
• Ross, R. L. (2019, June). Hip hop lit: Using books and beats to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the Children’s Literature Association, Indianapolis, IN.
• Ross, R. L. (2019, January). Engaging students in the work. Shelby County Schools, Memphis School of Excellence Teacher In-Service, Elementary teachers. Memphis, TN.
• Ross, R. L. (2018, December). Tales of inequity: Using case studies to develop teachers as agents of change. Paper to be presented at the 2018 American Reading Forum Conference. Sanibel Island, FL.
• Ross, R. L. (2018, December). Heroes look like me!: The (super)power of diverse literature in the elementary classroom. Paper to be presented at the annual Literacy Association of Tennessee Conference, Murfreesboro, TN.
• Ross, R. L. (2018, December). Diversity Panelist, Literacy Association of Tennessee Annual Conference. Murfreesboro, TN.
• Malloy, J. A., Roberts, L. D., & Ross, R. L. (2017, December). Reading motivation across the years: An exploration of kindergarten through sixth grade perceptions. Paper presented at the 67th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Tampa, FL.
• Ross, R. L. (2017, October). Literacy work stations. Shelby County Schools, Memphis School of Excellence Teacher In-Service, Elementary teachers. Memphis, TN.
• Ross, R.L. (2017, April). Writing: The wins, the woes, and the whys. Shelby county Schools, KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary Teacher In-Service, Elementary teachers. Memphis, TN.
• Ross, R. L. (2016, December). “I chose this book because…”: Exploring teachers’ read-aloud book selections. Paper presented at the 2016 American Reading Forum Conference. Sanibel Island, FL.
• Ross, R. L., Malloy, J. A., Marinak, B. A., & Gambrell, L. B. (2016, December). Catch them early: Avoid the struggle. Paper presented at the 66th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Nashville, TN.
• Fullerton, S. K., Schafer, G. J., Hubbard, K., McClure, E. L., Ross, R. L., Salley, L., Green, K. E., & Walker, I. (2016, December). Second graders’ responses during interactive read-alouds within the multisensory robotic LIT room: Social and technological transformations in talk and literature. Paper presented at the 66th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Nashville, TN.
• Ross, R. L. (2016, February). Reconstructing our shelves: Building and using a socially just classroom library. Concurrent session presented at the 41st annual conference of the South Carolina Council of the International Reading Association. Hilton Head, SC.
• Bates, C., Ross, R. L., McClure, E., & Womac, P. (2015, December) Web-mediated resources: Providing access and equity to differentiated literacy professional development. Paper presented at the 65th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Carlsbad, CA.
• Fullerton, S., Schafer, G., McClure, E., Hubbard, K., Ross, R. L., & Salley, L. (2015, December). Do experts’ book selections reflect literacy, equity, and imagination?: An analysis of read-aloud recommendations and rationales from children’s librarians and children’s literature professors. Roundtable session presented at the 65th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Carlsbad, CA.
• Malloy, J. A., Marinak, B. A., Gambrell, L. B., & Ross, R. L. (2015, December). Motivation to read: Exploring developmental shifts in motivation across grades 3-5. Paper presented at the 65th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Carlsbad, CA.
• Schafer, G., Fullerton, S., McClure, E., Hubbard, K., Ross, R. L., Salley, L., Green, K., Walker, I., & Vijaykumar, A. (2015, December). Initial findings from the design, implementation, and evaluation of the LIT ROOM: A mixed-technology architectural-robotic embedded environment for augmenting interactive picturebook read-alouds. Roundtable session presented at the 65th annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association. Carlsbad, CA.