Susan B. Neuman: Having returned in 2004 after a two-year hiatus where she served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Susan B. Neuman is a Professor in Educational Studies specializing in early literacy development. Previously, she directed the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Ability (CIERA). Her research and teaching interests include early childhood policy, curriculum, and early reading instruction, PreK–Grade 3. In her role as Assistant Secretary, she established the Reading First program, the Early Reading First program, and was responsible for all activities in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Dr. Neuman recently received an honorary doctorate from the California State University, Hayward, where she also conducted her master’s work in reading and curriculum. She received her doctorate at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California in 1977, and her B.A. at American University. Prior to coming to Michigan, she was a Professor at Temple University, the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, and Eastern Connecticut State University. She is the coauthor of a curriculum program in early literacy, Building Language for Literacy (Scholastic, 2000), with Catherine Snow, and the author of books that include: Access for All: Closing the Book Gap for Children In Early Education (2001), Handbook on Early Literacy Research (2001), Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practice (NAEYC, 2000), Children Achieving: Best Practices in Early Literacy (International Reading Association,1998), Single-subject Experimental Design: Applications for Literacy (1995), Literacy in the Television Age (Ablex, 1995), and Language and Literacy in Early Childhood (Harcourt Brace, 1993).

To view Susan B. Neuman’s bio as a pdf, click here.