Mebane Early Literacy Center Staff

Bio Dr. Kristen D. Beach is a Professor of Special Education in the Department of Special Education and Child Development at UNC Charlotte. Her research centers on the design and evaluation of reading and language interventions for struggling adolescent readers and students with reading disability. Her research also focuses on the prevention and early identification […]

Miranda S. Fitzgerald is an Assistant Professor in the department of Reading and Elementary Education. Prior to completing her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, Dr. Fitzgerald was a middle school special education teacher in Central Kentucky, where she taught English language arts and reading intervention courses, and collaboratively taught with content area teachers across […]

Profile Dr. Lan Kolano is Professor and Chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary and K-12 Education. She completed her Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill and has been on UNC Charlotte’s faculty since 2004. Her research focuses on the language and identity development of immigrant learners and the development of critical multicultural efficacy of teachers. Dr. […]

Jennifer Merry is the Administrative Support Associate for the Mebane Early Literacy Center. She received her Bachelors in Music Education in ‘04 from UNC Charlotte and her Masters in School Administration from UNC Charlotte in ‘23. Jennifer is currently enrolled as a Ph.D. student in the Curriculum and Instruction program focusing on Curriculum and Educator […]

Profile Born in Bogota, Colombia, Paola Pilonieta moved to Miami, Florida with her family when she was 6 years old. Her experiences as a Multilingual Learner and her parents’ acclimation to a new education system continue to inspire her research agenda. Dr. Pilonieta attended the University of Miami for her entire educational career. She received […]

Dr. Angela Preston’s career progressed from teaching explicit and systematic literacy instruction to students with disabilities to assisting with shifting instructional literacy practices to align with the science of reading (SOR) in districts, schools, classrooms, preschools, and community-based programs. As an adjunct instructor and educational consultant, she contributed to the development of teachers by providing […]

Erin K. Washburn is an Associate Professor in the Reading and Elementary Education department. She received her undergraduate degree from Baylor University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University. She has worked as a preschool teacher, English/language arts teacher, and reading specialist in middle and high schools in Texas. Dr. Washburn’s research […]