Nell K. Duke

Nell K. Duke is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on literacy education in early childhood, or birth through age eight. Duke is Executive Director of the Center for Early Literacy and Learning Success at Stand for Children and Professor of Education and Psychology at the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan. Her career has been focused on the right to literacy, particularly the ways in which early childhood (birth through age eight) education can lay groundwork for a lifetime of literacy success. Early in her career, Duke interwove experiences teaching and pursuing degrees, eventually earning masters and doctoral degrees in human development and psychology, with a concentration in language and literacy, from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Her research, teaching, writing, professional development, and engagement with policymakers aim to bridge gaps between research, policy, and practice in early literacy education. Duke’s work has been funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the George Lucas Educational Foundation, among other organizations. Among the awards Duke has received are the International Reading Association Dissertation Award, the American Educational Research Association Early Career Award, the National Reading Conference Early Career Achievement Award, the Dina Feitelson Research Award, the Literacy Research Association P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award, and the International Literacy Association’s highest honor, the William S. Gray Citation of Merit for outstanding contributions to literacy research, theory, policy, and practice. She has been named one of the most influential education scholars in the U.S. in EdWeek, served on the advisory board for PBSKIDS, is senior advisor for Amira Learning, is Co-Director of the Great First Eight Curriculum, and is an elected member of the National Academy of Education. You can follow Duke’s work at nellkduke.org.