Faculty Profile for Dr. Gwynne Ellen Ash

profile photo for Dr. Gwynne Ellen Ash
Dr. Gwynne Ellen Ash
Professor — Curriculum And Instruction
ED 3019
phone: (512) 245-8068

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Gwynne Ellen Ash is a professor at Texas State University who teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary and middle school literacy methods, literacy assessment and instruction for students who struggle with school-based literacies, children’s and young adult literature, and creating and evaluating professional development for literacy educators. A former middle school literacy teacher in San Antonio, TX, Gwynne’s research is related to teaching literacy in the middle and high school, creating frameworks for literacy instruction in the middle and high school, and critiquing and analyzing children’s and young adult literature. Recent publications include an invited chapter in The Handbook of Research on Reading Comprehension (2nd Ed.), and peer-reviewed articles in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Children's Literature in Education, and the Middle School Journal. She was elected to the ILA Board of Directors in 2015.

Research Interests

Schools and Teachers in Children's Literature
Critical Media Literacy
Reciprocal Teaching Plus (RT+)
Fluency and Round Robin Reading
Vocabulary

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Ash, G. E., Baumann, J. F., & Bason, J. (2020). Understanding literacy trends in survey research. In Literacy Research Methodologies (3rd Ed.). New York, NY, USA: Guilford Press.
  • Headley, K. N., Gillis, V., Casey, H., Aragon, J. W., Ash, G. E., Boggs, G., … Saunders, J. M. (2019). Engagement and adolescent literacy [Position statement and research brief]. Newark, DE, USA: International Literacy Association. Retrieved from https://literacyworldwide.org/docs/default-source/where-we-stand/ila-engagement-and-adolescent-literacy.pdf
  • Ash, G. E., & Saunders, J. M. (2018). From “I don’t like Mondays” to “Pumped Up Kicks€”:  Rampage school shootings in young adult fiction and young adults’ lives. Children’s Literature in Education, 49, 34–46.
  • Ash, G. E., & Baumann, J. F. (2017). Vocabulary and comprehension: The nexus of meaning. In S. E. Israel (Ed.), The Handbook of Research on Reading Comprehension (2nd Ed.) (pp. 141–155). New York, NY, USA: Guilford.
  • Saunders, J. M., Ash, G. E., Salazar, I., Pruitt, R., Wallach, D., Breed, E., … Szachacz, A. (2017). “We’re already somebody”: High School Students Practicing Critical Media Literacy IRL [in real life]. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 60, 515–526.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Award for Excellence in Service, Associate/Full Professor, Texas State University. August 2018
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Winner, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Affiliate Journal Competition, National Council of Teachers of English. November 2016
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Service, Associate/Full Professor, College of Education, Texas State University. January 2013
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, Associate/Full Professor, College of Education, Texas State University. January 2012
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Teaching, Associate/Full Professor, College of Education, Texas State University. January 2012

Selected Grants

  • Ash, Gwynne (Principal). Common Experience Program Development Grant, Texas State University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $6000. (Submitted: 2007). Grant.
  • Ash, Gwynne (Principal). Research Enhancement Grant, Texas State University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $8000. (Submitted: 2005). Grant.
  • Jacobson, Jodi Arlene (Principal), Ash, Gwynne Ellen (Supporting). Texas Preservation Trust Fund Grant, Texas Historical Commission, State, $16951. (Funded: October 29, 2020 - 2022). Grant.
  • Ash, Gwynne (Principal). Improving Teacher Quality Grant, Title II, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Higher Education Component, Federal, $120000. (Submitted: 2004). Grant.
  • Ash, Gwynne (Principal). CHEP Instructional Improvement Grant, University of Delaware, Institutional (Higher Ed), $7000. (Submitted: 2002). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy
January 1, 2011-2023
Member
Adolescent Literacy Committee, International Literacy Association
November 1, 2017-2020
Officer
Board of Directors, International Literacy Association
July 1, 2015-2018
Sponsor
San Marcos Student Reading Council
September 1, 2016-2017
Member
Faculty Senate
May 1, 2011-May 1, 2013