Emily Binks-Cantrell, Ph.D., teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and multicultural education, serves as the Co-Chair of Advanced Literacy Studies Program, Director of the Reading Specialist program (including Distance Education and Early Start options), and also serves as the Director of the Lohman Learning Community. Her research focus is teacher knowledge of and preparation in evidence-based literacy instruction. She is a founding board member of the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, an Associate Editor for The Reading League Journal, and on the Editorial Board of Annals of Dyslexia and Education Sciences. She has worked as a consultant for many schools districts, educational organizations, and businesses throughout the state and nation. Dr. Cantrell taught first and third grades in a small, rural district in Texas and also taught 3-5 year olds with autism. She has worked with a variety of striving readers and writers as a reading specialist and has also closely mentored new elementary teachers in their teaching of reading. Prior to returning to A&M, Dr. Cantrell was an Assistant Professor and Research Coordinator at the University of Hull in England. Dr. Cantrell is a firm believer that teachers are the most powerful tool in the education system and is passionate about increasing the quality of preparation and support teachers receive in order to meet the diverse needs of their students.