Pam Bazis and Emily Fisher have been named co-directors of the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“The Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center is a marquee part of the way UNL supports excellence in the teaching of reading,” said Nick Pace, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences . “The Center has a remarkable history of boosting young readers’ skills and equipping future teachers with research-based strategies for teaching reading. Professors Bazis and Fisher are poised to continue the Center’s exciting trajectory and I’m excited for what’s to come. It’s genuinely joyful to see the one-on-one work between our future teachers and the K-12 students they support. It’s another way we are extending our reach as a college.”
Bazis, an assistant professor in the Special Education and Communication Disorders website" target="_blank">Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders , returned to Nebraska a year ago after spending two years as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Bazis completed her Ph.D. in special education at Nebraska in 2020. Her research focuses on developing and testing interventions and instructional strategies that increase foundational literacy skills for elementary students and the teachers working with those students.
“I am excited to join Emily as co-directors of the Reading Center,” Bazis said. “I am passionate about empowering UNL students, Nebraska teachers, and community members with the knowledge and tools they need to be strong literacy educators, enhancing their ability to deliver effective reading and writing instruction to children. Partnering with Emily and the exceptional staff at the center, I am eager to continue this important work. My hope is that through our dedicated efforts the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center will be a beacon of learning, research, and support – helping every child unlock their full potential and discover the power of literacy.”
Fisher, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, takes on the co-director role after serving as the clinic coordinator for the Reading Center the last two years. Fisher completed her Ph.D. in educational studies at Nebraska in 2022. Her research interests include emergent and K-8 literacy, teacher preparation, teacher professional development, how general educators support children who struggle with reading and writing, and writing curriculum, pedagogy, instruction and identity.
“I am thrilled to step into the role of co-director at the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center,” Fisher said. “This new position offers an exciting opportunity to continue our mission of elevating teacher preparation in the areas of reading instruction and supporting struggling readers. I look forward to collaborating with Pam, departments across UNL, and both novice and veteran educators to further develop their skills, ensuring that we equip our students with the tools they need to succeed.”
The Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center is housed in the Barkley Memorial Center on UNL’s East Campus. Reading and writing tutoring is provided by UNL graduate and undergraduate students in CEHS, under the direction of UNL faculty and certified teachers, to children in the community who are reading below grade level. The Reading Center provides tutoring during three semesters year-round, serving students in grades K-6 during all three sessions, and students in grades 7-12 during the fall semester.
College of Education and Human Sciences
Special Education and Communication Disorders
Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education
