Beth Phillips

Beth Phillips, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems at Florida State University's College of Education and Associate Director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR). Her research focuses on early literacy, language development, and preschool curriculum design, with a particular emphasis on supporting at-risk children and training educators.

Dr. Phillips earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University and has held postdoctoral research fellowships from the APA/IES. She teaches graduate courses on educational research methodologies and supervises an active lab focusing on teacher-student interactions, parent-child language dynamics, and small-group instruction.

Her current projects include leadership roles in grants such as Project VOICES (Spencer Foundation), ATLAS (language interventions), and the Reading for Understanding Network. She has authored/co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on topics like phonological awareness, RTI frameworks, and home literacy environments. Dr. Phillips also collaborates with state agencies to develop preschool standards and professional development programs, including Florida's Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) initiatives.

Key awards include the Florida State University Dissertation Research Award (2001). Her work emphasizes evidence-based practices, with a commitment to bridging classroom instruction and family involvement to enhance children's learning outcomes.