معرفی
Beth Murray-Pendergraft is Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Teaching and Leading at Augusta University's College of Education and Human Development. She is also affiliated with The Graduate School and serves as Program Director for Teaching and Leading. Her academic work spans teaching, research, and extensive service at departmental, college, and university levels.
Her research interests center on literacy education, with a focus on early childhood literacy, teacher self-efficacy, and improving home literacy environments—particularly for children in poverty. She investigates how systemic initiatives, such as state-wide reading consortia, impact teacher educators and classroom practices.
The available publications reflect a sustained focus on literacy development and teacher effectiveness. Her work spans topics including home-based literacy interventions, teacher confidence in diverse educational settings, and policy-level collaborations in reading education. These studies contribute to both practical classroom strategies and broader educational policy discussions.
Professional Service Highlights:
- University Curriculum and Academic Policies Committee (2015–Present)
- College of Education Faculty Development Committee (2016–Present)
- COE Promotion and Tenure Committee (2015–Present)
- Professional Education Council (2015–Present)
- International Literacy Association (2012–Present)
Beth Murray-Pendergraft has held significant service roles, including Faculty Advisor, Program Coordinator, and Committee Chair. She has contributed to strategic planning, accreditation (SACS), and institutional events such as convocation and graduation. She is also involved in study abroad initiatives, demonstrating a broad institutional engagement beyond her department.
She teaches graduate courses such as EDTD 6223 (Applications/Effective Reading) and EDTD 6222 (Current Best Practices in Literacy), aligning closely with her research expertise in literacy instruction and pedagogy.
