Ellen McIntyre

Ellen McIntyre serves as Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a position she has held since January 2020. Previously, she was Dean of the Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte for seven years, with earlier roles as interim associate dean and department chair at North Carolina State University, and professor at the University of Louisville. Her career began as a classroom teacher in Newport, Kentucky, and research assistant at SRI International.

Her academic credentials include:

• EdD in Language and Literacy Education from the University of Cincinnati (1990)
• MA in Reading Education from Northern Kentucky University (1985)
• BA in Elementary Education from Northern Kentucky University (1983)

McIntyre's research centers on literacy education for historically marginalized students, with pioneering work in culturally responsive reading instruction and teacher preparation reform. She examines how socioeconomic status, race, and cultural backgrounds intersect with reading development, developing evidence-based interventions for elementary classrooms. Her scholarship consistently bridges theory and practice, emphasizing teacher agency in creating equitable learning environments while addressing systemic barriers in literacy education.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Culturally responsive literacy frameworks addressing passive racism and funds of knowledge in Appalachian and urban contexts; (2) STEM-integrated teacher preparation models focusing on engineering design and mathematics-science integration; (3) Targeted reading interventions for ELL students and low-income Black/Hispanic populations through summer programs and sheltered instruction. These strands converge in her advocacy for teacher development that centers student identity and community assets.

As an academic leader, McIntyre has shaped educator preparation standards through CAEP committee work and directed multi-institutional initiatives like PROJECT ATOMS for mathematics/science teachers. Her administrative career demonstrates sustained commitment to translating research into policy, though specific grant details remain undocumented in available sources.