UMO Associate Professor Receives Prestigious Award
April 17, 2023
Contact: Director of Public Relations, Rhonda Jessup
Article by: Student Intern, Macy Parkhurst
MOUNT OLIVE – Dr. Ashley Johnson, Associate Professor in the Division of Education at the University of Mount Olive, recently received the James B. Hunt Jr. Literacy Award. Awarded by the North Carolina Reading Association, the honor recognizes individuals for service in promoting literacy among children and adults, resulting in lasting contributions to literacy in North Carolina communities.
Johnson states, “I am so excited to be able to continue to follow my passion and impact the students at UMO and the community through the University of Mount Olive Reading Clinic starting in the fall of 2023. This project involves UMO education majors delivering evidence-based literacy tutoring to elementary-aged children in our community.”
Johnson, a former elementary and secondary reading specialist, maintains an active research agenda that examines student engagement and motivation, teacher preparation and licensure assessments, evidence-based literacy practices, and community and relationship building in the classroom. She enjoys employing literacy projects that offer university students high-impact field experiences while enhancing literacy in the community.
Johnson’s research projects have been funded by: Anonymous Trust Foundation, ChildTrust Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Cumberland Community Foundation, and First Horizon Bank. Her scholarly work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Educational Research, Journal of Research Initiatives, International Research in Higher Education, and the American International Journal of Humanities and Social Science/Center for Global Research Development.
“The Division of Education is fortunate to have Dr. Johnson as a member of our Education faculty,” said Dr. Amanda Bullard-Maxwell, Assistant Dean for Education. “She brings valuable expertise in literacy instruction that will be an asset in the preparation of our pre-service teachers. The implementation of the University of Mount Olive Reading Clinic will allow our education majors to practice the application of theory, while serving elementary students in our community.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University is sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
