Biography

Biography

TIMOTHY SHANAHAN

Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement.

Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influence on reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Early Literacy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards.

He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher.

  • 2019

    Current Activities

    *Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago *Chair, William S. Gray Award Committee, International Literacy Association. *Literacy Advisor, What Works Clearinghouse, Institute of Education Science *Principal Member, Institute of Education Science, Grant Proposal Review Panel *Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Knowledge Matters Campaign *Member, Board of Advisors, Reading is Fundamental *Member, Professional Advisory Board, Center for Development & Learning, New Orleans, LA *Member, Board of Visitors, Learning Research & Development Center, University of Pittsburgh *Member, Editorial Review Board, Review of Educational Research *Member, Editorial Review Board, Journal of Educational Psychology *Member, Editorial Review Board, Scientific Studies in Reading *Member, Editorial Review Board, Reading Research Quarterly *Member, Editorial Review Board, Reading & Writing Quarterly *Member, Editorial Review Board, Reading Psychology *Member, Editorial Review Board, The Reading Teacher *Author, Wonders (K-6) Reading Program, McGraw-Hill *Author, StudySync (Grades 6-12), McGraw-Hill *Author, Amplify Atlas Assessment *Author, Amplify The Last Readers Close Reading
  • 2017

    Honors

    *Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan were awarded the P. David Pearson Award for Scholarly Influence by the Literacy Research Association for their work on disciplinary literacy *ILA Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award instituted
  • 2015

    Visiting Professorship and Expert Witness

    Served as Visiting Research Professor, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Provided expert testimony in legal case, Governor Bobby Jindal v. U.S. Department of Education. Case is adjudicated on the basis of Shanahan’s analysis.
  • 2013

    Awards and Recognitions

    Shanahan article, “The Common Core Ate My Baby,” receives Distinguished Achievement Award for Learned Article from the Association of Educational Publications. Inductee, University of Delaware Wall of Fame Receives William S. Gray Citation of Merit, International Literacy Association Literacy Award from LEADER (ILA Special Interest Group)
  • 2012

    Distinguished Professor

    Receives Distinguished Professor designation from the University of Illinois at Chicago
  • 2010

    Helped Author Common Core State Standards

    Common Core State Standards are issued and are eventually adopted as the basis of K-12 education in more than 40 states. Shanahan served on the English Language Arts Work Team and helped write the standards.
  • 2009

    Researcher of the Year

    Researcher of the Year in the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • 2008

    National Early Literacy Panel

    Early Childhood Literacy, the report of the National Early Literacy Panel, is issued. Shanahan chaired the panel.
  • 2007

    Inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame
  • 2006

    Elected President of the International Literacy Association, a professional group with more than 50,000 members worldwide. Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners, the report of the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth. Shanahan chaired the panel.
  • 2004

    Expert Witness

    Shanahan’s research and testimony are cited in federal case law (Memisovski v. Maram, No. 92 C 1982), a case lauded by the American Academy of Pediatrics as “an enormous victory” for children’s health care).
  • 2002

    Illinois Reading Council Hall of Fame

    Inducted to the Illinois Reading Council Hall of Fame
  • 2001

    Chicago Public Schools

    Hired as Director of Reading, Chicago Public Schools, and spearheads effective school improvement efforts in 600 schools.
  • 2000

    “Report of the National Reading Panel” is published; Shanahan led the research methodology and fluency committees. Report becomes basis of $5 billion in reading programs through No Child Left Behind law.
  • 1997

    Receives Albert J. Harris Award for Outstanding Research on Reading Disability from the International Literacy Association for his critical analysis of Reading Recovery.
  • 1994

    Project FLAME, a family literacy program for Spanish-speaking immigrants developed by Tim Shanahan, receives Academic Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education.
  • 1991

    Creates the UIC Center for Literacy, which develops and delivers innovative programs in schools, workplaces, homes, and healthcare. Center attracts $60 million in funding under Shanahan’s leadership.
  • 1983

    Receives the Milton D. Jacobson Readability Research Award from the Readability Special Interest Group (ILA) for research on cloze testing.
  • 1982

    Receives Silver Circle Award for Teaching, University of Illinois at Chicago.
  • 1980

    Receives PhD in Education from the University of Delaware
2019
Current Activities
*Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago *Chair, William S. Gray Award Committee, International Literacy Association. *Literacy Advisor, What Works Clearinghouse, Institute of Education Science *Principal Member, Institute of Education Science, Grant Proposal Review Panel *Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Knowledge Matters Campaign *Member, Board of Advisors, Reading is Fundamental *Member, Professional Advisory Board, Center for Development & Learning, New Orleans, LA *Member, Board of Visitors, Learning Research & Development Center, University of Pittsburgh *Member, Editorial Review Board, Review of Educational Research *Member, Editorial Review Board, Journal of Educational Psychology *Member, Editorial Review Board, Scientific Studies in Reading *Member, Editorial Review Board, Reading Research Quarterly *Member, Editorial Review Board, Reading & Writing Quarterly *Member, Editorial Review Board, Reading Psychology *Member, Editorial Review Board, The Reading Teacher *Author, Wonders (K-6) Reading Program, McGraw-Hill *Author, StudySync (Grades 6-12), McGraw-Hill *Author, Amplify Atlas Assessment *Author, Amplify The Last Readers Close Reading
2017
Honors
*Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan were awarded the P. David Pearson Award for Scholarly Influence by the Literacy Research Association for their work on disciplinary literacy *ILA Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award instituted
2015
Visiting Professorship and Expert Witness
Served as Visiting Research Professor, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Provided expert testimony in legal case, Governor Bobby Jindal v. U.S. Department of Education. Case is adjudicated on the basis of Shanahan’s analysis.
2013
Awards and Recognitions
Shanahan article, “The Common Core Ate My Baby,” receives Distinguished Achievement Award for Learned Article from the Association of Educational Publications. Inductee, University of Delaware Wall of Fame Receives William S. Gray Citation of Merit, International Literacy Association Literacy Award from LEADER (ILA Special Interest Group)
2012
Distinguished Professor
Receives Distinguished Professor designation from the University of Illinois at Chicago
2010
Helped Author Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards are issued and are eventually adopted as the basis of K-12 education in more than 40 states. Shanahan served on the English Language Arts Work Team and helped write the standards.
2009
Researcher of the Year
Researcher of the Year in the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago
2008
National Early Literacy Panel
Early Childhood Literacy, the report of the National Early Literacy Panel, is issued. Shanahan chaired the panel.
2007
Inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame
2006
Elected President of the International Literacy Association, a professional group with more than 50,000 members worldwide. Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners, the report of the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth. Shanahan chaired the panel.
2004
Expert Witness
Shanahan’s research and testimony are cited in federal case law (Memisovski v. Maram, No. 92 C 1982), a case lauded by the American Academy of Pediatrics as “an enormous victory” for children’s health care).
2002
Illinois Reading Council Hall of Fame
Inducted to the Illinois Reading Council Hall of Fame
2001
Chicago Public Schools
Hired as Director of Reading, Chicago Public Schools, and spearheads effective school improvement efforts in 600 schools.
2000
“Report of the National Reading Panel” is published; Shanahan led the research methodology and fluency committees. Report becomes basis of $5 billion in reading programs through No Child Left Behind law.
1997
Receives Albert J. Harris Award for Outstanding Research on Reading Disability from the International Literacy Association for his critical analysis of Reading Recovery.
1994
Project FLAME, a family literacy program for Spanish-speaking immigrants developed by Tim Shanahan, receives Academic Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education.
1991
Creates the UIC Center for Literacy, which develops and delivers innovative programs in schools, workplaces, homes, and healthcare. Center attracts $60 million in funding under Shanahan’s leadership.
1983
Receives the Milton D. Jacobson Readability Research Award from the Readability Special Interest Group (ILA) for research on cloze testing.
1982
Receives Silver Circle Award for Teaching, University of Illinois at Chicago.
1980
Receives PhD in Education from the University of Delaware

Partners and Affiliations

Biography
Biography
Biography
Biography
Biography
Biography
Biography
Biography
Biography

One of the world’s premier literacy educators.

He studies reading and writing across all ages and abilities. Feel free to contact him.