American Reading Forum Board of Directors (2020-2023) Voted on by membership to represent the organization for a 3-year team. Additionally, I serve as the treasurer for this organization.

National Museum of African American Music: Arts, Discovery, and Innovation Fund: Social Justice & the Black Music Experience This grant was awarded to Tiffeni Fortno with Emily Pendergrass to utilize Black music & children’s literature to support classroom instruction about Civil Rights and the social justice movements. We will create an online guide with teaching resources, including books and music references, to help teachers create lessons incorporating children’s literature focusing on Black musicians, Civil Rights, and social justice themes. This will include the incorporation of Social Justice Standards from the Learning for Justice organization.

U.S. State Department Grant: American University of Iraq-Baghdad College of Education (2022-2024) This grant was awarded to Xiu Cravens, associate dean for international students and affairs, and Nancy Dickson, director of the AUIB project. Peabody team includes Ellen Goldring and Erin Henrick of the Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations; Brian Kissel, Kristen Neal, and Emily Pendergrass of the Department of Teaching and Learning. Goals are to improve pre-service teacher education, support women and minorities in Iraq, and build a stronger teacher workforce in the region.