CEHS Associate Dean Sylvia Read Appointed to WestEd Board of Directors

Sylvia Read, Ph.D., associate dean for accreditation and undergraduate studies in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services (CEHS), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of WestEd, one of the country’s leading nonpartisan research and development agencies focused on improving education and human development. Read will serve on the Board’s Business Development and Program Impact Committee, a role that places her at the center of national conversations about educational innovation and long-term learner outcomes. Her appointment follows a nomination process that identifies leaders across the education and human services sectors whose experience can help steer WestEd’s mission and strategy.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Sylvia Read join WestEd’s Board of Directors,” said WestEd CEO Jannelle Kubinec. “I know that her experience, expertise, and knowledge will be a great asset to the agency as we continue to pursue our vision of thriving learners and empowered communities.”

Shawn Whiteman, interim dean of CEHS, said, “We are proud to celebrate Dr. Read on her appointment to the Board of Directors of WestEd. This well-deserved recognition reflects Dr. Read’s leadership and commitment for improving education and developmental outcomes for all learners. It also underscores the strength of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services and our shared commitment to enriching lives and communities through excellence in scholarship, engagement, and leadership.“

Read’s appointment represents both a professional milestone and a continuation of a career-long commitment to broadening educational opportunity. “I want to improve the education landscape for everyone, across the lifespan and regardless of circumstance or background” she said. “WestEd’s values and mission align closely with the work I’ve always believed in, which is quality educational opportunities for all.”

For 13 years, Read was an elementary teacher in Urbana, Illinois, and in Utah with the Cache County School District. She taught first, second, sixth, and seventh grades and was passionate about teaching. Upon the completion of her doctoral degree in education from USU in 2000, Read joined the university as an assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership. She earned tenure and promotion in 2009 and became a full professor in 2017. In addition to her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Utah State University, she earned an M.Ed. in Education and B.A. in English from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Read’s career in higher education has encompassed many roles, including professor, director of graduate studies, director of undergraduate programs, associate department head, department liaison to USU statewide campuses, and associate dean.

A specialist in effective writing instruction, Read’s research has helped shape classroom practice and teacher preparation in Utah and beyond. Her work has also earned her numerous honors, including nominations for Carnegie Professor of the Year (2009) and Teacher of the Year awards at USU and earlier in her career at North Park Elementary in Cache County School District.

WestEd occupies a unique space in the national education landscape. The agency works with states, school systems, and community organizations to improve outcomes for children, youth, and adults. A nonpartisan organization, WestEd grounds its work in evidence and collaborative problem-solving. Its core values—asking rigorous questions, building sustainable impact, and working with integrity—guide projects ranging from early childhood literacy initiatives to school improvement strategies, workforce development, and large-scale policy evaluations.

Read’s expertise in writing instruction, teacher preparation, and higher education leadership will inform WestEd’s efforts to design programs that advance learning outcomes and improve systems from early childhood through adult education.

For Read, the appointment at WestEd is both personal and professional. “Education has to be viewed as a lifelong system,” she said. “Every stage matters. Every learner matters. My hope is to contribute in ways that help create sustained, positive impact for communities everywhere.”