Alycia Cole

Educational Background

Positive Statement about Being a Graduate Research Assistant
Serving as a Graduate Research Assistant has been one of the most formative aspects of my doctoral journey. A GRAship is not just about research tasks—it is about apprenticeship, collaboration, and growth as a professional scholar. GA roles allow doctoral students to gain invaluable mentorship, develop technical and analytical skills, and take part in publications and conferences that extend far beyond what coursework alone can provide. Most importantly, GA experiences highlight that research is not a solitary pursuit but a collaborative endeavor that strengthens both teaching and scholarship.

Spotlight Experience
Two projects have been especially pivotal in shaping my early career. First, the Phonics and Text Complexity in Grades 3–5 ELA Curricula project with Dr. Downs gave me the chance to present at a national conference and co-author a forthcoming manuscript while deepening my understanding of how curriculum design influences literacy development. Second, my ongoing collaboration with Dr. Roberts on the Rural Cultural Wealth project has spanned multiple phases of coding, analysis, and manuscript preparation, and continues even after her transition to Clemson University. This sustained work has shown me the value of long-term research partnerships and the power of studying systemic supports and barriers for students across educational contexts.

Emphasis

Concentration Area: Literacy Education
Research Interests: High school–to–college literacy transitions, Argumentative writing and epistemic development; Reading–writing integration with rhetorical and genre-based pedagogies; Disciplinary literacy across content areas; Teacher education pedagogies, with emphasis on multidimensional literacy (cognitive, social, cultural, linguistic, institutional, rhetorical, epistemic)
Teaching Interests: Secondary English methods and content area literacy; Writing instruction (academic, creative, multimodal, civic); Literature instruction, including YA and contemporary texts; Assessment and curriculum design; Language, literacy, and learning in diverse settings
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Cindy Jones (Chair), Dr. Qi Si (Co-Chair); Dr. Jake Downs (GRA Supervisor), Dr. Cherish Sarmiento (GRA Supervisor)