Our Boards
Reading Is Fundamental’s (RIF’s) boards help to shape our strategies and programs, ensuring that we are a sustainable, impactful nonprofit organization. Meet the leading executives, literacy experts, visionary educators, and other professionals united by our mission to disrupt the U.S. literacy crisis.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors steers RIF towards a sustainable future by strategizing and driving sound governance, management, and financial policies. The Board of Directors advances RIF’s mission, which is centered around inspiring the joy of reading—driving the reading frequency, motivation, and engagement that puts children on the path to becoming skilled readers.
![Thomas Plath, the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, and the Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Global Citizenship of International Paper](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/11/07/tom-plath-img.png?itok=jSNB8iMn)
Thomas Plath, Vice Chair
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources & Corporate Affairs
International Paper
![J.J. Johnson, the Secretary of the Board of Directors and a Senior Advisor for Fidelity Investments](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/11/07/jj-johnson-img.png?itok=4ej-3kWn)
J.J. Johnson, Secretary
Senior Advisor
Fidelity Investments
![14615](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/04/05/Alicia_2019.jpg?itok=yQ6urNa_)
Alicia Levi
President & CEO
Reading Is Fundamental
![Angela Jones headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/04/03/Angela%20Jones_1.jpg?itok=QTdOn5rY)
Angela Y. Jones
Global Chief People Officer
ACCO Brands
![Michelle Mesack, a member of the Board of Directors, and the Head of U.S. Government Relations for JP Morgan Chase & Co.](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/11/07/michelle-mesack-img.png?itok=edf17to7)
Michelle Mesack
Managing Director, Global Head of Government Relations
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
![Michelle Murphy, the Vice President of Human Resources for Trane Technologies’ Commercial HVAC Americas business and member of RIF's Board of Directors.](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/10/17/Michelle%20Murphy%20Picture2%20Aug18%20v4%5B91%5D.png?itok=Wv0gtmuJ)
Michelle Murphy
Vice President of Human Resources,
Commercial HVAC Americas
Trane Technologies
![Kevin Smithson](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2023/10/11/kevin-smithson-img.png?itok=NFkWqsvJ)
Kevin Smithson
Washington DC Metro Office
Managing Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
![Joe Thornton, a member of the Board of Directors and the President of Scooter's Coffee](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2023/04/26/joe-thornton-img.jpg?itok=iVtyNxgo)
Joe Thornton
President
Scooter's Coffee
![Simone Wu headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/04/04/Simone%20Wu.jpg?itok=QtqmCdHZ)
Simone Wu
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & External Affairs
Choice Hotels International
Race, Equity, and Inclusion National Advisory Board
Our Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) National Advisory Board provides diverse voices and expertise that guide RIF’s many diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This work includes putting diverse books, voices, and stories in the hands of children—to reflect their own experiences while providing a powerful window into the experiences of others.
![Kathy Burnette Photo](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2023/11/01/Screenshot%202023-11-01%20at%204.39.38%20PM_1.png?itok=IPltS_MT)
Kathy Burnette
Founder, Brain Lair Books
![Charnaie Gordon](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/04-Charnie-Gordon.jpg?itok=_g1CzRjg)
Charnaie Gordon
Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Here Wee Read
![13807](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2020/12/14/VioletHarrisNAB-2.png?itok=N20yiQjO)
Dr. Violet Harris
Professor Emerita, Curriculum & Instruction, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
![13789](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2020/12/07/NicoleJohnsonNAB.png?itok=zDWANZoy)
Nicole A. Johnson
Owner, Extraordinary Changes
![13786](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2020/12/07/CarmenRubenNAB.png?itok=4fmhSXxq)
Carmen Rubin
Author; Founder, One Blue Village; Founder & President, Peppermint Candy Publishing
![13788](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2020/12/07/DonTateNAB.png?itok=0NL5Xewt)
Don Tate
Author & Illustrator
Middle School Family Literacy Advisory Board
Our Middle School Family Literacy Advisory Board (MSFLAB) provides strategic guidance on the books and resources developed to support RIF’s program, “Race, Equity & Inclusion: Critical Support of COVID Learning Loss Recovery & Resilience in Middle Schools.” Through this initiative, RIF provides our Books for Ownership program to middle schools in priority communities, helping to drive family reading engagement and address drops in reading scores due to the pandemic.
![Erin Bailey smiles in front of a green background. She is the Director of Programs and Content at Reading Is Fundamental.](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/09/20/Erin-Bailey.png?itok=GrE1sI4o)
Erin Bailey
Vice President, Literacy Programs & Research
![Susan Browne](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/01-Susan-Browne.jpg?itok=WNd0X_9M)
Susan Browne
Associate Professor
Rowan University
![Rubén Cáceres](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/02-Rube%CC%81n-Ca%CC%81ceres.jpg?itok=dKQg7hUH)
Rubén Cáceres
English Educator and Teacher Leader
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
![Sabrina J. Curtis](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/03-Sabrina-J.-Curtis.jpg?itok=gCr_kQ4G)
Sabrina J. Curtis
Assistant Professor
University of Virginia
![Laurie Hahn Ganser](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/05-Laurie-Hahn-Ganser.jpg?itok=FsDW15T1)
Laurie Hahn Ganser
Literacy Specialist & Doctoral Student
University of Minnesota
![Charnaie Gordon](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/04-Charnie-Gordon.jpg?itok=_g1CzRjg)
Charnaie Gordon
Children's Book Author
Here Wee Read
![Shana Haines](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/06-Shana-Haines.jpg?itok=VGHjfF7G)
Shana Haines
Associate Professor
University of Vermont
![Rosalind Hudson](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/07-Rosalind-Hudson.jpg?itok=5ZoOCgfO)
Rosalind Hudson
Assistant Professor
Louisiana State University
![Jessica Jones](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/08-Jessica-Jones.jpg?itok=Xo7cWv-r)
Jessica Jones
Middle School Assistant Principal
Inspired Teaching Demonstration School
![Terra McCrae-Greene](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/09-Terra-McCrae-Greene.jpg?itok=maiytI0G)
Terra McCrae-Greene
Bilingual Program Coordinator
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
![Darris McInnis](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/10-Daris-McInnis-.jpg?itok=meuEAuDM)
Daris McInnis
Assistant Professor
West Chester University of PA
![James Morgan](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/11-James-Morgan.jpg?itok=B0ByWB_U)
James Morgan
Managing Director of Programs
Higher Achievement
![Karly O'Brien smiles at the camera while outdoors. She is the Content Developer for Reading is Fundamental.](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/09/20/Karly-OBrien.png?itok=N6I_-mOU)
Karly O'Brien
Content Developer
Reading Is Fundamental
![Kip Plaisted](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/12-Kip-Plaisted.jpg?itok=0btoQBN6)
Kip Plaisted
English and Social Studies Content Leader
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
Aryanne C. Young
English Language Learner Teacher
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
Early Childhood Education Advisory Board
Our Early Childhood Education Advisory Board supports the development of the curriculum, professional development, family engagement, and research components of RIF’s Read for Success Early Childhood program. This early literacy program is designed to enhance emergent reading skills for birth to age 5 learners through increased access to books and play-based literacy programming.
![Liane Alves headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/08/Liane%20Alves.png?itok=a0wyROx8)
Liane Alves
First Grade Teacher
Beauvoir
![David Barry headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Dave%20Barry%20Head%20Shot%20copy.png?itok=KEy5d8VV)
David Barry
Assistant Professor
West Chester University of PA
![Meghan Fitzgerald headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/meghan_new_headshot.jpg?itok=v-RhbyC6)
Meghan Fitzgerald
Founder
Tinkergarten
![Elizabeth Hadley headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Hadley%202023%20headshot_small.jpg?itok=IL8M_-nf)
Elizabeth Hadley
Associate Professor
University of South Florida
![Valarie Lee headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Valarie%20Lee.png?itok=DNlC4Kco)
Valarie Lee
Associate Professor
Rowan University Reading Clinic
![Marjorie Madden headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Midge%20Madden.jpg?itok=Dv-0VuUs)
Marjorie Madden
Associate Professor
Rowan University
![Darris McInnis](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2022/08/28/10-Daris-McInnis-.jpg?itok=meuEAuDM)
Daris McInnis
Assistant Professor
West Chester University of PA
![Dowan McNair Lee headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Dowan%20McNair%20Lee.jpg?itok=raN8voBs)
Dowan McNair-Lee
Assistant Professor
Urban Education UDC
![Judy Paulick headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Judy%20Paulick.png?itok=RqUDiAbz)
Judy Paulick
Assistant Professor
University of Virginia
![Jill Pentimonti headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/320x320/public/images/2024/05/07/Jill%20Pentimonti.png?itok=c6COtp6o)
Jill Pentimonti
Director of Research Advancement
University of Notre Dame
![Equality vs Equity graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/770x613/public/images/2023/10/17/50x50-equity.jpg?itok=cX7yxAwC)
Rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion
RIF’s work incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in everything we do, from the communities we serve to the stories we tell, to the authors and illustrators we feature. Closing the equity gap has been the driver of our work since our founding in 1966. To reinforce our DEI approach, we created the Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) Initiative and REI National Advisory Board.