The International Literacy Association (ILA) has announced the next editor team to lead Reading Research Quarterly (RRQ), the leading global journal publishing multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed scholarship on literacy among learners of all ages.

Representing institutions across the United States, Central Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region, the incoming editorial team brings deep disciplinary expertise and global perspective to RRQ’s leadership:

 
• Chase Young, professor and associate director of assessments in the School of Teaching and Learning, Sam Houston State University

 
• Juan Araújo, professor and director of the School of Education, Texas Woman’s University


 
• Michelle Bedeker, associate professor and head of department, New Uzbekistan University


 
• Janet S. Gaffney, professor and director of the Marie Clay Research Centre, University of Auckland



• Bethanie C. Pletcher, professor in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Sciences Department, Texas A&M University

New editors to focus on amplifying international and underrepresented voices

Dr. Young’s extensive editorial experience—including service as a reviewer, guest editor, and editorial board member—positions him to lead RRQ with a steady, discerning, and strategic vision. Together with his fellow editors, the team is unified in their vision for RRQ in an era where the field of literacy continues to evolve.

“We are energized by the opportunity to amplify international and underrepresented voices, deepen the journal’s engagement with critical and interdisciplinary perspectives, and support research that employs innovative and emerging methodologies,” the team stated. “RRQ must continue to foster scholarly dialogue that is inclusive, theoretically grounded, and methodologically rigorous—research that leaves a lasting imprint on the field.”

The team spans a wide range of research paradigms—quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods—with demonstrated expertise in psychometrics, discourse analysis, cognitive and sociocultural theory, and cross-contextual literacy research. In addition, their shared editorial values form a unified foundation for collaborative leadership, equipping them to engage with the full spectrum of submissions to RRQ.

“We see RRQ not merely as a publication, but as a scholarly community—one that values transparency, thoughtful peer review, and intellectual courage,” the team stated. “We are dedicated to upholding the high standards that define the journal while ensuring it remains responsive to the evolving contours of literacy scholarship worldwide.”

The incoming team’s term begins this year and concludes in 2029. The first year of the new team’s term will overlap with the final year of outgoing editors Jennifer Rowsell, Christian Ehret, Natalia Kucirkova, and Cheryl McLean.

RRQ provides high-quality, classroom-tested ideas as well as reflections on literacy trends, issues and research. The reach and influence of the journal is extensive. RRQ had over 589,000 article views in the last year and has a circulation of more than 6,500 academic institutions.

Learn More