The International Literacy Association (ILA) announced today that R. Malatesha Joshi, professor of literacy education and educational psychology at Texas A&M University, is the recipient of the ILA 2025 William S. Gray Citation of Merit.

This honor is reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to multiple facets of literacy development, including research, theory, and practice. Recipients have decades of impactful research to their name, making the honor akin to a lifetime achievement award.

For more than four decades, Joshi has built a prolific career that exemplifies a rigorous integration of literacy theory, cross-linguistic research, and impactful educational practice. He has published over 125 journal articles and 21 books relating to literacy development. Joshi also co-developed the Componential Model of Reading alongside P. G. Aaron, a framework that dissected literacy into decoding, language comprehension, and reading fluency, helping to identify specific interventions for students with dyslexia and learning difficulties. 

At Texas A&M University, where he has taught  since 2000, Joshi has made significant strides in literacy research and mentorship. He is the editor of Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal as well as the Literacy Studies monograph series, which brings together insights from linguistics, psychologists, and cognitive neuroscientists.

Between 1980 and 2002, Joshi organized seven NATO Advanced Study Institutes to convene global scholars in their efforts to advance literacy for all. His awards include being elected to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2021, named Regents Professor at Texas A&M University in 2022, and honored with the prestigious Samuel Torrey Orton Award and Association for Reading and Writing in Asia recognition.

“Joshi’s remarkable contributions to cross-linguistic literacy research, teacher preparation, and orthographic knowledge have shaped the field internationally and align deeply with the legacy of William S. Gray,” said Pat Edwards, committee chair and winner of the 2024 William S. Gray Citation of Merit. “We believe Joshi’s work most fully embodies the spirit of the William S. Gray Award, with a career marked by sustained excellence, international engagement, and transformative impact on literacy education and research worldwide.”

Joining Joshi as recipients in this year’s ILA awards and grants program are several other educators and literacy leaders: 

• Kaha Abdi, The Ohio State University | Helen M. Robinson Grant
• Anthonia Awhinawhi, University of South Carolina | Jeanne S. Chall Research Fellowship
• Mallory Bourquard, Louisiana Tech University | Carrice Cummins Outstanding Preservice Educator Award   
• Jennifer Chinenye Emelife, University of Toronto | Constance McCullough International Research Grant
• Jackie Eunjung Relyea, North Carolina State University, James Kim, Harvard University, Patrick Rich, American Institutes for Research, and Jill Fitzgerald, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Dina Feitelson Research Award
• Michelle Fazio Brunson, Northwestern State University | Maryann Manning Special Service Award
• Elena Forzani, Julie Corrigan, David Slomp, and Jennifer Randall, Boston University | Albert J. Harris Award
• Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher, San Diego State University | Diane Lapp and James Flood Professional Collaborator Award
• Kimberly A. Hughes, Texas Woman’s University in the School of Education | Steven A. Stahl Research Grant
• Guofang Li, University of British Columbia | International Citation of Merit 
• Chinwe Onwujuba, Texas State University | Nila Banton Smith Teacher as Research Grant
• Katie Valentine, Florida State University | Timothy & Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award
• Angie Zapata, University of Missouri | Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award