The International Literacy Association (ILA) announced the results of the ILA 2025 Board Election today, introducing
Danielle V. Dennis as the newly elected vice president of the Board.
Dennis, dean of the College of Education at the University of Rhode Island, brings two decades of experience as a literacy professor and leader to the role.
An ILA member for over 25 years, Dennis served as a member-at-large on the Board from 2020–2023, chairing the Publications Committee and serving as the Board liaison for editorial team searches for all three of ILA’s journals. In addition, Dennis was chair of the Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award Committee from 2021–2023; served as a member of the Program, Governance, and Fundraising Committees; and acted as the Board liaison to the Dyslexia Task Force. Dennis is currently serving on the Research Committee as well as chairing the Assessment Task Force. Her new term begins July 1, 2025.
For twenty years, Dennis has been building and enriching school-university partnerships both in the United States and abroad. She has dedicated her career to supporting teacher development and exploring deep research in building teacher capacity in literacy through sustained professional development, the design and implementation of curriculum, and policy initiatives that enhance or inhibit equitable educational experiences of children and teachers, particularly as they relate to literacy assessment.
“ILA plays a critical role in shaping literacy policy and practice around the world,” said Dennis. “As Vice President, I’m honored to continue collaborating with our members, councils, and global partners to advance our shared commitment to research-based instruction and equitable access to literacy for all learners.”
Three new Board members-at-large were also elected for the 2025–2028 term:
La Tasha D. Fields, professor at Madison College. She has been an ILA member since 2006, and currently serves on the boards of the Stritch Family Literacy Center and the Madison Reading Project. As an Adult Basic Education (ABE) reading instructor, Fields works closely with students and will soon serve as the 2025–2026 Director of Reading for Madison College. She has also served in leadership roles such as Milwaukee Area Reading Council President and Wisconsin State Reading Association Vice President and President.
Deborah MacPhee, professor at the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. She has been an ILA member since 1999, and has worked as a literacy coach in two elementary schools; directed a university-based literacy center; and conducted research that critically examines discourses of literacy coaching, professional development school interactions, and metaphors in media of the science of reading. In 2023, MacPhee co-authored a book on literacy teaching and learning titled
Learning to Be Literate: More Than a Single Story.
Margaret Vaughn, professor of Literacy, Language, and Technology at the College of Education at Washington State University. She has been an ILA member since 2009, serving as a reviewer and contributor for all three ILA journals. With research focused on equitable literacy practices and outreach, Vaughn has held several leadership positions in literacy organizations, including the Literacy Research Association, the United States Board on Books for Young People, and the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers.
Dennis, Fields, MacPhee, and Vaughn were elected by ILA’s membership during the ILA 2025 Board Election, which was conducted online between April 1 and April 30, 2025. The new vice president and members-at-large will begin their terms on July 1, 2025.