Our Team

Meet the people working daily to bring Reading Universe to life with expertise in teaching, instruction design, professional development, and multimedia production.

WETA Learning Media

Reading Universe is a service of WETA, the flagship PBS station in Washington, D.C. and the home of national literacy websites Reading Rockets, Colorín Colorado, LD OnLine, and AdLit. Meet our team.  

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  James Allgood

  Senior Video Producer, Reading Universe

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  Ashley Gilleland

  Senior Digital Producer, WETA Learning Media

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  Noel Gunther

  Vice President, WETA Learning Media

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  Christian Lindstrom

  Senior Director, WETA Learning Media

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  Liana Loewus

  Managing Editor, Reading Universe

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  Tami Mount, M.Ed.

  Senior Director, Reading Universe

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  Carrie Simkin, Ph.D.

  Director, AdLit.org

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  Carla Burrell Stanford, M.Ed.

  Director of Instructional Design, Reading Universe

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  Mandana Tadayon

  Video Producer, WETA Learning Media

Barksdale Reading Institute

The Barksdale Reading Institute team developed our taxonomy and teaching guidance based on their storied success in Mississippi.

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  Kelly Butler

  Chief Executive Officer, Barksdale Reading Institute

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  Marion McBride, M.Ed.

  Director, Educator Effectiveness, Barksdale Reading Institute

First Book

The First Book team is responsible for market research and educator outreach.

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  Jules Appleton

  Director of Research & Insights

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  Jenna Greenspan

  Senior Director of User Experience, First Book

Thanking our Funders

Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale, the American Federation of Teachers, the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and two anonymous donors.