Fang named Research Foundation Professor in Education
Associate Professor Zhihui Fang from the School of Teaching and Learning has received the prestigious UF Research Foundation Professorship for 2005-2007, which recognizes the impact that research faculty makes to the University’s success.
The award carries a $5,000 annual salary supplement and a one-time $3,000 research grant. The 2005 UFRF Professors were recommended by their college deans based on nominations from their department chairs, a personal statement and an evaluation of recent research productivity.
Over the past five years, Fang has made more than 30 research presentations at national and international professional meetings and generated research and outreach grants totaling more than $1 million.
Fang’s research focuses on three fronts: children’s language development during the transition from emergent to conventional literacy; the language demands of content area reading/writing; and preparation of reading teachers as knowledgeable, reflective professionals.
With colleagues, he recently investigated the process and impact of infusing reading instruction into a middle-school science curriculum. In a new project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Fang and his co-researchers will help middle- and high-school teachers earn certification in special education and boost expertise in literacy instruction, especially for students with reading and learning disabilities.
“Dr. Fang’s work has great value for educators and parents who strive to help students deal with the challenges of unique language presented in academic texts,” says Tom Dana, director of the School of Teaching and Learning.
Since 1999, Fang has published one book and more than 20 chapters and articles in leading national and international research journals. He also has served on the editorial review boards for several leading journals in reading/literacy education. He has received awards and honors for his scholarship and research from national and international professional organizations such as National Council of Teachers of English and International Reading Association.
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Chan Tran, ctran@ufl.edu, (352) 392-0726, ext. 246
