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| First Lady Carol Mead |
First Lady Carol Mead recently shared with UWyo Magazine her passion for promoting childhood literacy and her hopes for the UW Literacy Research Center and Clinic.
Q:
A: When I became first lady, I was approached by a myriad of worthwhile causes seeking support. And while I do support them all in my heart—each one doing important work—I chose children’s issues as my initiative. I made childhood literacy a key component of that initiative because I believe that reading is a critical skill to develop and refine throughout life. Adults who are illiterate or under-literate face challenges in everyday life, from struggling to read a recipe in preparing dinner to filling out a job application or signing a contract. When children learn to read at grade level and enjoy the process, they are more likely to succeed in life and perhaps enjoy life more. Reading proficiently aids in oral and written communication skills, so that one may express ideas and thoughts more fully. Reading is the gateway to obtaining information, and writing is one of the ways we most often convey information—from texts and emails to question-and-answer sessions like this one! I want children in Wyoming to learn to read and love to read, because I believe that will foster intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning.
Q:
A: The research underway at the LRCC will, no doubt, inform student and teacher education at UW, within Wyoming and well beyond. It’s one way that we’ll be able to improve the formal education of Wyoming’s young people—from preschoolers to college students. But what I’m most excited about is the outreach the LRCC is doing and will do in the future to reach every corner of this geographically huge state. The ability to disseminate literacy services throughout Wyoming is a gift, especially to those places that may feel disconnected from the work of the university. The LRCC will also receive information from communities on their literacy needs, which will fuel more research and services leaving the university to serve our citizenry. As part of the only four-year institution in the state, the LRCC is well-positioned to advance literacy in our state, region and even farther afield.
Q:
A: I feel like there’s almost no limit to what the LRCC can do. Its renowned faculty and generous funding will allow it to realize its mission and to be right out in front in the ever-evolving field of literacy. I hope it will have a noticeable impact at the community level throughout the state, bringing our young people along in their literacy skills, supporting teachers in their skills and tools to teach kids to read, and attracting still more high-caliber faculty to the College of Education and University of Wyoming. I expect it to play a central role in the College of Education’s goal of becoming a Tier-1 program. I also hope the LRCC’s faculty and students will collaborate with the other Tier-1 programs at UW—like STEM—to bring integrated approaches to research, teaching and learning in a variety of fields.