Victoria Purcell-Gates is an internationally recognized researcher and professor in the field of

literacy Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...

education. Using both qualitative and

quantitative research Quantitative research is a research strategy that focuses on quantifying the collection and analysis of data. It is formed from a deductive approach where emphasis is placed on the testing of theory, shaped by empiricist and positivist philosop ...

methods, Dr. Purcell-Gates' research interests include the social and cultural literacy practices experienced by both children and adults.

Education

Victoria Purcell-Gates earned a B.A. in English Education from

Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university based in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was founded in 1899 as the final public university established in the Arizona Territory, 13 years before Arizona was admitted as the 48th state. ...

and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...

Career

Dr. Purcell-Gates taught at

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

University, the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...

, U.C. Berkeley, and the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

. As professor and researcher at both Harvard and the University of Cincinnati, she was director of literacy centers in which both children and adults were provided with reading instruction. While in Ohio, in 1989, Dr. Purcell-Gates was approached by an urban Appalachian woman, Jenny who was concerned about her son.Purcell-Gates, V. (1997). ''Other people's words: The cycle of low literacy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.'' Donny, age seven was caught in a cycle of family illiteracy and his mother desired Dr. Purcell-Gates' assistance. This encounter acted as the impetus for an ethnographic study focusing on the cycle of low literacy. She also questioned how an individual's cultural literacy experiences influence print literacy development. This research led to the

Grawemeyer Award The Grawemeyer Awards () are five awards given annually by the University of Louisville. The prizes are presented to individuals in the fields of education, ideas improving world order, music composition, religion, and psychology. The religion awa ...

winning book, "Other People's Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy" (1997). Dr. Purcell-Gates was the National Reading Conference (NRC) president for 2005-2006

Later, Dr. Purcell-Gates accepted the position of Tier 1

Canada Research Chair Canada Research Chair (CRC) is a title given to certain Canadian university research professors by the Canada Research Chairs Program. Program goals The Canada Research Chair program was established in 2000 as a part of the Government of Canada ...

for Early Childhood Literacy at the University of British Columbia. She is also the principal investigator for the Cultural Practices of Literacy Study (CPLS).

Within a socio-cultural framework, researchers question how schools address the needs of marginalized communities.

Publications

Victoria Purcell-Gates has authored or co-authored books including ''Other People's Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy'' (1997), ''Print Literacy Development: Uniting Cognitive and Social Practice Theories'' (2006), ''Now We Read, We See, We Speak: Portrait of Literacy Development in an Adult Freirean-Based Class'' (2000), ''Cultural Practices of Literacy: Case Studies of Language, Literacy, Social Practice, and Power'' (2007), and ''Creating Authentic Materials and Activities for the Adult Literacy Classroom: A Handbook for Practitioners'' (2003).Jacobsen, E., Degener, S., & Purcell-Gates, Victoria. (2003). ''Creating authentic materials and activities for the adult literacy classroom: A handbook for practitioners.''Boston, MA:National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. Additional publications include chapters within books and peer-reviewed journals

Awards

*Victoria Purcell-Gates was inducted into the International Reading Association's Reading Hall of Fam

on May 4, 2005. *Oscar Causey Award by National Reading Conference for Outstanding Contributions to Literacy Research, 2004. *Noted Scholar Appointment by University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Summer 2002. *

University of Louisville The University of Louisville (UofL) is a public research university in Louisville, Kentucky. It is part of the Kentucky state university system. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of ...

in Education. For originality, creativity, feasibility and scope of potential applicability of ideas that help make the world a better place. Award given for Other People’s Words: The Cycle of Low Literacy (Harvard University Press, 1995). $150,000. 1996. *Most Promising Researcher. Awarded by the

National Council of Teachers of English The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is a United States professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Since 1911, NCTE has provided a forum ...

. 1987. *Finalist in the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award competition. Awarded by the

International Reading Association The International Literacy Association (ILA), formerly the International Reading Association (IRA), is an international global advocacy and member professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialo ...

. 1987. *Promising Researcher Award for dissertation research. Awarded by the National Council of Teachers of English. 1987. *Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation for 1985-1987 in

Phi Delta Kappa PDK International (also known as PDK or Phi Delta Kappa International) is a US professional organization for educators. Its main office is in Arlington, Virginia. It was founded on January 24, 1906. Membership Currently, membership consists o ...

District II. Awarded by Phi Delta Kappa on Evaluation, Development and Research. 1987.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Purcell-Gates, Victoria Michigan State University faculty Living people Canada Research Chairs Year of birth missing (living people) Harvard University faculty University of Cincinnati faculty University of British Columbia faculty