Donald R. Bear (Ph.D., UVA, 1982) is Professor Emeritus of Literacy Studies at Iowa State University and the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his Ph.D. in Reading Education from the University of Virginia in 1982. A former preschool, 3rd, and 4thgrade teacher, Donald has been committed to building and sustaining nationally recognized graduate programs in reading education. He served as Director of the Center for Learning & Literacy at the University of Nevada, Reno, and Co-Director of the Duffelmeyer Reading Clinic at Iowa State University.

Donald’s research has explored the synchrony of literacy development from beginning concept of word in text in prekindergarten learners to how morphology underlies academic vocabulary learning, as well as the study of orthographic development in different and second languages. He is author, co-author, and co-editor of numerous books addressing research and instruction in literacy, including Words Their Way, now in its 7th edition. Donald’s work has been published in edited volumes and in a wide range of professional and research journals including Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Reading & Writing, Reading Psychology, Visible Language, Research in the Teaching of English, Topics in Language Disorders, and Adult Literacy and Basic Education.

Throughout his career Donald has been involved in innovative professional development initiatives with schools and districts, and he has been a beloved advisor for innumerable undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in literacy. He has received several awards for teaching and service and has served as a board member of the International Literacy Association.