On February 10, 2017, the Penguin Random House First-Year Reading Advisory Board convened for their annual summit the day before The First-Year Experience® Conference exhibit and sessions commenced. The Board members, representing a variety of public and private higher education institutions of varying sizes, came together to exchange ideas, and provide feedback and guidance. Two new members joined the existing five members for their first face-to-face meeting.
The day-long summit included a review of forthcoming titles ideal for the academic space, discussion of trends and popular themes in first-year reading programs, and the creation of a mission statement that will serve to guide the board in the future.
PRH First-Year Reading Board Mission Statement:
“We are an advisory board of higher education professionals, representing a diversity of institutions and perspectives, who work in collaboration with Penguin Random House to support common reading initiatives.
For our publishing partners, we identify themes ideal for common reading; share our experiences and creative ideas; and provide feedback on relevant common reading topics.
For our institutional and community partners, we develop resources that support common reading and help to elevate engagement and literacy among students, faculty, and the campus community; provide best practices and programming models tied to demonstrating each program’s desired outcomes; and exchange ideas to advance the future of common reading programs.”
2017 PRH First-Year Reading Advisory Board (in alphabetical order):
- Elizabeth Bracher, Boston College
- Elizabeth Gales, Northern Iowa Area Community College
- Jeanne Leep, Edgewood College
- Edwin Mayes, Case Western Reserve University
- Bernie Savarese, The Ohio State University
- Sheila Stoeckel, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Karen Weathermon, Washington State University
As always, we are appreciative to those who have come before, and have helped lay the foundation for the Board:
PRH First-Year Reading Advisory Board Emeritus:
- Rebecca Campbell, Northern Arizona University
- Tara Coleman, Kansas State University Libraries
- Steven Girardot, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Jennifer Latino, Campbell University, Ellucian (present)
- Marjorie Litchford, Smith College
- Abby Nobili, University of Central Florida, Valencia College (present)
- Daphne Rankin, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Jared Tippets, Purdue University, Southern Utah State University (present)
