Dr. Sonya L. Armstrong is a Professor in the Graduate Program in Developmental Education at Texas State University. She earned her doctorate in literacy education with a focus on postsecondary literacy from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to that, she trained in English and earned two M.A. degrees (in literature and editing and publishing). Dr. Armstrong is a practitioner-researcher, and her scholarly endeavors are guided by nearly twenty-five years of designing and teaching developmental reading, composition, and learning strategies courses in community colleges and universities. Her research focuses on improving postsecondary literacy and learning pedagogy and practice to more effectively facilitate students’ college literacy transitions, thereby increasing access and potential for success for all within higher education. With colleagues she is currently undertaking an investigation of the literacy practices and expectations in career technical education courses with a current focus on nursing programs.

Emily Suh is Integrated Reading and Writing Coordinator at Texas State University where she also teaches doctoral classes in developmental education and developmental literacy. She previously taught developmental and adult education classes at the community college level. She has held leadership positions in the National Organization for Student Success (formerly the National Association for Developmental Education) and the Indiana Association for Developmental Education. She co-authored the College Reading and Learning Association White Paper on Raciolinguistic Justice in College Literacy and Learning and regularly works with two-year colleges as they strengthen their developmental education programming to support at-promise students.

Allegra Villarreal is an educational consultant, writer, and artist who has taught English in community colleges for 14 years. She earned a joint honours undergraduate degree in International Relations and Middle East Studies from St. Andrews University in Scotland as well as a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Oxford University. Her teaching practice focuses on critical, responsive and open pedagogies, inclusive and equitable approaches for adult learners and supporting Latina/o/x students and teachers. She is currently a Leadership Facilitator for the Holdsworth Center while also teaching Mexican-American Literature at ACC and Humanities for Southern New Hampshire University.

Maria Martha Chavez Brummell is the Chief Executive Officer for Catch the Next, Inc. She received a PhD and M. Phil from Yale University in Sociology. She also holds two degrees from Kansas State University: a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Psychology and Spanish Literature.

Maria Martha began her career in higher education as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Kansas State before taking up a position as Assistant Dean of Yale College, and a member of the faculty; she is still affiliated to the institutions as an Honorary Faculty member, is an Advisor of the Graduate School Executive Committee and serves as part of President Peter Salovey’s World Leader’s Network. At Yale, Dr. Chavez also established the Asian-Chicano-Native American Cultural Centers, and the Chicano Boricua Studies Program that has since evolved into the American Studies, Race, Ethnicity and Migration Major.

For the community of New Haven, she founded the LULAC Head Start Program, a $10 million preschool initiative for 0-5 year olds, led the building of the Latino Youth Center, and helped to build la Casa Otonal, a housing complex for the elderly. Through Save the Children Federation, Maria researched American’s 101 poorest places which led to the Campaign for America’s Forgotten Children for which she led the establishment of six community learning centers in the Central Valley of California. Dr. Chavez has worked with Public Agenda, a research and engagement organizations dealing with clients such as the Council on Foreign Relations, foundations, and state and federal entities. In particular, she worked with The Achieving the Dream Initiative, for which she served as Research and Engagement Coach and member of Knowledge Development Working Group. She has brought her wealth of experience to Catch the Next, where she served as Chief Education Officer before becoming CEO in 2015.