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Kevin Flanigan, Ph.D.

Professor of Education

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

P

rofessor Kevin Flanigan is a Professor of
Education in the Literacy Department at
West Chester University of Pennsylvania,
where he has taught since 2003. He is a Phi Beta
Kappa graduate of Mary Washington College (now
the University of Mary Washington), where he
received a B.A. in History, summa cum laude. Later, he received an M.Ed.
from James Madison University and an M.Ed. in Reading Education from
the University of Virginia. After working as a middle grades classroom
teacher and reading specialist, he received his Ph.D. in Reading Education
from the University of Virginia, with a dissertation on emergent readers’
developing concept of word in text.

Professor Flanigan’s research, publications, and presentations focus on
developmental word knowledge, vocabulary development and instruction,
and interventions for students who struggle with literacy skills. He has
presented frequently at national and international conferences and works
with schools and teachers to implement effective literacy instruction.

In 2011, Professor Flanigan was nominated for the U.S. Professors of the
Year Award by West Chester University. In 2009, Professor Flanigan and
his colleagues received an Educator 500 award for innovative teaching in
the Kennett Experience, a university–public school partnership. Professor
Flanigan teaches graduate and undergraduate literacy education courses and
works in the West Chester University Reading Center, where he supervises
graduate-level teachers as they work with students in kindergarten through
12 th grade who struggle with literacy skills.

3URIHVVRU )ODQLJDQ LV ¿UVW DXWKRU RI WKH FRDXWKRUHG ERRNWords Their
Way with Struggling Readers: Word Study for Reading, Vocabulary, and
Spelling Instruction, Grades 4–12. He is also coauthor of Vocabulary Their