The National Institute for Literacy has appointed four new staff members to expand its capacity to contribute to improvements in adult, adolescent, childhood and early childhood literacy

Andrea Grimaldi has joined the Institute as Senior Project Officer in Early Childhood Literacy. She will be responsible for planning and managing the Institute's work on early childhood literacy. She will also oversee dissemination of the National Early Literacy Panel Report, expected to be released in late 2006.

My Linh Nguyen has joined the Institute as Associate Director of Communications. In this capacity, she will plan and manage communications activities designed raise awareness of literacy issues and the Institute's products and services.

Susan Boorse has joined the Institute as Executive Officer with responsibility for budgetary and financial management activities as well as administrative functions.

Heather Wright has joined the Institute as Dissemination Specialist. In this capacity, she will plan and oversee implementation of the Institute's print and electronic products to ensure that they are widely and easily available.

"The arrival of these four individuals signals an exciting new era for the National Institute for Literacy," said Dr. Sandra Baxter, the Institute's Director. "Each of them brings fresh ideas and new perspectives along with their diverse backgrounds and expertise. Their presence will reenergize our existing programs and help us carry out new efforts to better serve the adult and childhood literacy communities."

All four new appointees have a wide variety of experience in their fields.

Ms. Grimaldi has more than a decade of experience as an early childhood education teacher, program manager, and trainer. Most recently, she served as the training manager for professional development with the Public Broadcasting Service's (PBS) five-year Ready To Learn Initiative to prepare young children for success in school through educational television, web-based media and training for parents and teachers.

Ms. Nguyen comes to the Institute from the Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where she served as manager of corporate communications and public information officer. She is a former general assignment reporter and copy editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Ms. Boorse served in the Peace Corps for eight years as an administrative and budget officer. She also served four years as a VISTA volunteer, working with a literacy program in Philadelphia, a rural school district in Mississippi, and a fledgling Philadelphia Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

Ms. Wright comes to the Institute from the Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries in Maryland, where, as Children's Librarian, she was involved in early literacy programs for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-school children. Her previous professional background is in the field of marketing research, where she conducted many research studies to measure the needs of customers and target markets, both in the library setting and in the private sector.

The National Institute for Literacy provides leadership on literacy issues, including the improvement of reading instruction for children, youth, and adults. In consultation with the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, the Institute serves as a national resource on current, comprehensive literacy research, practice, and policy.

On June 27, the White House announced the President's nomination of six individuals to the National Institute for Literacy's Advisory Board. Two individuals, M. Carmel Borders and Blanca E. Enriquez, are current board members who have been asked to continue their service on the Board. All the names have been submitted to the Senate for confirmation. For more information, please see the White House press release on the recent Presidential nominations to the Institute's Advisory Board.