VCU news

By Leslie Nelson
University News Services

Mark E. Emblidge, affiliate professor in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education and director of the Literacy Institute at VCU, was unanimously elected president of the Virginia Board of Education, the body that governs public education in the state.

Gov. Timothy Kaine earlier this month reappointed Emblidge to a second term on the board. Emblidge has been a member of the Virginia Board of Education since 2002.

Emblidge says he wants to challenge gifted students and see the success of the Virginia Standards of Learning program continue. The SOL tests describe Virginia’s expectations for student learning and achievement in grades K-12 in subjects like English, math and social studies.

Emblidge’s research focuses on adult and family literacy, high school reform and at-risk children. He is the founding director of the Virginia Literacy Foundation and Communities in Schools of Virginia. He also served on the board of the National Institute for Literacy from 1995-2002. Emblidge currently serves on the Southern Regional Education Board, a position he has held since 2004.

Emblidge received his doctorate and master's degree in education from the University of Virginia and a bachelor's degree in political science from Gordon College in Massachusetts.