Our Team
Meet the people working daily to bring Reading Universe to life with expertise in teaching, instruction design, professional development, and multimedia production.
WETA Learning Media
Reading Universe is a service of WETA, the flagship PBS station in Washington, D.C. and the home of national literacy websites Reading Rockets, ColorĂn Colorado, LD OnLine, and AdLit. Meet our team. Â
James Allgood
Senior Video Producer, Reading Universe
Ashley Gilleland
Senior Digital Producer, WETA Learning Media
Noel Gunther
Vice President, WETA Learning Media
Christian Lindstrom
Senior Director, WETA Learning Media
Liana Loewus
Managing Editor, Reading Universe
Tami Mount, M.Ed.
Senior Director, Reading Universe
Carrie Simkin, Ph.D.
Director, AdLit.org
Carla Burrell Stanford, M.Ed.
Director of Instructional Design, Reading Universe
Mandana Tadayon
Video Producer, WETA Learning Media
Barksdale Reading Institute
The Barksdale Reading Institute team developed our taxonomy and teaching guidance based on their storied success in Mississippi.
First Book
The First Book team is responsible for market research and educator outreach.
Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from
Jim & Donna Barksdale, the AFT, the Emily Hall Tremaine
Foundation, and three anonymous donors.
