About Us

Areas of Focus

Believing that literacy skills are best developed within meaningful contexts, the Institute's initiatives have focused on the contexts of family, workplace, and health. ISAL's work includes the following:

~ Research in adult literacy and education
~ Coalition building
~ Family literacy
~ Instructional technology
~ Workforce preparation
~ Health literacy
~ Career Pathways

Services

Our experienced staff assists providers with:

~  Program design and delivery
~  Customized instructional materials
~  Professional development (including distance learning)
~  Customized assessment development
~  Program evaluations

Penn State's College of Education established the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy in 1985 as a vehicle for using the resources of a major land grant institution to address issues related to adult literacy. The Institute is internationally recognized for its work in literacy, research, development, and dissemination activities. Our work has continued to focus on adults; however, it has expanded to include children with a family literacy context and adolescents facing literacy challenges.

Since 2001, ISAL has worked collaboratively with the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, also in the College of Education.  The Goodling Institute provides national leadership that promotes the value of Family Literacy and supports program improvement through research and its application to practice and professional development.

Faculty

• Carol Clymer, Co-Director of ISAL and Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, Associate Teaching Professor
• Esther Prins, Co-Director of ISAL and Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, Professor of Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
• Anna Kaiper-Marquez, Associate Director, Assistant Teaching Professor
• Jungeun Lee, Co-Associate Director, Assistant Teaching Professor
• Elisabeth McLean, World Campus Family Literacy & Adult Basic Education Certificate Coordinator, Assistant Teaching Professor
• KayLynn Hamilton, Associate Teaching Professor

Staff

• Emily Brandenburg - Workforce Development Specialist
• Lori Forlizzi, Career Pathways Instructor
• Martha Hunter, Career & Family Pathways Instructor
• Chrissie Klinger, Workforce Development Specialist
• Steve Linnes, eData Tech Support
• Ruth Love-Schooley, Career & Family Pathways Instructor
• Michael McCarty, eData Tech Support
• Lisa McMonagle, Career Pathways Instructor and Volunteer Tutor Coordinator
• Kim Roush, Coordinator Muncy SCI Peer-tutoring Program 
• Joseph Wells, Career Pathways Instructor and Volunteer Tutor Coordinator
• Katie Wheeler, Administrative Support Coordinator
• Gayle R. Willits, Career Pathways Instructor
• Emily Wolfe, Career & Family Pathways Instructor