Heather Blackwell, PhD, is a literacy scholar, teacher educator, and founder of Purposeful Literacy, LLC, where she supports schools and organizations in building culturally grounded, evidence-based literacy practices. She serves as the Manager of Literacy Technical Assistance for the Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity, where she helps design equity-centered professional development that bridges research, community wisdom, and instructional practice.

Dr. Blackwell also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Morgan, where she prepares future educators to integrate the Science of Reading with Culturally Sustainable Pedagogy. Her research examines how Black teacher candidates use culturally sustaining practices during foundational reading instruction, drawing on frameworks to center Black cultural knowledge, identity, and lived experience.

Pillar and Grant Support: Literacy; Adolescent Literacy Policy