Tisha Lewis Ellison

Biography

Dr. Tisha Lewis Ellison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at The University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Formerly a reading specialist and classroom teacher, her research takes a critical perspective on how agency, identity, and power among African American families and adolescents are constructed as they use digital tools to make sense of their lives. Dr. Lewis Ellison was the recipient of the following awards: the 2017 UGA Early Career Faculty Research Award; 2016 Early Career Achievement Award recipient from the Literacy Research Association; the 2015-16 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow, the National Council of Teachers of English’s Promising Researcher Award; the J Michael Parker Award; and a finalist of the International Literacy Association Outstanding Dissertation Award. Her work has appeared in the selected peer reviewed journals: Reading Research Quarterly, Journal of Literacy Research, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Urban Education, and Journal of Education.

Areas of Expertise

  • family literacy
  • digital literacies
  • and multimodalities

Interests

  • family literacy
  • digital literacies
  • community literacy and multimodalities

Academic Affiliations

Education

  •  Ph.D. in Reading, 2009
    University at Albany, State University of New York

Contact

 Aderhold Hall, 306A
 @DrTYLewis
 ty.lewis.5682
 tisha-lewis-ellison-5305735

Research Summary

My research takes a critical perspective on how agency, identity, and power among African American families and adolescents are constructed as they use digital tools to make sense of their lives.

Awards and Accolades

Early Career Faculty Research Program

UGA Office of Research, 2017

Early Career Achievement Award

Literacy Research Association, 2016

Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship

National Academy of Education

Digital Champions Fellowship

Center for Instructional Innovation, Georgia State University, 2015

Promising Researcher Award

National Council of Teachers of English, 2012

Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award Finalist

International Literacy Association (formerly International Reading Association), 2011

Scholars of Color Transitioning into Academic Research Mentoring Program

Literacy Research Association

Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color Program

National Council of Teachers of English

J. Michael Parker Award

Literacy Research Association (formerly the National Reading Conference), 2008

Dissertation Research Fellowship Award

University at Albany, State University of New York, 2008

Ethnicity, Race and Multilingualism Scholarship

Literacy Research Association (formerly the National Reading Conference), 2008

Graduate Student Organization Distinguished Service Award

University at Albany, State University of New York, 2005

Initiatives for Women Gloria R. DeSole Award

University at Albany State University of New York, 2003

Ph.D. Reading Fellowship Cochrane Fellowship Award

University at Albany State University of New York