Teaching, Reading and Learning: TRL Podcast- Episode 18: Interview w/Dr. Shawn Robinson

The TRL podcast is focused on elevating important contributions to the educational community, with the goal of inspiring teachers, informing practice, and celebrating those people in the community who have influenced teaching and literacy to the betterment of children. The podcast features people whose life stories are simply compelling and rich in ways that are instructive to us all. The podcast will focus on literacy as we know it (reading and writing) but will also connect to other “literacies” that impact children’s learning; for example, emotional, physical, and social literacies as they apply to teachers and children.

Description
Shawn Anthony Robinson has an amazing and inspiring story to tell. In this episode, you’ll learn about his journey from special education to learning to read, then going on to receive bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees. You’ll also hear about the scope and impact of his work, which he describes as the intersection of race, giftedness, and dyslexia. Finally, you’ll meet “Dr. Dyslexia Dude,” his autobiographical superhero graphic novel series.

Guest Biography
Shawn Anthony Robinson Ph.D. is a full-time reading instructor at Madison College, a Senior Research Associate in the Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a social entrepreneur, co-founder of Doctor Dyslexia Dude, former board member of the International Dyslexia Association, and serves on the inaugural advisory council of Benetech, a nonprofit that empowers communities with software for social good. Dr. Robinson graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, a Master’s in Education from DePaul University, and a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from Cardinal Stritch University. Robinson has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and received several distinguished honors throughout his early career such as the 2017 Alumni Achievement Award/New Trier High School Alumni Hall of Honor; the 2016 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from UWO; and received “Educator of the Year” from All-State Insurance (Chicago) 2005. Robinson is also a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Further Resources

Dr. Robinson’s website: https://drshawnarobinson.com/

Dr. Dyslexia Dude website: https://drdyslexiadude.com/

Dr. Robinson’s Scholarly Work
• Robinson, S. A. (2018). A study designed to increase the literacy skills of incarcerated adults. The Journal of Correctional Education, 69(1), 60–72.

• Robinson, S. A. (Ed.) (2018). Untold narratives: African Americans who received special education services and succeeded beyond expectations. Information Age Publishing.

• Robinson, S. A. (2020). Culturally responsive representation in graphic novels matter for African American boys with reading disability. Journal of African American Males in Education, 11(1), 23–36.

• Robinson, S. A., & Thompson, C. L. (2019). Promoting academic readiness for African American males with dyslexia: Implications for preschool to elementary school teaching. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 35(1),1–64. [Invited to reprint in an edited book with Routledge].

• Robinson, S. A. (2019). Critical literacy impacts African American boys’ reading identity. Gifted Child Today, 42(3), 150–156.

For a list of select publications by Jeannine Herron and to learn more about this podcast go to:
https://www.thereadingleague.org/teaching-reading-and-learning-the-podcast/