Professorships

The VCU School of Education has one endowed professorship, the Ruth Harris Professorship in Dyslexia Studies.

Ruth Harris Professorship in Dyslexia Studies

Established in 2010 through a generous gift from Dr. Lou and Ruth Harris, the professorship supports faculty and doctoral student research in the field of dyslexia education and sponsors an annual lecture by nationally prominent researchers.

The award is named in honor of Ruth Harris, a pioneer in the treatment of dyslexia who dedicated her life to helping others with learning disabilities after her third-grade son exhibited persistent trouble with reading,writing and spelling.

Dr. Paul Gerber, professor emeritus in the departments of Counseling and Special Education and Foundations of Education, received the inaugural Harris professorship in 2010: a position he held until his retirement in the summer of 2016.