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Literacy Advocate • Podcaster Former University Professor • Author Reading Clinician • Reading Researcher

Dr. Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of six books, Molly served on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She provided literacy leadership for nationally recognized literacy non-profits, as well as major educational publishers. She is the founder of Dirigo Literacy, a literacy consulting firm.

 

When she is not reading and writing about reading and writing, Dr. Ness is driving her ice-hockey obsessed teenage daughter to the rink, learning how to fly fish, or hiking with her poorly behaved goldendoodle.

Professional Affiliations
& Testimonials

  • Former Board of Directors, International Literacy Association

  • Advisor, Maine chapter of the Reading League

  • Advisor, New York State Dyslexia & Dysgraphia Advisory Board

  • Chapter Founder, New York State chapter of The Reading League 

  • Invited Member, New York City Mayor's Literacy Advisory Council

  • Faculty, Brooklyn College CUNY, Windward Institute

  • Elementary Advisory Board, Penguin Random House

“I always come away feeling inspired and invigorated, not just in relation to reading and learning, but to life in general, so thank you! You have a wonderful way of interspersing your practical advice with accessible theory and personal anecdotes – it is a real pleasure to hear you speak.”

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- Parent Workshop Attendee

New Resources for 2025

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