Katie Sciurba, an assistant professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, recently received the Philip C. Chinn Multicultural Book Award from the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) for fostering awareness and acceptance with her book “Reading and Relevance, Reimagined.”
The Multicultural Book Award is given to a textbook used primarily by adults and contributes to the development of multicultural education that adds to the knowledge base, informs policymakers, and fosters personal growth.
Founded in 1991, NAME unites educators committed to equity and social justice by connecting people across educational levels, disciplines, and communities. Members of the association include classroom teachers, scholars, and community leaders who promote multicultural education through networking, publications, and annual conferences.
“Receiving this honor from NAME has been one of the most uplifting moments of my career,” said Sciurba. “Nearly two decades of work went into ‘Reading and Relevance, Reimagined,’ and to have my research and writing recognized in this way means more than I can express.”
Based on case studies of six young Black, Latino, and South Asian men and their reading experiences, Sciurba’s book reconceptualizes the term “relevance” as it applies to literacy education at the middle school through college levels.
By framing relevance from a student-centered perspective, Sciurba helps educators support the reading experiences of their students while simultaneously recognizing the complexities of their lives.
“I will be forever grateful to the six young men who trusted me with their literacy stories and to the many colleagues, friends, family members, and students who encouraged and supported me along the way,” she said.
Sciurba’s research focuses on the intersections of young people’s identities and literacy practices with an emphasis on the reading experiences of boys of color; popular culture as a vehicle for literacy instruction; and representations of race, gender, and recent historical events in children’s literature.