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Lesaux Named William T. Grant Scholar

Assistant Professor Nonie Lesaux was named a William T. Grant Scholar last week earning a $350,000 award to be given over five years in support of her research on English-language learners in urban public schools. Lesaux was one of only five researchers awarded this prestigious scholarship.

“The WT Grant Scholars Award provides me with a tremendous opportunity and honor, early in my career, to advance the field’s knowledge on promoting English-language learners’ academic achievement,” Lesaux said.

The William T. Grant Scholars Program is in its 27th year of supporting early career researchers in the social and behavioral sciences, and has named 129 award recipients during its history. Each year, the foundation selects four to six William T. Grant Scholars through an extremely competitive process. Candidates from around the country are nominated by a supporting institution and must have five-year research plans that demonstrate creativity, intellectual rigor, and a commitment to continued professional development. A selection committee composed of prominent senior scholars screens all applications, and a small group of finalists is invited to New York for an interview with the committee.

“The goal of this program is to identify exceptional early career scholars and give them the financing, mentorship, and interdisciplinary experiences to make them even better,” said Robert C. Granger, president of the William T. Grant Foundation.

Lesaux’s research focuses on the reading development and developmental health of children who are at risk for learning difficulties, including children from language-minority and low socioeconomic backgrounds, and children with language difficulties.

She plans to use the funding to further her research on students in urban public schools.

“Increasing opportunities to learn for all students in urban public schools is imperative, but especially so for students who are English-language learners,” Lesaux said. “This is an understudied and underserved, yet growing and at-risk, population. I intend to make significant strides conducting developmental and intervention research in this area.”

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