James Kim Awarded Named Chair

Dean Nonie Lesaux announced that James Kim, an expert on literacy intervention and experimental design, has been named the Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor in Education and Society, an endowed chair to advance the study of education and its societal context, including its relationship to economic, political, and public favors.

Kim leads the READS Lab (Research Enhances Adaptations Designed for Scale in Literacy), a research team that builds long-term partnerships with school districts to solve grand challenges in literacy and education. His research priority is to understand how building students’ domain knowledge and reading engagement can foster long-term improvements in reading comprehension.

"Jimmy Kim is a leading expert on the design of literacy interventions in school settings. At its core, using first-rate experimental methods, his research asks what actually works to improve childhood literacy skills and outcomes," said Dean Nonie Lesaux. “Jimmy’s innovative and deep program of research addresses the very complex challenges of improving literacy. His READS Lab works directly with school leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to drive transformational change in learning environments across the country. It is an honor to recognize his work by awarding this endowed chair.”

The endowed chair also recognizes a member of the faculty who has demonstrated extraordinary service on behalf of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At the Ed School, Kim has served as chair of the Faculty Appointments Committee and as a critical member of the Ed.M. faculty. He was also a core member and co-architect of the Evidence Foundation from 2021 to 2025, a required course for all Ed.M. students that teaches the basics of evidence evaluation and experimental design.

Kim joins four other faculty members who were awarded named chairs in fall 2025.