Meet David

David Dickinson is a Professor Emeritus at Vanderbilt University. Between 2005 and 2020 he held an Endowed Chair in education, was a Department Chair, and an Association Dean. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College, where he majored in religion and minored in education. He then attended Temple University, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Education and certification as an elementary school teacher. He obtained a doctorate in education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, majoring in Human Development.

Dr. Dickinson began his teaching career when he spent two summers as a tutor and counselor at a camp run by Diana King, a leading figure in the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching children with dyslexia. While he worked towards his Master’s degree, he taught elementary school-aged children for five years. During his years as a professor, Dickinson taught methods of teaching reading to students preparing to be teachers. Also, for five years, as a part of a Vanderbilt project he led the development of a demonstration preschool and elementary school in Abu Dhabi.

During his career, Dickinson’s research examined language and literacy development, with a special focus on children from low-income homes and preschool programs that serve them. He lectured widely about language and early literacy development, published numerous chapters and articles in highly respected peer-reviewed journals, and co-authored nine books. Now in his retirement, he is delighted to be able to return to the pleasure of working with a single child who needs help learning to read.