She earned her Ph.D. from Kent State University under the guidance of Jo Anne and Rich Vacca. Maryann is a board member of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) and the author of over 50 books, chapters, articles, and instructional materials on literacy education including co-authored books The Literacy Coach’s Companion and Independent Reading. She teaches literacy courses across several programs in the College of Education at UNC Charlotte, and is the Curriculum and Instruction Doctoral Program Coordinator.