BY DANIELLE LEGARE

At UB, Savage’s appointment will strengthen GSE’s work at a critical time for literacy education. National reading scores remain a concern, and schools across the country are seeking research-based approaches that can better support students, teachers and families.

“I was attracted to UB’s Graduate School of Education by the strong sense I had both of its existing excellence as well as its collective ambition for the near future,” Savage said. “A clear message I received in multiple ways as I was interviewed and learned more was of the collective strategic goal of further advancing the recognition of UB at national and international levels as a center of excellence in research scholarship and student experience.

“Importantly, I saw that the needed structures have been put in place institutionally outside and within GSE to allow this to happen,” he continued. “I am very much looking forward to being a meaningful and visible part of the realization of this ambition.” 

Most recently, Savage served as dean of the Faculty of Education at York University in Toronto. From 2017-21, he was professor and head of the Department of Psychology and Human Development at University College London. He previously served as William Dawson Scholar at McGill University in Montreal.

His scholarship includes 140 peer-reviewed research articles on children’s early reading and spelling, including more than 30 reading intervention studies conducted across North America, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia. His work has examined early reading intervention, literacy instruction for struggling readers, phonics, morphology, teacher professional development and technology-supported reading instruction.

“Rob Savage’s appointment brings an extraordinary literacy scholar to the Graduate School of Education at a moment when this work could not be more urgent,” said GSE Dean and Professor Suzanne Rosenblith. “The Mark J. and Elizabeth A. Czarnecki Professorship allows us to build on UB’s deep history in literacy research, expand the reach of CLaRI and strengthen our ability to prepare teachers and support students, families and schools in Western New York and beyond.” 

Savage’s work has also informed literacy policy and classroom practice.

In Ontario, he served as a consultant to the provincial government on its reading curriculum following a 2022 Ontario Human Rights Commission report on human rights issues affecting children with reading disabilities. He contributed to the revised curriculum and helped develop supporting materials designed to help teachers understand and implement the changes in classrooms.

His current research includes a national project with school boards in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Saskatchewan to develop new screening tools, assess existing ones and share literacy resources. The project uses early screening to identify Grade 2 and Grade 3 students who are still working toward reading proficiency, then provides targeted interventions and teacher support to help prevent reading difficulties.

“Dr. Savage brings an exceptional combination of internationally recognized scholarship, deep expertise in literacy and reading intervention, and a longstanding commitment to improving educational outcomes through research that has meaningful impact in schools and communities,” said Erin Kearney, chair of the Department of Learning and Instruction. “His work complements and strengthens the Department of Learning and Instruction’s commitment to advancing evidence-based teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration and educational equity.

“His appointment comes at an especially important moment as schools continue to address persistent challenges in literacy achievement while navigating evolving research, policy and instructional practice,” Kearney added. “The Czarnecki Professorship positions GSE to play a leading role in advancing literacy research that is both rigorous and responsive to the needs of educators, students and families. The Department of Learning and Instruction, GSE and UB are extraordinarily fortunate to have Rob joining the faculty this fall.”

In addition, Savage’s appointment builds on UB’s broader commitment to improving literacy outcomes through research-practice partnerships, community engagement and teacher preparation. Through CLaRI and related faculty research, GSE faculty and students are working with schools to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based approaches to reading and writing instruction. 

GSE will formally recognize Savage’s appointment during an installation ceremony on Nov. 13. The event will celebrate the Mark J. and Elizabeth A. Czarnecki Professorship and the continued impact of the Czarnecki family’s support for literacy research, outreach and teacher preparation at UB. Additional details about the event will be shared with invited guests as they are confirmed.

“I will bring all my values, energy, decades of experience, scholarship and connectivity to bear at UB to advance the institution … I hope to form strong connections within and beyond UB with colleagues, and to liaise with government and other parties to advance the goals of the chair and the university by applying high-quality research to evidence-based practices and policies in education,” Savage said.

The Mark J. and Elizabeth A. Czarnecki Professorship and the Czarnecki Resource Fund in Literacy were created to support research, outreach and teacher preparation that address literacy needs in Western New York and beyond. For Czarnecki, a former educator and longtime supporter of literacy work, and her sons, Christopher and Gregory, the gift is personal. It’s an homage to her longtime career as an educator working with English language learners and special education students, as well as a tribute to her late husband’s legacy of service to the university as a member of the UB Foundation Board of Trustees and vice chair of the UB Council.