Bruce Taylor, associate professor of reading and elementary education, is the sixth recipient of the Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship in Teaching. His selection was announced during the University’s annual convocation, Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Taylor is a “gifted, passionate, generous and innovative teacher who never loses sight of the goal to help students read and read more effectively,” noted Provost Joan Lorden in revealing the College of Education professor’s selection.

After completing a Ph.D. in language, literacy and culture from the University of Iowa in 2004, Taylor joined the University. Since his arrival, Taylor has championed service learning, regularly holding classes in K-12 schools where education students can work directly with learners. In addition, he was a pioneer who worked to bring a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School to the University campus. He also is a member of the UNC Charlotte Crossroads Advisory Council and served on the team that developed the winning proposal to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities to create the civic minor in urban education.

Through the Center for Adolescent Literacies, which he directs, Taylor uses a number of externally funded initiatives to provide literacy support for nearly 2,000 K-12 pupils. As a researcher, his scholarship has contributed to the areas of service learning and integration of technology into instruction.

The Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship in Teaching is annually awarded to a member of the faculty who has received tenure within the last three years. The Cone Distinguished Professorship for Teaching was created in 1992 by the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees.  In recognition of the high level of accomplishment required of individuals named as distinguished professors, it was decided that only five members of the University faculty may hold this title at the same time.