Laura E. Jacobs

Biography

Laura E. Jacobs received her Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences with a specialization in English Education from North Carolina State University in 2022. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Language Arts and Social Studies from East Carolina University and a Masters for Experienced Teachers in Literacy K-12 with a reading specialist license from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Dr. Jacobs taught middle school language arts in Wake County, North Carolina. Currently, she is an assistant professor of English Education in the Department of Secondary and Middle School Education at Towson University. Dr. Jacobs serves as co-chair of ATE’s Literacy SIG and is active in professional organizations such as ATE, NCTE, ELATE, and ALAN.

Selected Publications

• Young, C.A., Jacobs, L.E., Celaya, A., Lathrop, B., Hackett-Hill, K., Schaildone, M., Moehrke, H., Gaddis, B., Settie, K., Kuriny, D., & James, N. (2024). In Conversation about GenAI in ELA Education: Initial Insights and Experiences from ELA Teachers and ELA Teacher Educators. In C. Moran (ed), Revolutionizing English Education: The Power of AI in the Classroom. Rowman & Littlefield/Lexington Books
• Barker, K.S., Doepker, G.M., Faulconer, J.L., Green, L.D., Jacobs, L.E., & Smith, J. (2023). Banish the Bans: The Teacher Educator’s Role in Promoting Book Access and Choice. The Journal of Study and Scrutiny: Research on Young Adult Literature, 6(1). https://journals.shareok.org/studyandscrutiny/article/view/1145 
• Young, C.A., Jacobs, L.E, Miller, J., Smith, K.M., Moehrke, H., & Nelson, S. (2023). Teaching Diverse Young Adult Literature in Challenging Times: critical reflections and lessons learned. In J. Keengwe (ed), Handbook of Research on Race, Culture, and Student Achievement. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-5705-4.ch013
• *Jacobs, L.E, Aldrich, K., Coggins, S., Mendez, M., Quinlin, H., Small, A., Smith, J., Trivers, M., & Win, G., (2023, June). Family Dynamics in Young Adult Literature [Blog]. Monday Motivator. Retrieved from http://www.drbickmoresyawednesday.com/monday-motivators-2023/family-dynamics-in-yal-by-dr-laura-jacobs-karoline-aldrich-shannon-coggins-margaret-mendez-hailey-quinlin-annabelle-small-john-smith-morgan-trivers-and-gigi-win  *written with students
• Lee, C.C., Jacobs, L., & Mann, J. (2022). Writing with dignity among urban youth: Using mentor texts as a reflective tool for transformation. Urban Education, 59(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/00420859221081765 

Research

Dr. Jacobs’s research interests include incorporating young adult literature across content areas, book banning and censorship, anti-racist and anti-bias English education, scripted ELA curriculum, including representative texts and curriculum in the English classroom and digital literacy and technology.

Grants and Contracts

• Kahlert Foundation, 2023-2024, $6,200. Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation through Environmental and Social Justice Young Adult Literature. The Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation through Environmental and Social Justice Young Adult Literature project highlight's themes of environmental literacy and social justice through leveraging climate fiction (Cli-Fi) young adult literature (YAL) to bring unique perspectives/voices, and cultural representation into middle and high school classrooms.

Teaching

• SCED 419: Young Adult Literature
• SCED 357: Teaching English in the Secondary School
• SCED 461: Teaching Literacy in the Secondary Content Areas