Rate My Professor Patricia Durham

Dr. Patricia Durham serves as Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning within the College of Education at Sam Houston State University. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and her B.S. from Texas Tech University. Previously listed as Assistant Professor of Language, Literacy, and Special Populations in the university's 2014-2016 undergraduate catalog, she has progressed to her current full professorship. Dr. Durham acts as academic advisor for the Reading Specialist Certification program and coordinator for the graduate Master's program in reading. She holds leadership positions including President of the Specialized Literacy Professionals for the term 2024-2026 and membership on the editorial board of Literacy Research and Instruction from 2019 to 2025. She previously served as President of the Texas Association of Literacy Education for 2014-2015. Her professional contributions extend to receiving recognition at Sam Houston State University's 14th Annual Academic Awards in 2018 for her work in Language, Literacy, and Special Populations, as well as involvement in literacy programs earning high distinction.

Dr. Durham's scholarly work centers on reading instruction, with a focus on strategies to enhance comprehension, fluency, and engagement among diverse learners. Notable publications include "Improving reading comprehension with readers theater," published in The Journal of Experimental Education in 2019 and co-authored with Chase Young, Melinda Miller, Timothy Victor Rasinski, and Forrest Lane; "Closing the gender gap in reading with readers theater," appearing in the same journal in 2021; "The Boys Are Back and They're Looking for Drama," in the Texas Journal of Literacy Education in 2020, co-authored with Chase Young, Lisa Polk, and Macie Kerbs; and "Engaging Readers, Increasing Comprehension, and Building Skills: The Power of Patterned Books," also in the Texas Journal of Literacy Education in 2016, co-authored with Stephanie Grote-Garcia. Her research has garnered 165 citations on Google Scholar. Additionally, she has secured mini-grants, such as one for increasing literacy specialists' efficacy for advocacy and leadership through reciprocal mentoring.