The College of Education and Human Ecology recognizes the women of EHE and their contributions to society and the field of education during Women’s History Month.
EHE Legacy: Sylvia Harris
EHE Distinction: BS, 1996
Current Position: Children’s Book Author
Legacy Highlight: Writing diverse children’s books that inspire all.
Bio: Author S.R.D. Harris has always been a reading fanatic! Ever since she was a young child and was featured in two children’s books, she has dreamed of becoming a Published Author. Through hard work and determination, she achieved that dream when she wrote and published her first book, “Future Miss President”. Harris co-writes with her youngest daughter, and they currently have 5 Children’s books published and 3 more in production.
Her mission is to write and publish high-quality, uplifting, empowering and Diverse Children’s Books that will inspire a love of reading in all children! She has been featured on PBS/WOSU’s Broad & High TV Show (https://bit.ly/3qX4ZE7)and in many publications to date. Harris was honored as a Literacy Champion by Read for a Cause in April of 2021 and is a 2022 Ohioana Library Festival Featured Author.
Harris and her husband have 3 daughters, and a rescued puppy named Gracie. Her 4th Book “Gracie’s Grace,” is in partnership with CHA Animal Shelter, to benefit their mission to help homeless dogs and cats find loving homes.
When they are not reading, writing, cooking or traveling, they enjoy volunteering and giving back. They have currently donated over 200 books to students all over Ohio and Harris enthusiastically volunteers with Reading 365 with the American Literacy Corporation. She believes all children can love reading if they connect with the right books for them. You can follow her on her website srdharrisbooks.com and major social media channels. Her books are published internationally and can be found in local libraries, Cover to Cover Book Store, Prologue Book Shop, The Book Loft, Gramercy Books Bexley, Barnes & Noble Stores, and online retail outlets such as B&N, Walmart, Books-a-Million, Bookshop, and Amazon.
Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Financial Management from The Ohio State University, but believes learning never ends!
EHE Legacy: Patricia L. Scharer, Ph.D.
EHE Distinction: BS, Elementary Education, 1972; MA, Reading, 1987; Ph.D., Reading, Literature & Language Arts, 1990
Current Position: Faculty Emeritus
Legacy Highlight: Champion of reading and literacy for early learners.
Bio: Patricia L Scharer is Professor Emeritus of the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. She has been actively involved in two literacy projects—Literacy Collaborative, a K-8 school reform model training on-site coaches to support teacher professional development, and Reading Recovery, a research-based intervention for first grade students experiencing difficulty learning to read and write. In 2004, Dr. Scharer collaborated with colleagues at both OSU and the University of Chicago to receive a $3,914,000 Federal Teacher Quality grant to study the impact of Literacy Collaborative professional development on both teachers and student’s literacy achievement. In October, 2010, Dr. Scharer and colleagues Dr. Jerry D’Agostino and Dr. Emily Rodgers, were awarded a $54 million federal i3 grant to scale-up Reading Recovery across the U.S.
Dr. Scharer’s research interests include early literacy development, phonics and word study, and the role of children’s literature to foster both literary development and literacy achievement. Her research has been published in Reading Research Quarterly, Research in the Teaching of English, Educational Leadership, Language Arts, The Reading Teacher, Reading Research and Instruction, Journal of Reading Recovery, Literacy Teaching & Learning, and the yearbooks of the National Reading Conference and the College Reading Association. She had co-authored or edited 8 books including, Responsive Literacy: A Comprehensive Framework (Scholastic, 2018). Dr. Scharer is currently the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Reading Recovery and a member of the board of Reading Recovery Council of North America. She recently completed revisions for the second edition of Promising Literacy for Every Child: Reading Recovery and a Comprehensive Literacy System (Askew, Pinnell, & Scharer, 2022).
EHE Legacy: Gina M. Ginn, Ph.D.
EHE Distinction: MA, Educational Policy, 2005; Ph.D., Workforce Development in Education, 2014
Current Position: CEO, Columbus Early Learning Centers
Legacy Highlight: Service and dedication to children and families in Columbus.
Bio: Gina has served as Columbus Early Learning Centers’ CEO since June 2015. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in environmental and biological sciences from the University of Cincinnati, she attended The Ohio State University where she received a Master’s degree in educational policy and leadership and a PhD in workforce development. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Gina spent more than ten years in the nonprofit sector working in fundraising and development.
As CEO, Gina is responsible for overseeing the long-term strategic leadership of the organization by fundraising, engaging in community outreach, and providing support for center directors and teaching staff. Since Gina’s arrival at CELC, the number of centers has increased from 2 to 4, increased the size of two of its centers, tripled the number of children served, increased the budget by more than 200%, and increased the number of staff from 17 to 75.
During her tenure, CELC has been awarded the 2018 United Way of Central Ohio’s Richard V. Carrick Community Award and The Columbus Foundation’s Top 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2019.
Gina was selected in 2014 as one of the Columbus’ 40 Under 40, in 2019, selected as one of the Top 19 Nonprofit Innovators, and in 2020 she received the Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year. She currently serves as a member of the Columbus Women’s Commission, a member of the City of Columbus’ Recovery and Resilience Advisory Committee, a Board Member for the College of Education and Human Ecology for The Ohio State University and a board member for the Human Services Chamber of Franklin County.
