Cathy Block retires after 33 years of leadership and service at TCU

Cathy Block with Stan Block and TCU Provost Nowell Donovan

Fort Worth, Texas

1/11/2011

Dr. Cathy Block came to TCU as an assistant professor for the College of Education in 1977 and served as a member of the faculty until her retirement last semester.

Block is the author of numerous college textbooks, is an author of the Stanford Early School Achievement Test (The Psychological Corporation) and published more than 80 research articles. She served on the National Faculty for the University of Notre Dame and was the chairperson of the National Commission to Infuse Thinking Development into the Curriculum and for the National Commission to Advance Quality Instruction in Thinking in Washington, D.C. She served as a consultant to numerous school districts in the United States and around the world, as well as several corporations and government agencies including the U.S. Departmentof Commerce, Wishbone PBS series, Walt Disney and IBM.

Block was the recipient of the prestigious Paul A. Witty Award for Meritorious Service from the International Reading Association (1998), received the TCU Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar (2005), and was honored as one of the Outstanding People of the 20^th Century (2000) Outstanding Intellectuals of the 20^th Century, Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

“Dr. Block is truly a teacher-scholar,” said Dr. Mary Patton, Dean of TCU’s College of Education. “She has achieved excellence in both teaching and research. She is internationally recognized as a reading scholar.  Her body of work is a legacy to the College of Education, TCU and to the field of literacy education.”

Before coming to TCU, Block served as an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from Lamar University, her master’s degree from North Texas State University and her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  Her scholarly publications include 157 refereed articles, books, nationally nor-referenced tests, K-12 curricula materials and chapters. She is highly regarded throughout the nation, and world, for her scholarly work and expertise.

Block is or has been a member of the Board of Directors and/or Editorial Boards for the American Psychological Association, International Reading Association, National Reading Conference, Kappa Delta Pi, and the American Educational Research Association.