Profile for

Melanie Loewenstein, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Program Coordinator/Advisor

Dr. Melanie R. Loewenstein serves as Interim Associate Dean and Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Services at East Texas A&M University. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience spanning public education and higher education, she provides academic leadership that supports student success, faculty excellence, strategic partnerships, and continuous improvement across the college.

As a faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Loewenstein teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and early childhood education and coordinates the Literacy Studies/Reading Specialist Certification Program and the Instructional Coach Graduate Certificate Program. Her expertise includes literacy, instructional leadership, educator development, instructional coaching, and evidence-based teaching and learning. She also designs and facilitates professional learning experiences that strengthen leadership capacity and organizational effectiveness for educators and educational organizations.

Dr. Loewenstein’s scholarship and professional interests focus on educator preparation, the science of learning, instructional coaching,university-community partnerships, and innovative practices that strengthen teaching, learning, and professional practice. She is committed to preparing future leaders, fostering meaningful collaboration, and creating opportunities that positively impact students, professionals, families, and communities.

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Reading Education (Early Childhood Minor), Texas Woman's University, 2018
• M.Ed., All Level Reading Education (Linguistics-ESL Minor), Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M), 2000
• B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies- Elementary Education-English/Language Arts, University of North Texas, 1996

Research Interests

• Reading Identity
• Oral Language Development and Emergent Literacy
• Reading Intervention and Language-Based Learning Disabilities
• Literacy and Instructional Coaching
• Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
• Playful Learning
• Writing Pedagogy

Selected Publications

• Loewenstein, M. (2024). Literacy coaching: Navigating a transitioning literacy terrain. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 11(1), 7-14.
• Slay, L. E., Loewenstein, M., & Morton, T. (2024). Lessons learned from elementary school teachers during a pandemic: Maintaining joy and curiosity in the elementary writing workshop. English in Texas, 53(2).
• Loewenstein, M., Sturdivant, T. D., & Thompson, J. (2022). Learning through play in teacher education. Young Children, 77(2), 44-50.
• Childs, K. & Loewenstein, M. (2022). Staying Connected: Rooting Literacy Courses in Current Topics and Relevant Teaching Practices. J. Araujo (Ed.). Handbook of Research on Reconceptualizing Preservice Teacher Preparation in Literacy Education. Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.