Elizabeth Severson-Irby

In my role as Literacy Specialist, I provide leadership for instruction and program management in Virginia’s adult education and literacy programs, working with both public and private agencies and educational programs to ensure that adults have access to the educational resources they need. These activities include providing information and guidance on adult literacy topics and projects to adult education programs, designing and providing professional development, mentoring, coaching and training, and other related support to adult educators statewide.

I began my career in adult education in 2012 as a classroom teacher. Over the next several years, I became a curriculum specialist and lead teacher, ensuring that teachers had all the resources they needed in order to deliver quality instruction. Prior to that, I worked as a special education teacher for five years teaching students with intellectual, emotional, and/or behavioral disabilities, students with autism, and students with learning disabilities. I have a B.A. in psychology from the College of William and Mary, a M.Ed. in special education from VCU, an endorsement in adult education and literacy, and a Ph.D. in education from VCU.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling and running, often combining the two; anything that gets me outside makes me a very happy person.