Jennifer Drake Patrick
Assistant Professor
Literacy Program at George Mason University College of Education and Human Development
Jennifer Drake Patrick is a busy mother of three with a husband on military deployment overseas. Her research on the unique language of science contributes groundbreaking information to a rarely studied topic in literacy. Patrick’s dissertation details how effective teachers interpret and apply reading strategies geared specifically for science in their classrooms. Her research is based upon the premise that each subject area has its own unique dialogue, requiring teachers to adjust their teaching methods based on the subject they instruct. She explores how personal characteristics of a teacher, such as the depth of their understanding of the material, can impact their ability to teach a subject’s complex language. Her dissertation earned her a fiercely competitive fellowship from the National Academy of Education. Patrick has presented at several professional conferences and co-authored numerous publications.