Dr. Molly Ness, Ph.D
Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of six books, Molly served on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and on the New York State Dyslexia Task Force. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She provided literacy leadership for nationally recognized literacy non-profits, as well as major educational publishers.
A frequent speaker and presenter, her happy place is translating the Science of Reading to schools and teachers. As a tireless literacy advocate, Molly created the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books. In 2024, she founded Dirigo Literacy (deer-ǐ-gō), a literacy consulting firm supporting schools, districts, and states to align with and implement the Science of Reading.
When she is not reading and writing about reading and writing, Dr. Ness is driving her ice-hockey-obsessed teenage daughter to the rink, learning how to fly-fish, or hiking with her poorly behaved goldendoodle.