Ernest Morrell facts for kids

Ernest Morrell, born on April 27, 1971, is an American university professor. He teaches English and Africana Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He is also a special professor in Literacy Education and leads the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education. Plus, he helps lead the College of Arts and Letters as an Associate Dean. Beyond teaching, he started Desert Highway Music. This company helps keep American blues and folk music alive.

Ernest Morrell's Education

Ernest Morrell studied at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1993. The next year, he received his teaching license for high school English. He then went to the University of California, Berkeley. There, he earned a Master of Arts degree in education in 1997. In 2001, he completed his Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture.

Ernest Morrell's Career

Morrell started his teaching journey in 1994. He taught English at Oakland High School in Oakland, California. While teaching there, he also worked at the University of California Berkeley. He helped train new teachers for the University of San Francisco.

In 1999, he became a research associate at UCLA's Center X. He also taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles Graduate School of Education. From 2001 to 2005, he was an assistant professor at Michigan State University. He also continued as a visiting professor at UCLA. In 2007, he became an associate professor at UCLA.

Later, he became a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. He directed the Institute for Urban and Minority Education (IUME) there. After that, he moved to the University of Notre Dame. He became an Associate Dean for the Humanities and Equity. He also teaches English and Africana Studies. He directs the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education.

He is also an elected member of the AERA Council. He is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association. He was also a past-president of the National Council of Teachers of English.

Books and Research

Ernest Morrell has written several books. These books often focus on how to help young people succeed. They also explore how to help them become active citizens. His work helps students learn important skills.

Some of his books include:

• Becoming Critical Researchers: Literacy and Empowerment for Urban Youth
• Linking Literacy and Popular Culture: Finding Connections for Lifelong Learning
• Critical Literacy and Urban Youth: Pedagogies of Access, Dissent, and Liberation
• The Art of Critical Pedagogies: Possibilities for Moving from Theory to Practice in Urban Schools
• Critical Pedagogy and Cultural Studies in Urban Education (2011)
• Powerful Teaching (2019)
• Freire and Children's Literature (with Jodene Morrell) (2023)

He has also helped write parts of the My Perspective education book series. His research shows how to give young people the skills they need. This helps them do well in school and be strong citizens. For example, the Los Angeles Times wrote about his work. It explained how he used hip-hop lyrics. This helped students understand classic literature better.

Awards and Honors

Ernest Morrell has received many awards for his work.

• In 1999, he received a special award. It was from the State of California Senate. This award recognized his dedication to Oakland High School.
• In 2001, he received the Outstanding Dissertation Award. This was from the University of California, Berkeley.
• From 2001 to 2004, he received a special fellowship. It was from the American Educational Research Association.
• In 2005, he was included in "Academic Keys Who's Who in Education."
• In 2008, he received the Distinguished Teaching Award. This was from the University of California, Los Angeles.
• He was also featured in UCLA Prime Magazine. An article called him one of "7 Bruins Who Will Change the World."

About His Family

Ernest Morrell lives in South Bend. He lives there with his wife, Jodene Morrell. They have three sons.