Who We Are

The Center for Reading Science team consists of a director, an assistant director, and a team of professionals with deep knowledge of the science of reading and experience implementing evidence-based practices in schools.

513-244-4934

amy.murdoch@msj.edu

Contact Information

Director:
Amy Murdoch

Dr. Murdoch is the Assistant Dean of the Reading Science Program, Graduate Education Chair in the School of Education, and an Associate Professor at Mount St. Joseph University. Under Dr. Murdoch’s leadership, the Reading Science graduate program became one of the first programs in the nation to receive accreditation from the International Dyslexia Association. Dr. Murdoch holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology with a focus on Early Literacy. Prior to joining Mount St. Joseph’s faculty, she worked as a reading consultant at the Special Education Regional Resource Center providing training and consultation to school districts around MTSS, reading instruction, assessment, and supporting children with disabilities. Dr. Murdoch also worked in Cincinnati Public Schools as the director of a number of large reading grants, including the Reading First grant. Her research and service work has focused on helping schools and families implement research-based practices in reading instruction, intervention, family involvement, and assessment. Her current research work includes projects focusing on the early identification and support of children with Dyslexia (an OSEP Model Demonstration project), bringing the science of reading to higher education, and Project Ready, a project devoted to the creation of a free comprehensive early learning program that successfully closes the opportunity gap.

Assistant Director: Larissa Phillips

Dr. Larissa Phillips is the Assistant Director of the Center for Reading Science and an Assistant Professor in the Reading Science graduate program at Mount St. Joseph University. A three-time Mount graduate, she earned her bachelor's degree in Special Education in 2004, her master's degree in Reading Science and Reading Endorsement in 2012, and her Doctor of Education in 2025. Since 2015, she has served on both the Project Ready Advisory Committee and the School of Education Advisory Committee. Before joining the Center for Reading Science, Dr. Phillips spent 20 years serving students and educators in public schools. Her experience spans preschool through high school as an Intervention Specialist, co-teacher, and Reading Specialist, providing her with a deep understanding of the instructional and systems-level supports needed to improve literacy outcomes. Larissa is Orton-Gillingham trained, an Explicit Instruction trainer through Dr. Anita Archer, and a PELI and Acadience Mentor. She is passionate about helping schools bridge the research-to-practice gap by supporting the implementation of evidence-based literacy instruction, strengthening Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and designing high-quality Tier 1 instruction. As one of the Implementation Specialists for the Center's Reading Opens Worlds (R.O.W.) Curriculum project, Dr. Phillips works alongside educators to translate the science of reading into effective classroom practice. She is committed to ensuring that every teacher has access to the knowledge and tools needed to provide high-quality reading instruction so that every child has the opportunity to become a successful reader.