MONICA H. RILEY

Inspector

Dr. Monica Riley is a Professor and Executive Director of the School of Education at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. 

Dr. Riley taught Elementary and Middle School literacy and science for several years before obtaining her Ph.D. in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading in 2004. She is a licensed teacher in the state of Florida. While obtaining her degree she taught literacy courses and served as a university supervisor for interns at Mississippi State University. Subsequently, she taught at Mississippi University for Women where she moved into the department chair position in 2010. Dr. Riley transitioned to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith in 2017 and became the Executive Director of the School of Education. In this position, Dr. Riley has led the team in establishing a Professional Learning Community model within the School of Education. She has also collaborated closely with Dr. April Evans to establish a Science of Reading Curriculum in all literacy courses making the courses a pathway to Science of Reading Proficiency within the state of Arkansas for teacher licensure. Drs. Riley and Evans also co-found and co-facilitate the Arkansas Higher Education Literacy Council.

Since completing her Ph.D., Dr. Riley has successfully completed 30 hours of Orton-Gillingham training and training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) Foundations Module and Modules 1-9. In addition, she has completed 9 hours of master’s level work in special education.