Benita R. Brooks, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Biography
Dr. Benita R. Brooks, an alumna of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earned her Ph.D. in 2009 in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in literacy education. She returned to 51ԹϺ in August 2023 as an Associate Professor of literacy education in the Department of Teaching and Learning, bringing with her 10 years of experience as a high school English teacher.
Dr. Brooks’ research involves conducting community landscape analyses to assist school-based wraparound services offering before- and after-school academic intervention and enrichment support. These analyses help outline the programs' strengths, resources, and needs to ensure they effectively support the academic requirements of the students they serve. As the first faculty fellow of the National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE) in the College of Education (COE), Dr. Brooks collaborates with local school-based wraparound programs to assess the impact of their academic intervention and enrichment support on students' academic outcomes.
Dr. Brooks’ research also involves developing asynchronous tutor training programs for individuals interested in high-impact tutoring (HIT). These programs specialize in training participants to teach literacy and mathematics to elementary students. She is a Rebel Start Academy (RSA) founding fellow. RSA is a pre-apprenticeship program for adult learners seeking licensure to become early childhood, elementary, or special education teachers. In this role, she developed a course titled “The Pursuit of Happiness: A Joyful Humanities Exploration Across the Globe.” The course explores various cultural approaches to happiness and well-being, aiming to help future educators develop strategies to prevent burnout and contribute to their long-term success and resilience as classroom teachers. Additionally, she co-developed the Peer Tutor Talent Roadmap, an asynchronous tutor training program for high school students enrolled in the Youth Rebel Start Academy (YRSA). This two-year program allows students to complete college-level coursework and participate in a paid apprenticeship while still in high school.
Dr. Brooks serves as the Vice President of the Nevada Association of Teacher Educators. She is also the Recruitment and Retention officer for the American Education Research Association’s SIG 41- Experiential Education and Community Engagement.
She received numerous awards for her contributions to experiential education and community engagement. Additionally, she received several federally funded grants.