Mark Emblidge
Encyclopedia
Mark E. Emblidge has worked on policy issues on behalf of literacy in the U.S. for at-risk populations from childhood through adulthood.
in 1953. His family is of Dutch Irish descent. He graduated from Oakton High School
in Vienna, Virginia, and received a BA in political science at Gordon College
, Massachusetts, and a master’s degree and doctorate in education at the University of Virginia
.
(VCU). In 2004 he became the Director of the Literacy Institute at VCU. Established to provide research and development projects that study the problems of illiteracy, the Literacy Institute has attracted three Early Reading First grants from the U.S. Department of Education from 2004 through 2011 totaling over $12 million. These grants, which focused on children and adults in poverty, resulted in an innovative project called Excell (Excellence in Children’s Early Language and Literacy), which promotes early language and literacy acquisition for pre-K students in various communities and schools throughout Richmond, Virginia. Emblidge served as the three grants' principal investigator.
Overseeing a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant in 1999, he became the founding director of Communities in Schools
(CIS) of Virginia, which he started with U.S. Senator Mark Warner
and former U.S. Senator George Allen. CIS develops alternative remedies for at-risk juvenile students who are in danger of dropping out of high school.
Pursuing his lifelong interest in promoting literacy across the lifespan, Emblidge became the founding Executive Director of the Virginia Literacy Foundation
(VLF) in Richmond, Virginia, which he established with Virginia’s former first lady, Jeannie Baliles
in 1987, a position he continues to hold to this day. The VLF provides grants and technical advice and training to Virginia’s community-based and faith-based literacy organizations.
Since the 1980s Dr Emblidge has worked for the Democratic Party on both the state and national levels. He worked as the Democratic party national finance director in 1982-83, and as the financial director for Chuck Robb
’s Virginia Governor Campaign in 1981 and John Glenn
’s run for the presidency in 1983-1984. He also served as the transition director for Virginia’s Attorney General-elect Mary Sue Terry
(1985) and on the education transition team for Virginia Governor-elect Timothy M. Kaine (November 2005-January 2006). From December 2008 through January 2009, Emblidge worked as a member of President Barack Obama
’s transition team.
appointed Emblidge to the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL), now known for its LINCS (Literacy Information and Communication System) resources, on which he served as chair from 1998 to 2002. NIFL was a federally-funded organization that provided information to literacy programs about literacy rates and learning techniques for adults and children.
as a special education advisor and work with General Scott Gration
in designing education programs for Sudan. While there, he urged the Sudanese government to seek contributions to education from the private sector and other countries, and to invite Sudanese dispersed throughout the world to return to their country to use their talents to develop education.
From 1987 to 1990, during Margaret Thatcher
’s tenure, he worked as a consultant with the Communities in Schools of Great Britain.
Early Life and Schooling
Mark E. Emblidge, Ph.D., was born in upstate New YorkUpstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
in 1953. His family is of Dutch Irish descent. He graduated from Oakton High School
Oakton High School
Oakton High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in proximity to the town of Vienna, in the United States. It is part of Fairfax County Public Schools....
in Vienna, Virginia, and received a BA in political science at Gordon College
Gordon College
Gordon College may refer to:* Gordon College , a public college in Barnesville, Georgia* Gordon College , a Christian college in Wenham, Massachusetts* Gordon College , a Christian college in Rawalpindi, Pakistan...
, Massachusetts, and a master’s degree and doctorate in education at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Career in Education
Emblidge currently serves as an affiliate professor at the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
(VCU). In 2004 he became the Director of the Literacy Institute at VCU. Established to provide research and development projects that study the problems of illiteracy, the Literacy Institute has attracted three Early Reading First grants from the U.S. Department of Education from 2004 through 2011 totaling over $12 million. These grants, which focused on children and adults in poverty, resulted in an innovative project called Excell (Excellence in Children’s Early Language and Literacy), which promotes early language and literacy acquisition for pre-K students in various communities and schools throughout Richmond, Virginia. Emblidge served as the three grants' principal investigator.
Overseeing a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant in 1999, he became the founding director of Communities in Schools
Communities In Schools
The Communities In Schools network is a federation of independent 501 organizations in 27 states and the District of Columbia that work to address the dropout epidemic. The organization identifies and mobilizes existing community resources and fosters cooperative partnerships for the benefit of...
(CIS) of Virginia, which he started with U.S. Senator Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
and former U.S. Senator George Allen. CIS develops alternative remedies for at-risk juvenile students who are in danger of dropping out of high school.
Pursuing his lifelong interest in promoting literacy across the lifespan, Emblidge became the founding Executive Director of the Virginia Literacy Foundation
Virginia Literacy Foundation
The Virginia Literacy Foundation , was founded by Jeannie Baliles, Virginia's First Lady from 1986–1990, and founding director Mark Emblidge. It was incorporated as a 501 organization in 1987...
(VLF) in Richmond, Virginia, which he established with Virginia’s former first lady, Jeannie Baliles
Jeannie Baliles
Jeannie P. Baliles founded the Virginia Literacy Foundation, which was incorporated in 1987. Former wife of Gerald L. Baliles, the 65th Governor of Virginia, she served as First Lady of Virginia from 1986 to 1990.-Personal life:...
in 1987, a position he continues to hold to this day. The VLF provides grants and technical advice and training to Virginia’s community-based and faith-based literacy organizations.
Work on Behalf of Political Campaigns and Transition Teams
In addition to his interest in promoting literacy for children and adults, Emblidge has been active in national and local politics.Since the 1980s Dr Emblidge has worked for the Democratic Party on both the state and national levels. He worked as the Democratic party national finance director in 1982-83, and as the financial director for Chuck Robb
Chuck Robb
Charles Spittal "Chuck" Robb is an American politician. He served as the 64th Governor of Virginia from 1982 to 1986, and as a United States senator from 1989 until 2001. In 2004, he chaired the Iraq Intelligence Commission.-Early life:...
’s Virginia Governor Campaign in 1981 and John Glenn
John Glenn
John Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
’s run for the presidency in 1983-1984. He also served as the transition director for Virginia’s Attorney General-elect Mary Sue Terry
Mary Sue Terry
Mary Sue Terry is a Democratic politician from Virginia, born September 28, 1947, in Martinsville, Virginia.-Early life:Miss Terry was an active and enthusiastic Democrat as a girl.She was graduated from in Critz, Virginia in 1965...
(1985) and on the education transition team for Virginia Governor-elect Timothy M. Kaine (November 2005-January 2006). From December 2008 through January 2009, Emblidge worked as a member of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s transition team.
A. Virginia
Emblidge’s work in education and literacy includes service on the City of Richmond School Board. Starting in 1994, he served for four terms, including three as chairman. In 2002 Dr Emblidge was appointed President to the Board of Education in Virginia by Governor Mark R. Warner, and held that position until January 2010. “The fact that we have 92 percent of our schools fully accredited is wonderful, but there are still students who are not passing the tests. We also want to take a look at those students who have no difficulty passing the SOL tests and figure out how we can continually challenge them, so that when they graduate they can compete with anyone in the world.”, Emblidge said about his work. He was appointed to the Virginia Library Board in December 2009 by outgoing Governor Timothy M. Kaine, a position he still holds.B. National
In 1995, President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
appointed Emblidge to the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL), now known for its LINCS (Literacy Information and Communication System) resources, on which he served as chair from 1998 to 2002. NIFL was a federally-funded organization that provided information to literacy programs about literacy rates and learning techniques for adults and children.
C. International
Emblidge is a current (2010-present) Franklin Fellow with the U.S. Department of State, where he will serve in the Office of the United States Special Envoy to SudanSudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
as a special education advisor and work with General Scott Gration
Scott Gration
Jonathan Scott Gration is a retired Major General of the United States Air Force, who worked as a policy advisor to President Barack Obama. On March 18, 2009, Gration was named, and served, as the United States Special Envoy to Sudan. President Obama announced his intent to nominate General...
in designing education programs for Sudan. While there, he urged the Sudanese government to seek contributions to education from the private sector and other countries, and to invite Sudanese dispersed throughout the world to return to their country to use their talents to develop education.
From 1987 to 1990, during Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
’s tenure, he worked as a consultant with the Communities in Schools of Great Britain.