About the Directors
Leslie Murrill is professor of education at Roanoke College, where she has taught since 1992. She has served as co-director of the Margaret Sue Copenhaver Institute since its beginning. Dr. Murrill currently teaches children and Adolescent Literature, Elementary and Middle School Reading and Language Arts. She began her teaching career as a fifth-grade classroom teacher in Temple Hills, Md., and later instructed Title I Reading in Lafayette, Ind. She received her M.Ed. from Purdue University and her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. She has authored articles and book reviews in The Education Forum, Kappa Delta Pi Record, Reading in Virginia, the SRATE Journal, and has published a book chapter. Murrill has presented at venues such as the National Reading Conference, National Teaching Academy, Kappa Delta Pi Convocation, National Staff Development Council, International Children's Literature Association and American Educational Research Association. Her current professional interests focus on middle school literacy instruction and the role of professional development as a source of growth and renewal. Murrill and her husband, Todd, are the parents of two sons and two daughters.
Karin Kaerwer is thrilled to join Leslie as co-director of MSCI. After graduating from Roanoke College in 2008, Karin taught for 11 years in Roanoke County Schools. During her time there, she was able to gain experience in various grade levels and schools while simultaneously attending graduate school at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She completed her program there with a Masters of Education in Social Foundations of Education in 2014. During her teaching career, Karin wrote curriculum at the district and state levels, worked closely with the Virginia Department of Education to create state-wide resources, contributed to projects with other higher education institutions, and has presented professional development seminars for teachers throughout Virginia. She attended MSCI as a participant for several years, led breakout sessions, and joined the Steering Committee in 2016. In 2020, Karin joined the Education Department at Roanoke College as a Lecturer. She teaches preservice educators through instructional methods courses and introductory education psychology, as well as supervises student teachers. In 2021, Karin began working on her Ph.D. in Education Foundations at Virginia Tech.