About the Directors

Dr. Leslie Murrill is professor of education at Roanoke College, where she has taught since 1992. She has served as a co-director for the Copenhaver Institute since its beginning. Dr. Murrill currently teaches courses in literacy education and research methods. She began her teaching career as a fifth grade classroom teacher, moving to higher education after a providential experience as a graduate teaching assistant during her masters program at Purdue University. She later earned her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. She has authored numerous articles and a book chapter, as well as presenting at venues such as the National Reading Conference, National Teaching Academy, National Staff Development Council, International Children’s Literature Association and American Educational Research Association. Her current professional interests focus on literacy education and the role of professional development as a source of growth and renewal. Murrill and her husband, Todd, enjoy spending time with their four children and four grandsons.

Dr. Karin Carneal is an education faculty member at Roanoke College. Prior to her role at the college, she was a public educator for 11 years and concurrently 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 presented professional development seminars for teachers throughout Virginia. After joining the education faculty at Roanoke College, Karin received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction: Education Foundations at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on equity in education, increasing educator diversity, critical education policy analysis, race and education, and coalition building. She is a firm supporter of public schools and believes education is the linchpin of U.S. democracy and that it is undergirded by the invaluable contributions of our nation's public-school educators. Karin is honored to support educators through her work with Dr. Leslie Murrill in curating each year's Copenhaver Institute