Milligan faculty lecture focuses on reading development for students with dyslexia – Elizabethton Star

As part of Milligan University’s Faculty Lecture Series, Dr. Angela Hilton-Prillhart, associate dean of the School of Social Science and Education and professor of education, will present a lecture titled “Understanding Dyslexia: Identifying Underlying Cognitive Differences to Inform Interventions.”

The lecture will be held in Hyder Auditorium in the university’s science building on Monday, March 31, at 6 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Hilton-Prillhart’s lecture explores critical cognitive processes such as phonological awareness, working memory and processing speed that contribute to reading development and are often different in students with dyslexia.

Hilton-Prillhart is a former special education teacher and current licensed psychologist and educator. At Milligan, she teaches courses in educational psychology and cognitive assessment, bringing both clinical insight and classroom experience to this topic.

Her lecture is grounded in research Hilton-Prillhart has published in peer-reviewed academic journals, including School Psychology Review and Psychology in the Schools.

“This presentation aims to equip educators, families and our community with a deeper understanding of how to recognize and support students with dyslexia by translating cognitive science into practical strategies,” said Hilton-Prillhart. “This discussion will help foster academic success for all learners while also informing public conversations around literacy policy and intervention.”

At Milligan, Hilton-Prillhart oversees accreditation, teaches in the university’s doctoral program and manages all activities related to state licensure for teachers, instructional leaders and school counselors. In 2022, Hilton-Prillhart led Milligan’s Area of Education accreditation review with the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which resulted in Milligan receiving the prestigious Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement Award. Throughout her career, she has published extensively in respected journals. Her research focuses on creating trauma-informed environments and developing academic interventions, with a particular emphasis on assessment and support for individuals with dyslexia. She received her doctorate in school psychology from the University of Tennessee.

The Faculty Lecture Series provides students and other members of the Milligan community with a glimpse into the active world of academic research and writing at Milligan.