It is with deep sadness that we write to inform you of the passing of our esteemed colleague and fellow Academy member, Dr. Ernest Morrell, who passed away on February 4, 2026. Below is Morrell’s obituary from the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame (University of Notre Dame’s written obituary).
The Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) and the University of Notre Dame mourn the passing of Ernest Morrell, a beloved scholar, teacher, mentor, and advocate for literacy and educational equity. Born April 27, 1971, Ernest dedicated his life to advancing literacy, cultivating young scholars, and using education as a force for justice, dignity, and human flourishing.
Ernest served as the Coyle Professor of Literacy Education, a member of the faculty in the Departments of English and Africana Studies, and as Associate Dean for the Humanities and Faculty Development in the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. He was also the Director of the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education and a Faculty Fellow with the Institute for Educational Initiatives, where his work bridged research, practice, and community engagement.
A nationally and internationally respected scholar, Ernest’s research focused on critical literacy, adolescent and youth literacy, popular culture and media, and the role of education in promoting equity and civic participation. Across his scholarship and leadership, he advanced a vision of literacy rooted in the dignity of the human person, consistently centering his work on improving the lives of young people through education, affirming literacy as both an academic discipline and a moral calling.
Before entering higher education, Ernest began his career as a high school English teacher at Oakland High School in Oakland, California. That formative experience grounded his scholarship in classroom practice and shaped a lifelong commitment to supporting educators and students, particularly those historically underserved by educational systems.
Ernest earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed his graduate studies in education and language, literacy, and culture at the University of California, Berkeley. His academic career included faculty appointments at the University of California, Los Angeles; Michigan State University; and Teachers College, Columbia University, where he served as the Macy Professor of English Education and Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. Across institutions, his work reflected a deep belief in education as a force for liberation, belonging, and hope.
Throughout his career, Ernest’s scholarship and leadership were widely recognized for their depth, reach, and public impact. Since 2015, he was annually ranked among the nation’s most influential university-based education scholars in the RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings published by Education Week. He was also the recipient of numerous honors, including the NCTE Distinguished Service Award, the 2025 James R. Squire Award, the Kent Williamson Leadership Award from the Conference on English Leadership, and the Divergent Award for Excellence in 21st-Century Literacies.
Ernest held numerous leadership roles in the field. He served as President of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and as Director of the NCTE James R. Squire Office for Policy Research in the English Language Arts. He was an elected Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, an elected member of the National Academy of Education, and an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also served on the AERA Council, was an appointed member of the International Literacy Association’s Research Panel, and convened the African Diaspora International Research Network.
A prolific and influential author, Ernest wrote more than 100 articles, research briefs, and book chapters, as well as 17 scholarly books that shaped contemporary thinking in literacy education and critical pedagogy. Among his many influential works are Becoming Critical Researchers, Linking Literacy and Popular Culture, Critical Literacy and Urban Youth, The Art of Critical Pedagogies, Powerful Teaching, and Freire and Children’s Literature, co-authored with his wife, Jodene. Through his recent work as an editor of Critical English Education: Enduring Voices, New Perspectives, he further bridged foundational scholarship with emerging practices in the modern classroom. His scholarship continues to guide educators, researchers, and policymakers across the country.
At the IEI, Ernest’s presence as a Faculty Fellow enriched interdisciplinary work across literacy, education, and equity. His leadership of the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education embodied the Institute’s mission to connect research with practice in service of learners and communities nationwide.
“Ernest lived his vocation with extraordinary generosity and purpose,” said Matthew Kloser, Hackett Family Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives. “His scholarship, leadership, and friendship shaped our Institute in profound ways. He believed deeply in the power of education to transform lives, and he modeled that belief through his teaching, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to the common good.”
Colleagues remember Ernest not only for his intellectual leadership, but for the way he showed up for others, with warmth, humility, curiosity, and encouragement.
“Ernest’s contributions as a critical literacy scholar will be felt for decades to come. His impact on the field is significant, but his influence on the scholars he generously mentored, wrote with, and amplified cannot be overstated,” said Maria McKenna, Professor of the Practice holding a joint appointment in the Department of Africana Studies and the Education, Schooling, & Society program. “Perhaps most importantly, Ernest was a devoted parent and husband, demonstrating to many of us how to balance a professional calling with a deep commitment to family, friends, and community. We will all miss his larger-than-life presence, his keen mind, and his kind, inclusive spirit.”
Ernest is survived by his wife, Jodene Morrell, a teaching professor and associate director of the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education in the Institute for Educational Initiatives, and their three sons, Tripp, Skip, and Antonio, who were the great joys of his life.
Ernest’s work will continue to shape future generations of scholars and educators, empowering learners and strengthening literacy education across classrooms and communities nationwide.