Board of Directors
Josh Elder
Josh Elder is an award-winning writer and editor across various media and a tireless crusader for the cause of comics in the classroom.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Josh broke into the comic industry in 2005 by winning the grand prize in TOKYOPOP’s Rising Stars of Manga contest with his all-ages action/comedy Mail Order Ninja.Mail Order Ninja was then expanded into a graphic novel series and a nationally syndicated comic strip that proved exceptionally popular in schools and libraries. A rom-com graphic novel for Platinum Studios, a stint on DC’s all-ages title The Batman Strikes and several GNs set in Blizzard’s StarCraft universe soon followed. Josh then spent a year as a game writer/designer at Disney Interactive and most recently served as Director of Publishing for Legendary Comics.
At the same time as he was making a name for himself in the comics industry, Josh began traveling to schools, libraries, academic conferences and comic conventions around the country to give lectures and seminars advocating for the use of comics in the classroom. Josh had first learned to read – and more importantly, to love reading – from comics, and he knew comics could do the same for students everywhere.
Josh founded Reading With Pictures in 2009 to help accomplish this goal. He currently serves as the organization’s public face and its chief behind-the-scenes strategist. In this capacity, he acted as editor-in-chief and publisher of the two-time Harvey Award nominated Reading With Pictures: An Educational Comics Anthology and is now hard at work on its sequel and on an even more ambitious project called The Graphic Textbook.
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
Tagged classroom, DC, Disney Interactive, Harvey Award, Legendary Comics, Mail Order Ninja, Northwestern, Platinum Studios, The Graphic Textbook, TOKYOPOP
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Trevor Mueller
Trevor Mueller works at an advertising agency by day, and writes comics by night. He is the writer / artist / creator of several popular webcomic series, which can be found on his website, www.trevoramueller.com.Trevor has also written and self-published several other works including the all-ages stories ALBERT THE ALIEN and JUNKYARD CHASE.
He has also contributed stories to several anthologies, including HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE from Ronin Studios and READING WITH PICTURES from the non-profit of the same name.
In 2009 Trevor joined Reading With Pictures as their Marketing Director, combining his love of comics, education, and advertising. Trevor gives lectures and presentations throughout the mid-west at conventions and schools on several topics, including the power of combining creativity and literacy.
Trevor resides in the city of Chicago, with his cat Waffles.
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
Tagged Albert the Alien, Junkyard Chase, marketing, Ronin Studios
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Professor David Rapp
David N. Rapp is Associate Professor at Northwestern University in the Learning Sciences in the School of Education and Social Policy, and in Cognitive Psychology in the Department of Psychology. His research focuses on the cognitive mechanisms underlying successful and unsuccessful learning. This work investigates the ways in which prior knowledge, unfolding text and spatial experiences, and learner goals interactively influence the processes and products of comprehension. Recent projects funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Aging examine how visualizations can support STEM learning. He is associate editor at the Journal of Educational Psychology and Discourse Processes.
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
Tagged cognitive, Discourse Processes, editor Journal of Educational Psychology, Education, learning, National Institute of Aging, National Science Foundation, Northwestern, Psychology, research, Social Policy, STEM learning
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Tim Sarrantonio
Tim Sarrantonio has over ten years of experience working for and volunteering with nonprofits. After obtaining degrees from Plattsburgh State University, the National University of Ireland at Galway, and Teachers College – Columbia University he moved to Chicago and began his journey to joining Reading With Pictures by picking up The Walking Dead on a whim.
He has raised over $1 million for various causes, created and oversaw exciting events like the Half Acre Charitable Chili Cook Off for The Arts of Life, engaged and enhanced databases of all sizes, procured multiple successful grants, and formulated engaging communications and fundraising campaigns for several nonprofits. He is a team member at Z2 Systems, a Chicago based company that provides the award winning CRM database NEON.
Tim’s background in nonprofits and interest in comic books led to a natural fit as a board member with Reading With Pictures. His passion for making the world a better place, one page at a time, is what excites him about the mission of Reading With Pictures.
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
Tagged campaigns, Chicago, communications, database, fundraising, grants, NEON, nonpofit, Z2 Systems
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John Shableski
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
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Rob Valois
Rob Valois is a Senior Editor with Penguin Young Readers Group where he has edited multiple New York Times best-selling titles, most recently Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel, which also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Graphic Novel of 2011.He entered the publishing world as a graphic novel editor at TOKYOPOP where he helped to launch their original publishing program. As a freelance writer, he has written children’s books for Harper Collins; Simon & Schuster; Little, Brown; Scholastic; and Penguin.Prior to his career in children’s publishing, Rob worked for ten years in feature film development in Los Angeles, most notably as Director of Development for The Jim Henson Company.Rob joined Reading With Pictures in 2009 to help edit their first anthology, which was published to much acclaim in 2010.
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
Tagged Editor, Harper Collins, Jim Henson, Little Brown, New York Times, Penguin, publishing, Scholastic, Simon Schuster, TOKYOPOP, writer
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Chris Wilson
Chris Wilson is the Editor-in-Geek of The Graphic Classroom, a nationally eMINTS certified instructor, a K-6 computer science instructor and a national speaker on comics. He is certified to teach both early childhood (birth to grade 3) and elementary (grades 1-6).
Wilson’s work in comics-in-education has been published in several literacy textbooks including: Teaching New Literacies in Grades K-3: Resources for 21st Century Students, Teaching New Literacies in Grades 4-6: Resources for 21st Century Students, as well as Rationales for Teaching Graphic Novels. Wilson also co-sponsors the Hall of Heroes comic book club at his school.
Wilson donned his RWP cape in December 2011 and is the Educator Liaison.
February 28, 2012
in Board of Directors
Tagged computer science, eMINTS, Hall of Heroes, literacy, national, textbooks, The Graphic Classroom
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