Who We Are

Sukhraj Bassi, Operations Coordinator for WestEd’s Literacy Team, oversees day-to-day operations, leads social media strategy, and supports business development initiatives that advance the team’s impact. Bassi brings more than six years of experience in project management and business development within the education sector, coupled with a strong commitment to improving systems that help educators and students thrive. Before joining WestEd, Bassi served as a business operations specialist at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, where he supported the Chancellor’s Office on statewide initiatives to improve student experience at the colleges. Bassi holds dual BA degrees in psychology and social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Heather Conklin, Senior Program Associate for WestEd’s Literacy Team, designs and facilitates professional learning initiatives for Reading Apprenticeship and Writing Apprenticeship, providing expert guidance to schools, districts, and educational agencies nationwide to improve literacy outcomes. With nearly 30 years of experience advancing literacy in education, Conklin previously served as an English teacher, instructional coach, and director of curriculum and instruction. She holds a BA in English and an MA in English and education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 

Rae Elisme brings a passion for literature and seven years of experience in project management and operations-based support in the nonprofit sector. They work to expand project capacity and support facilitators by coordinating travel, reimbursement, and invoice payments, thereby strengthening the shared mission of expanding equitable, inquiry-based learning outcomes for readers of all ages.

Laurie Erby is a national expert in literacy with a specialization in the Reading Apprenticeship approach to disciplinary literacy. With over two decades of experience in education, Erby has led transformative professional learning and coaching initiatives across the United States, supporting teachers and teams of educational leaders in implementing research-based literacy practices. Her work centers on improving student outcomes in reading and critical thinking while fostering greater autonomy and confidence in learners. Her current work with the Rich Township District 227 in Illinois was featured in EdWeek (October 28, 2024). Erby is certified in K–8 education and earned her MEd from Eastern Michigan University. 

Emma Fujii supports grant work by using professional learning tools to coordinate work plans for professional learning events across the United States, manage participation metrics, and facilitate stipend processing. Fujii also manages materials production—proofreading, copyediting, and laying out curriculum, training materials, and proposals. Before joining WestEd, she worked as an administrative assistant for eight years at Community Focus, a project of the Tides Center. Fujii holds a BA in psychology and environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Nika Hogan leads the development and dissemination of Reading Apprenticeship professional learning for college educators. Hogan is also Professor of English at Pasadena City College and brings over 20 years of experience in designing and facilitating culturally responsive and inquiry-based learning opportunities for educators and students alike. She is an author on the 3rd edition of Reading for Understanding and an editor of Breakthroughs in College Reading, a 2024 collection showcasing how cross-disciplinary college faculty utilize the Reading Apprenticeship framework in their instruction. Hogan holds a BA in English and Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan and an MA and PhD in Multiethnic U.S. Literatures from the University of Massachusetts. 

As Director of Professional Learning, Heather Howlett leads efforts to improve disciplinary literacy in middle school, high school, and college settings. Howlett has over 15 years of experience in literacy professional learning and instructional leadership. Previously, she served as a classroom teacher implementing Reading Apprenticeship in science and led districtwide literacy initiatives, designing and facilitating professional learning for more than 300 teachers in grades 4–12. Howlett holds a BS in biology from Madonna University and an MA in teaching and learning from Nova Southeastern University. 

Jennifer Johnson joined WestEd’s Literacy Team in 2022. Johnson supports Reading Apprenticeship by developing and managing project work plans, streamlining processes, contributing to outreach communications, creating professional development materials, and coordinating a range of project activities. 

Jenell Krishnan leads the vision and strategy for Writing Apprenticeship. Previously, Krishnan served as a leader at the National WRITE Center (Writing Research to Improve Teaching and Learning), where she focused on improving writing instruction for historically marginalized groups. Krishnan helps states, districts, and teachers develop approaches that improve the teaching of writing in culturally responsive and sustaining ways. Krishnan has advised multiple education initiatives on literacy, equity, and teacher development. She is a former ELA teacher who served a rural community and the author of over 25 publications. Krishnan holds an MS Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a PhD in education from the University of California, Irvine.  

Diane Lee is a Senior Project Manager on the Literacy team. Lee oversees the project management team and manages the workflow of and relationships for complex federal grants. She provides deep expertise in process improvement, operations, and finance. Over the past decade, Lee’s project work has strengthened the Reading Apprenticeship professional learning program. Before joining WestEd, Lee served as a program specialist in the Curriculum Office at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. She holds a BA in economics from the University of Southern California. 

Stephanie M. Patterson is Director of School and Districts Partnerships for WestEd’s Literacy Team. With over 25 years of K–12 education experience, Patterson has worked as an elementary teacher and brings extensive expertise in instructional coaching, curriculum support, and professional learning. She specializes in building partnerships with districts and organizations to expand access to high-quality literacy practices that improve outcomes for educators and students. Patterson holds a BA in psychology from Clark Atlanta University and an MA in education from Pepperdine University. 

Misty Sailors leads research for Disciplinary Literacy and oversees WestEd’s expanding adolescent literacy portfolio. Sailors consults on many projects, including one from the National Institutes of Health aimed at improving disciplinary literacy in science education, and leads the Reading Apprenticeship for Academic Literacy Learning (RA4ALL) research study. Sailors has educated over 13,000 teachers and school leaders and developed multilingual curricula in 13 indigenous languages in Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa. A professor emeritus at The University of Texas at San Antonio, she has taught beginning and master reading teachers. Sailors is a licensed reading specialist (PK–12) and a former literacy coach and classroom teacher. Sailors is the author or editor of six books and more than 80 publications in leading education journals. Sailors holds a BS, MEd, and PhD from The University of Texas at Austin.