About Reid Lyon, P.h.D.:

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Lyon has had a wide range of professional responsibilities including his contributions as a research scientist, professor, classroom teacher, special education teacher, neuropsychologist, school psychologist, and leader in the development of evidence-based education policy at federal and state levels. From 1992 until 2005, Dr. Lyon served as a research psychologist and the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he was responsible for the direction, development and management of research programs in developmental and cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, behavioral pediatrics, reading development and disabilities, learning disabilities, early childhood development and school readiness.

While at the National Institute of Health, Dr. Lyon worked closely with the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and Congress on the development of evidence-based education policy. From 2001 until 2005, he served as an advisor on education research and policies to President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in addition to directing his programs at the NIH. Dr. Lyon has testified numerous times before U.S. Senate and House committees, addressing issues related to the role of neuroscience in education, the need for scientific research to guide educational practices and policies, evidence-based teacher education, early childhood development, learning disabilities, reading development and reading disorders, the re-authorization of Head Start, and the re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act. In 2006, Dr. Lyon was named one of the ten most influential people in American education during the last decade by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center (Education Week) for his work in ensuring that scientific research occupies a central role in educational practices and policy.

Dr. Lyon received his P.h.D. from the University of New Mexico with a dual concentration in Special Education and psychology. He served on the faculties of the University of Alabama - Birmingham, Northwestern University and the University of Vermont School Of Medicine. He has authored, co-authored and edited more than 130 peer reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters on developmental neuroscience, learning differences and disabilities, reading and reading difficulties, and educational policy.