A gift in honor of Nancy Johnson will provide funds to bring authors and illustrators into area schools. It has been a longtime dream to connect the WWU Children's Literature Conference presenters with kids. Interacting with their creative energy and talent – up close and personal – is a life changing experience. Your generous donation will establish an endowment for this effort!
During her 25 years at Western, Dr. Johnson has been a superlative educator, preparing elementary and secondary Language Arts teachers who have gone on to distinguished careers all over the region. A nationally and internationally renowned expert in children’s and young adult literature, she shares her passion for the field across disciplines, inspiring educators and youth. Dr. Johnson has also been the driving force behind WWU's Children’s Literature Conference, the premiere event of its kind in the country.
Dr. Johnson is a dedicated and compassionate mentor and colleague, whose devotion to her students, department, university, community, and profession is unsurpassed. Her legacy continues in her work with the Children's Literature Conference! This event has become an annual tradition for many, where teachers and librarians, readers and writers gather to celebrate and learn about children’s literature. Help us extend this lively event with your donation to this new endowment that will connect award-winning authors and illustrators with kids.
Our desire for this conference continues to be a day of inspiration. Perhaps one of our featured speakers will say something that affirms what you already believe about the role of children’s/young adult literature in all of our lives. Perhaps you’ll enter a conversation that motivates your teaching or ignites your writing. Perhaps you’ll take home a new book that extends an idea shared by an author, illustrator, or even the person sitting next to you. Whatever you experience during the conference, we trust you will leave refreshed and newly inspired to read, write, teach, and learn with deeper intensity and joy.
