Our Board
Reading Is Fundamental’s (RIF’s) board helps to shape our strategies and programs, ensuring that we are a sustainable, impactful nonprofit organization. Meet the leading executives, literacy experts, visionary educators, and other professionals united by our mission to disrupt the U.S. literacy crisis.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors steers RIF towards a sustainable future by strategizing and driving sound governance, management, and financial policies. The Board of Directors advances RIF’s mission, which is centered around inspiring the joy of reading—driving the reading frequency, motivation, and engagement that puts children on the path to becoming skilled readers.
Thomas Plath, Vice Chair
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources & Corporate Affairs
International Paper
J.J. Johnson, Secretary
Senior Advisor
Fidelity Investments
Alicia Levi
President & CEO
Reading Is Fundamental
Angela Y. Jones
Global Chief People Officer
ACCO Brands
Michelle Mesack
Managing Director, Global Head of Government Relations
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Michelle Murphy
Vice President of Human Resources,
Commercial HVAC Americas
Trane Technologies
Kevin Smithson
East Region Market Leader
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Joe Thornton
President
Scooter's Coffee
Simone Wu
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & External Affairs
Choice Hotels International
Rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion
RIF’s work incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in everything we do, from the communities we serve to the stories we tell, to the authors and illustrators we feature. Closing the equity gap has been the driver of our work since our founding in 1966. To reinforce our DEI approach, we created the Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) Initiative and REI National Advisory Board.