Dawan Lynn Coombs is an associate professor of English at Brigham Young University, where she focuses on adolescent literacy, struggling readers, and teacher education. Motivated by a desire to help students build confidence and discover the joy of reading, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English teaching from BYU in 2004, a master’s in reading and literacy from the University of Utah in 2008, and a PhD in language and literacy education from the University of Georgia in 2012.
Before joining BYU’s faculty in 2012, Coombs taught English and reading at Provo High School and worked as a literacy coach. She also taught as a graduate instructor at the University of Georgia and as an adjunct at BYU–Idaho. At BYU, Coombs’s work includes collaborating with local school districts to help support adolescent readers. These efforts focus on improving literacy and helping teachers build effective reading instruction into their classrooms.
Professor Coombs is widely published in national and international journals, contributing scholarship on adolescent literacy, dialogic pedagogy, reader identity, and teacher development. She has written numerous articles for journals, such as the English Journal and Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. Beyond her writing, she has served on editorial boards, award committees, and state-level education initiatives focused on literacy standards and support for struggling readers.
Coombs’s work reflects a commitment to helping students gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed. She is passionate about helping students develop healthy reader identities, empowering them to reshape how they see themselves and engage with the world. Outside of her academic work, Dr. Coombs enjoys spending time outdoors running, hiking, camping, and snowshoeing.
