Truth and Equity: Enhancing General and Health Literacy
in the Age of Misinformation
Oct. 20, 2025
8:30-4:30 p.m.
Georgia State University Student Center East and West
We are pleased to announce the Adult Literacy Research Center’s second conference will be held at Georgia State University on October 20, 2025. This conference focuses on understanding the challenges and opportunities for adults with low literacy skills, and is for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, community members and practitioners.
The purpose of our conference is to highlight research in the many areas of adult literacy including reading and writing, numeracy, cognition, health, financial, family, workplace and digital. Our research focus is inclusive of both applied and basic research projects, and we look forward to accepting abstracts from many different disciplines. Submit an abstract (due date 4/30/25).
We are excited to announce our keynote and plenary speakers. Our Keynote Speaker is Dr. John Gilford, Regional Health Administrator, Region 4, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Our afternoon plenary speakers are Dr. Cynthia Baur, Director of the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, University of Maryland School of Public Health and Dr. David N. Rapp, Walter Dill Scott Professor of Education, Social Policy and Psychology at Northwestern University. Our keynote and plenary speakers will focus on issues of language and literacy as a barrier to equitable health and well-being, and the impact of misinformation and disinformation on general literacy and health literacy.
What to Expect
In addition to the keynote and plenary speakers, there will be breakout oral presentation sessions, poster presentations and lightning talks. Breakout sessions will be organized into two research tracks (general adult literacy and health literacy). Morning coffee, snacks and lunch are provided.
What’s the Cost?
Registration prior to Oct. 19 – Students and Postdocs | $25 |
Registration prior to Oct. 19 – Faculty, Community Members, Practitioners | $75 |
Day of Conference Registration Oct. 20 | $100 |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER |
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John W. Gilford, Ph.D.John W. Gilford, Ph.D. is the Regional Health Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), in Region 4. As the senior federal public health official for HHS’ largest geographic region, he performs essential functions for the Department in the areas of prevention, preparedness and agency-wide coordination. Before joining OASH, Dr. Gilford was employed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 10 years as a Lead Behavioral Scientist. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cincinnati (B.A. Psychology) and graduate work at the University of Georgia (MSW and Ph.D.), where he has taught Research Methods and Program Evaluation as an adjunct professor since 2003. |
PLENARY SPEAKERS |
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Cynthia Baur, Ph.D.Cynthia Baur, Ph.D., is a health literacy and health communication expert focused on improving health literacy at the individual, family, community and organizational levels. She directs the University of Maryland Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, the nation’s first academic health literacy center and is a professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health. In 2022, Dr. Baur and other advocates worked with Maryland Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who sponsored Maryland HB1082, to designate the Horowitz Center as the state’s consumer health information hub. |
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David N. Rapp, Ph.D.David N. Rapp, Ph.D., is the Walter Dill Scott Professor of Education, Social Policy, and Psychology at Northwestern University. His research examines language and memory, focusing on the cognitive mechanisms responsible for successful learning and for knowledge failures. This has included investigations into the influence of inaccurate information and fake news on comprehension, the evaluation of technologies that support formal and informal learning and the iterative development of tools and curricula intended to support literacy. Dr. Rapp’s projects have been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute on Aging and Meta. |
Schedule — please check back for updates
8:30-9 a.m. – Registration and coffee
9-9:45 a.m. – Welcome and keynote speaker
10-11:15 a.m. – Presentations
Track A (General Literacy)
Track B (Health Literacy)
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Posters and Lunch
1:45-2:30 p.m. – Plenary speakers
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Lightening talks
3:45-4:30 p.m. – Presentations
Track A (General Literacy)
Track B (Health Literacy)
4:30 p.m. – Conference Conclusion (NOTE: Conference ends wtihout a closing session)
Georgia State University is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta. The conference will be held in Student Center East (55 Gilmer St. Atlanta, GA 30303) and Student Center West (66 Courtland St. Atlanta, GA 30303).
Guests to Georgia State University can park in K Deck or N Deck at 99 Gilmer Street or T Deck at 43 Auburn Ave. for $10 Monday-Friday. There is also some street and street lot parking available.
Georgia State’s campus s is well-served by MARTA rail lines. Georgia State is walking distance from three MARTA Stations that provide rail access from all directions: Five Points at 30 Alabama Street, Peachtree Center at 216 Peachtree Street NE and Georgia State Station at 170 Piedmont Avenue SE.
Hotels
2025 GSU Adult Literacy Research Center Conference
Theme: “Truth and Equity: Enhancing General and Health Literacy in the Age of Misinformation”
Call for Proposals
October 20, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
We welcome proposals from all who are doing work relevant to adult literacy and/or health literacy. Presenters and attendees do not need to be formally affiliated with GSU or the ALRC. We are seeking proposals for oral presentations, lightning talks and poster presentations.
Oral Presentations: Oral presentations will be 15 minutes long followed by 10 minutes for audience questions and discussion. All types of research are welcome including quantitative, qualitative and empirical reviews.
Poster Presentations: Posters can be presented on any topic related to adult literacy or health literacy. All types of research are welcome including quantitative, qualitative and empirical reviews. Posters previously presented at local or national conferences and works in progress are welcome.
- All oral and poster abstracts should include a concise descriptive title reflecting the main topic and the presenter name/s. The abstract should be no more than 250 words and structured in four sections:
- background/purpose
- methods or approach
- results/findings (data-based) or discussion/key insights (non data-based)
- conclusion and/or implications (For works in progress include the planned/expected results.)
Lightning Talks:
Presentations will be five (5) minutes long with time for audience questions and discussion at the end of all presentations. We encourage submissions from everyone who is doing work relevant to adult literacy and/or health literacy. These can be a quick description of your lab (faculty) or a research study (or set of studies) you have an idea for, are currently working on or have completed.
- Proposals should include a title, presenter name and an abstract of no longer than 250 words.
- Please describe your topic and how it relates to the theme of the conference.
Due date for proposals: April 30, 2025, by 5 p.m. You will be notified of decisions by mid-May.
How to submit: Please submit your proposals here.
Questions? Contact Dr. Dawn Aycock ([email protected]), Dr. Claire Spears ([email protected]) or Dr. Elizabeth Tighe ([email protected]).
Read this article about last year’s mini-conference to learn more.
For more information about the conference, contact Dr. Iris Feinberg.
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Dawn Aycock Ph.D., Professor Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions |
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Iris Feinberg Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor, College of Education & Human Development, Associate Director Adult Literacy Research Center |
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Daphne Greenberg, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, College of Education and Human Development, Director Adult Literacy Research Center |
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Claire Adams Spears Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Public Health |
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Elizabeth Tighe Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, Assistant Director Adult Literacy Research Center |