College Reading and Learning Association elects Rebecca Tedesco president-elect

Rebecca Tedesco, EdD, has been chosen as president-elect of the College Reading and Learning Association, a global organization dedicated to advancing academic support and student success in higher education.

Tedesco has been a member of CRLA for nine years and has served the organization in a variety of roles. She is also a frequent presenter at the association’s annual conference. In her new leadership position, she will help guide an organization that has spent more than 30 years supporting professionals in learning assistance, reading and academic support programs.

CRLA includes nearly 1,300 members and oversees more than 2,000 certified training programs worldwide. The organization serves as a professional development resource for college educators and staff focused on improving student academic outcomes. It emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusion in its work and supports a broad community of professionals and the students they serve.

“The past 18 months have been some of the toughest of my professional life,” said Tedesco. I couldn’t save the learning center I co-founded 5 years ago due to lack of structural funding. Like so many others, I’ve watched as headlines continue to report funding being stripped away from the students and scholars who need it most. I’ve tried to make sense of these reversals of hard-fought gains in equity and social justice, and amid this uncertainty, I decided to run for President-Elect of the College Reading & Learning Association.”

“Today, I'm excited for the first time in a long time, to share that I've been voted President-Elect by CRLA's members. I'm looking forward to evolving our organization and our profession together and to all that I will learn, personally, on the journey ahead. Learning is my favorite. We’ve got this,” Tedesco said.

Tedesco’s superpower is that she can make anyone believe in themselves. She is an educator who empowers college students, especially first-generation and minoritized students, to become more confident, skillful learners. Her research focus is embedded tutoring. She teaches college reading and writing courses in addition to working as a tutor and learning center director. She has taught at two-year and four-year public and private institutions in Massachusetts and California. 

CRLA leadership officials are recognized for bringing experience, innovation, and a commitment to advancing the field of learning assistance. The organization’s leadership team works collaboratively to support educators and improve student learning across diverse academic environments.

As president-elect, Tedesco will contribute to that mission, helping to strengthen CRLA’s role as a leading voice in academic support and professional development. The organization remains focused on fostering educational success, promoting inclusive practices and supporting both educators and learners worldwide.