Margaret Jean Snowling (born 15 July 1955) is a British psychologist, and world-leading expert in language difficulties, including

dyslexia Dyslexia (), previously known as word blindness, is a learning disability that affects either reading or writing. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, wri ...

. From 2012 to 2022 she was

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

St John's College, Oxford St John's College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded as a men's college in 1555, it has been coeducational since 1979.Communication from Michael Riordan, college archivist Its foun ...

and Professor in the Department of

Experimental Psychology Experimental psychology is the work done by those who apply Experiment, experimental methods to psychological study and the underlying processes. Experimental psychologists employ Research participant, human participants and Animal testing, anim ...

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

. Snowling was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) in 2016 for services to science and the understanding of dyslexia. She was born in

South Shields South Shields () is a coastal town in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England; it is on the south bank of the mouth of the River Tyne. The town was once known in Roman Britain, Roman times as ''Arbeia'' and as ''Caer Urfa'' by the Early Middle Ag ...

Research interests

Snowling's main research interests are in the development of language and literacy skills. In particular, her research looks at underlying causes of difficulties in language and literacy skills, and what interventions are effective in treating them. A central focus of her research is

, and the effect of oral language difficulties on educational attainment. In addition, Snowling's research has considered the prominent role of women and mothers – in academia, advocacy movements and teaching – in provision for children with dyslexia and other special educational needs. Principally, this has been through her work on the history of dyslexia. Snowling's work has been cited over 39,000 times.

Education

Snowling was educated at state schools. She attended Mortimer Road Primary School and Cavendish School, Hemel Hempstead. Snowling completed her undergraduate studies at the

University of Bristol The University of Bristol is a public university, public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Br ...

in 1976. She was awarded her PhD from

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

in 1979. She qualified as a clinical psychologist in 1988. She has been awarded honorary doctorates by

Goldsmiths, University of London Goldsmiths, University of London, formerly Goldsmiths College, University of London, is a constituent research university of the University of London. It was originally founded in 1891 as The Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute by ...

(2007),

(2014), the

University of Warwick The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded in 1965 as part of ...

(2016), and the

(2019).

Academic career

Snowling was Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Head of Department at National Hospitals College of Speech Sciences (1979–1992), Professor of Psychology and Head of Department at

Newcastle University Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick university and a mem ...

(1992–1994), and Professor of Psychology at the

University of York The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...

(1994–2012). She is Honorary Professor at the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring,

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

. Snowling was a member of the 2009 Rose Review of Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties. As

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

from 2012 to 2022, Snowling promoted the '2000 Women' programme, a series of events to celebrate the 2000 women matriculated at the college since 1979, when women were first admitted to the college. Snowling was significantly involved with policies and strategies to widen participation at the

Awards

Snowling's contributions to the study of dyslexia have been recognised with the Marion Welchman Award of the British Dyslexia Association in 1997, the

British Psychological Society The British Psychological Society (BPS) is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. History It was founded on 24 October 1901 at University College London (UCL) as ''The Psychological Society'', the org ...

Presidents' Award in 2003, the Samuel T. Orton award of the International Dyslexia Association in 2005, and the Lady Radnor Prize of

Dyslexia Action Dyslexia Action (formerly the Dyslexia Institute) is an organisation based in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, England, founded in 1972. History The Word Blind Centre was the first established clinic in Britain that catered to children diagnosed w ...

in 2013. She is a fellow of the

(1992),

Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...

(2002),

Academy of Medical Sciences The Academy of Medical Sciences is an organisation established in the UK in 1998. It is one of the four UK National Academy, National Academies, the others being the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. Its ...

(2008), and

British Academy The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the sa ...

(2009). She was elected Academician of the

Academy of Social Sciences The Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) is a representative body for social sciences in the United Kingdom. The academy promotes social science through its sponsorship of the Campaign for Social Science, its links with Government on a variety of m ...

in 2003. Together with

Charles Hulme Charles Hulme, (born 12 October 1953) is a British psychologist. He holds the Chair of Psychology and Education in the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, and is a William Golding Senior Research Fellow at Brasenose College, Ox ...

, she received the 2024 Leverhulme Medal and Prize.

Personal life

Snowling is married to the psychologist,

Selected published works

*''Dyslexia: A Very Short Introduction'' (2019). Oxford University Press *''Developing Reading Comprehension'' (2013) (with PJ Clarke, E Truelove, C Hulme). Wiley-Blackwell *''Developing Language and Literacy: Effective Intervention for Language and Literacy in the Early Years'' (2011) (with JM Carroll, C Bowyer-Crane, F Duff, C Hulme). Wiley-Blackwell *''Developmental Disorders of Language, Learning and Cognition'' (with C Hulme). Wiley-Blackwell *''Dyslexia'' (2nd edition) (2000). Blackwell *''Dyslexia: A Cognitive-Developmental Perspective'' (1st edition) (1997). Blackwell

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Snowling, Margaret J. Presidents of St John's College, Oxford 21st-century British psychologists Academics of Newcastle University Academics of the University of York Alumni of University College London Fellows of the British Academy Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom) Living people 1955 births Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Women academic administrators British women psychiatrists British psychiatrists Dyslexia researchers People from South Shields Alumni of the University of Bristol 20th-century British psychologists