Judith Dunkerly-Bean, Ph.D. is a literacy specialist and award-winning classroom teacher. Judith has served as a faculty member at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she taught university courses in literacy methods including children's and young adult literature. Her research focuses on the intersection of human rights, social justice and critical literacy through a cosmopolitan framework. Her work has been published in several journals including Current Issues in Comparative Education and Language and Literacy. Along with Co-Author Dr. Thomas Bean, Dr. Dunkerly-Bean served as the associate editor for the International Reading Association's Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. She currently teaches literacy courses at Innovations International Charter School of Nevada. She can be contacted at: judith_bean@iicsn.org or at dunkerly@unlv.nevada.edu.

Helen Harper, Ph.D. (deceased) was a Professor of Cultural Studies and English Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her research explored the intersection of social justice and cosmopolitan theory informed by a critical pedagogy stance. She is the co-author of books on advocacy and literacy, young adult literature, and numerous articles on adolescent literacy, democracy, and freedom. She served as co-editor of the International Reading Association's Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy.