Education doctoral student named among top rising literacy leaders

University of Kentucky doctoral student Zachary Milford has been recognized as one of the top rising literacy leaders across the globe, as part of the International Literacy Association’s 2025 class of 30 Under 30.

The honorees are recognized in the January/February/March 2025 issue of Literacy Today, ILA’s member magazine, which features in-depth profiles of their groundbreaking work. Those on the list include educators, researchers, nonprofit founders, policy advocates and social innovators who are driving transformative literacy initiatives across 13 countries.

Milford, a former middle school English and social studies teacher, is pursuing his doctorate in the UK College of Education Department of Curriculum and Instruction. As a doctoral scholar, his work is focused on how content creators shape public discourse around reading instruction including misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms.

“Zach is not only an excellent student and an emerging scholar, but his current and future research endeavors also have the potential to illuminate the discourse and rhetorical devices social media influencers and content creators use to sway public perceptions. To that end, his research has begun to uncover parts of what Ekinci, Dam, and Buckle (2025) call the ‘dark side’ of social media influencers. Zach’s research examines what that looks like in literacy education,” said Janice Almasi, Ph.D., Carol Lee Robertson Endowed Professor of Literacy Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

The rising literacy leaders recognized by the International Literacy Association are redefining what literacy means in an ever-changing world. For Milford, part of that effort is preparing educators to help students develop digital literacy skills.

“Teachers have a responsibility to prepare their students for navigating online spaces where disinformation flourishes,” he said. “So much of their lives is and will continue to migrate online, so they need to navigate the internet with a posture of skepticism."

In addition to his work on digital literacy, Milford has served in a civics literacy fellowship with the Kentucky Civic Education Coalition, collaborating with social studies educators to help Kentucky students develop civic literacies and practice civic action through the Kentucky Civic Seal.

As a doctoral student, Milford is a teaching assistant for English language arts methods courses for preservice teachers and supervising field placements. His dissertation will explore how social media content creators shape debates around reading instruction.