President Bush looked to NIU this summer to help solve the problem of illiteracy.

Susan Vogel, chair of the NIU department of educational psychology counseling and special education, was selected for a position on the National Institute for Literacy’s executive board.

The NIL was established by the July 25, 1991 National Literacy Act. The aim of the act is to eliminate the problem of illiteracy in the United States by the year 2000.

Vogel is the only member of the board with expertise in the field of severe literacy problems related to learning disabilities. Vogel was chosen for the board because she has over 20 years of experience in learning disability research.

The United States has an estimated 30 million adults with severe literacy problems with 40 to 80 percent possibly having a learning disability, according to Vogel.

“I hope to assist in helping accomplish the mission of the National Institute for Literacy as it pertains to those with learning disabilities,” she said.

Vogel also said she wants to develop a national research program dealing with severe literacy problems and evaluate those already in existence.

The National Institute for Literacy has been allocated a three year annual budget of $15 million. Vogel’s term on the board is also three years long.

Vogel expects to leave for Washington, D.C. in the next month to meet with the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources before a formal appointment ceremony at the White House.

Vogel has been a department chair for the past three years and will retain the position while serving on the board.