Zoi Traga Philippakos, Ph.D. is and associate professor in literacy education in the department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Her research interests include writing and reading instruction in K to 12 classrooms and in postsecondary settings, strategy instruction with self-regulation, and teacher professional development. In 2019 she received the Early Career Achievement Award by the Literacy Research Association (LRA), and in 2020 coauthored a Research Advisory for the International Literacy Association (ILA) titled, Teaching writing to improve reading skills. In 2021 she received the Faculty Research Excellence Award from the CEHHS at UTK, in 2022 the Chancellor’s Honors and Academic Award on Professional Promise in Research and Creative Achievement, and in 2025 the Gary L, and Rebecca S. Blauser Endowed Faculty Support Award in Honor of Dean Rob Rider. She is the codeveloper of the Developing Strategic Writers (K to 8), of the Supporting Strategic Writers (postsecondary), and of the Big Words (grades 3 to 5) programs. Her recent coauthored books are Developing Strategic Young Writers Through Genre Instructor: Resources for Grades K to 2; Developing Strategic Writers Through Genre Instruction: Resources for Grades 3 to 5; Differentiated Literacy Instruction in Grades 4 and 5: Strategies and Resources, and the coedited books Design based research in education: Theory and applications and Writing-Reading Connections: Bridging Research and Practice. She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Reading and Writing, Reading Research Quarterly) and has presented her research and findings in national and international conferences. She can be followed on X @ZoiPhilippakos

Developing Strategic Learners: https://www.developingstrategicwriters.com/
Big words program: https://www.bigwordsprogram.com/
Writing in Adult Secondary Education: https://sites.gsu.edu/w-ase/zoi-traga-philippakos-ph-d-co-pi/