Meet Elizabeth Podufaly Bauer

I have always loved reading, learning, and helping others! My passion for “playing school” as a kid translated into tutoring work in middle and high school and then writing center jobs and teaching assistantships in college. After graduating with a Masters in English Language and Literature, I taught in-person and online writing courses at Central Michigan University for over a decade, work that included working with both developmental and honors writing students and helping revise the school’s basic-writing program curriculum. While working at the university, I also had many opportunities to develop my skills and delve into my interests. In addition to teaching, I served as a reviewer for national writing awards and scholarly publications, copyedited academic journal articles, and helped organize an international human rights conference.

Since 2020, I’ve been teaching literature to younger English language learners online with Everyday Reading Research Center, located in Nanjing, China. In 2022, Ms. Chen and I founded Center for Educational Design and Research (CEDAR), Everyday Reading’s US affiliate, to reach more students around the world, share our curriculum with schools and families, and spread a love of literature and learning.

I love exploring great books and new perspectives with students, and I likewise love having the opportunity to share my passion with others. There is something profoundly exciting and unifying about reading and discussing classic literature, even when readers have different opinions and interpretations, for we get to experience and critically think about other cultures, time periods, and people together!

Clearly, I love to read, and it’s something I try to do every day. I also love spending time with my amazing husband and sons, as well as our many, many pets. I enjoy gardening, camping, playing tennis, and exploring the natural beauty of Michigan when the weather is warm, and playing board games, building chain reactions with my kids, baking, and playing in the snow when it’s cold. I also love to meet new people, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about CEDAR and how we might be able to help you!

My amazing boys, Oskar and Kazimir!