Assistant Professor Alicia Tate will guide the launch and initial development of the academy, drawing on more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, district administrator, and consultant.
An accomplished education professor and longtime North Carolina leader in special education will serve as acting director of Roberts Academy at Elon University, the first private school of its kind in North Carolina dedicated to serving children with dyslexia on a college campus.
Assistant Professor Alicia Tate will guide the launch and initial development of the academy, drawing on more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, district administrator, and consultant focused on improving learning outcomes for students with learning differences.
The academy, made possible through a visionary investment by Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, is scheduled to open to third and fourth graders in Fall 2026 in a temporary campus location on Trollinger Avenue in Elon.
Enrollment will expand to grades 1-6 when state-of-the-art building now in the planning stages opens in Fall 2028 along East Haggard Avenue with no more than a dozen students in each classroom.
“I am truly honored to begin this work in partnership with families, schools and our community to help launch Roberts Academy at Elon University,” Tate said. “Together, we will build a supportive, innovative school environment that empowers our students with dyslexia to thrive. At the same time, the Roberts Academy will serve as a powerful learning environment for our teacher candidates, preparing them to support literacy success in every classroom they will lead.”
The Roberts Academy will serve as a powerful learning environment for our teacher candidates, preparing them to support literacy success in every classroom they will lead.
– Assistant Professor Alicia S. Tate, acting director of the Roberts Academy at Elon University
Before joining Elon’s faculty in 2021, Tate served in senior leadership roles in multiple North Carolina public school systems, including nearby districts in Guilford County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro.
In those roles, she managed large teams, guided program development and compliance, expanded structured literacy implementation, and oversaw budgets of up to $69 million.
Tate also previously served as director of leadership services for TregoED, a national nonprofit that provides decision-making and strategic planning support to schools. She led consultation and professional development efforts to help districts address complex challenges, improve collaboration, and strengthen student services.
At Elon, Tate teaches undergraduate courses in special education methods and data-based instructional planning, and she supervises student teachers seeking dual licensure. Her scholarship and professional activity focus on equitable access to high-quality instruction, collaborative leadership in special education, and systemic approaches to improving literacy outcomes.
Tate holds a Ph.D. and M.Ed. in specialized education services from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a B.S. in special education from East Carolina University. She is a National Board Certified teacher and recipient of the UNC Greensboro School of Education Early Career Award.
For more information on the Roberts Academy at Elon University, visit www.elon.edu/robertsacademy.
About Elon University
Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.
About Marjorie and Hal Roberts
Marjorie and Hal Roberts are passionate advocates for children and education whose generosity has created new opportunities for students with dyslexia to reach their full potential. Their vision for the Roberts Academy network began with a simple belief — that every child deserves to experience the confidence and joy that come from learning to read.
Through their leadership and philanthropy, the Roberts family has helped establish academies at Florida Southern College, Mercer University, Vanderbilt University, and now Elon University — each dedicated to transforming lives through evidence-based literacy instruction and compassionate teaching.