SUN CITY, AZ, February 02, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Penelope "Penny" Dyer, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Dyer has established herself as a leading expert in curriculum design and instructional practices, earning recognition for her innovative contributions to education. As the president of the Curriculum Design Institute since 1996, she has overseen research and development initiatives, including work on National Science Foundation grants. Dr. Dyer also manages the institute's operations and leads the University by Design program, which helps students gain college admission and find scholarships. Furthermore, her responsibilities include developing curriculum materials, such as financial literacy programs for the youth, writing and creating educational content, and collaborating with publishers on standards correlations and instructional materials.

Based in California, the Curriculum Design Institute provides professional development services for technology-based programs. The team comprises instruction and curriculum development specialists who serve K-12 and adult learners, with a focus on teaching, learning and technology.

A significant point of pride in Dr. Dyer's career is the founding of the Curriculum Design Institute and assembling a distinguished team, primarily composed of her graduate students from the University of California (UC) Berkeley. Through this institute, she has partnered with major organizations, including Houghton Mifflin, Apple Computer, The College Board, and George Lucas's educational materials division. Dr. Dyer's work has spanned discovery learning initiatives, state and national standards correlations, teacher training and the development of educational resources for diverse audiences.

During her tenure leading the institute, Dr. Dyer also spent over a decade as an assistant professor at Arizona State University, where she contributed to teacher preparation, instructional strategies, and curriculum development from 2014 to 2025. She was previously engaged as a national technology consultant for Scholastic Publications in New York, providing expertise in integrating technology into educational settings. Dr. Dyer's tenure at Apple Computer included roles as a consultant and trainer for several years and as a senior scientist for the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow Program, where she advanced technology-driven learning solutions.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Dyer spent time in California as an English and history teacher, language arts coordinator and school district administrator. In these capacities, she gained firsthand experience with the challenges of curriculum and instructional strategy consistency across schools, a realization that shaped her future focus on curriculum design. Dr. Dyer first contributed to California State University, Fresno as an Associate Professor, supporting the next generation of educators.

Among other opportunities, Dr. Dyer directed the Advanced Language and Leadership Program at UC Berkeley for five years, during which she developed leadership curricula and mentored educators through their master's degree program.

Dr. Dyer's academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English/history and a Master of Arts in English with concentrations in linguistics, reading and writing instruction from the CSU, Chico, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in curriculum and instruction in mathematics, science and technology (reading/literacy) from UC Berkeley.

Professionally engaged, Dr. Dyer is a member of the International Literacy Association, reflecting her ongoing commitment to advancing literacy worldwide. She has also been deeply involved in community service through the Curriculum Design Institute for more than 10 years. She has helped approximately 20 students from impoverished backgrounds gain admission to prestigious universities such as Columbia University, the University of Chicago and Stanford University with substantial scholarships. Many of these students have graduated and gone on to hold high-level positions. Additionally, Dr. Dyer contributes financially to a girls' school in Mumbai and contributed to its literacy curriculum, supporting around 500 girls who are unable to attend state schools due to gender-based barriers.

Dr. Dyer's achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, such as the Meritorious and Promising Professor Award from CSU Fresno and the Sunshine Award from Arizona State University. She credits her drive to help others become life-long learners as central to her success. Inspired by educational challenges observed in her community, and as the first teacher in her family, Dr. Dyer shifted her academic focus at UC Berkeley from reading and language to curriculum and instruction after recognizing how unequal curriculum distribution affected student outcomes.

Looking ahead, Dr. Dyer intends to elevate the Curriculum Design Institute by securing contracts with publishers for state standards correlations, developing curriculum materials, and teacher training while creating new programs, including expanded financial literacy curricula for youth. Additionally, she aims to expand access to the University by Design program by creating an online platform that enables students to benefit from its resources beyond traditional consultation formats.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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