Dr. Best has been active in the field of Developmental Education since its inception and has focused on workable systems and structures to support student success in both her research and writing.  She has presented on the re-structuring of education for student success at the International Conferences of the National Center for Research on Developmental Education, NoeLevitz conferences, and Annual Conferences of the College Reading and Learning Association.  Her administrative experiences in the field and related areas include the following positions at Kean University, Union, NJ:  Chair, Department of English; Director, General Education; Coordinator, Developmental Education; and Director, English as a Second Language Program.   

Dr. Best is most widely known for her critical studies on the nature of developmental writing, which support her work to develop materials that facilitate students’ progress, elevate their learning and esteem, offer authentic content, engage them in the deep suprocesses of writing (e.g., planning, monitoring, questioning, reviewing, and so on), integrate grammar into writing practice, lend themselves to active learning, and support the retention and application of writing skills for use in other academic situations.  This writing falls within the broad framework of developmental education structure and mission for student success and reflects Dr. Best’s role in the revision and integration of Developmental Education and General Education at Kean University.

Dr. Best has participated in nation-wide studies in developmental education focusing on topics like student absences, limited engagement, lack of motivation, low self-esteem, and the tendency to work toward minimum standards rather than excellence.  She has served as an external evaluator at a number of institutions and has delivered well over 100 professional development sessions. Her work has transformed developmental writing into a thoughtful, critically-informed, and affirming process for both teachers and their students.