Mark E. Emblidge (born 1953) is a college professor and political activist who has focused his career on policy issues related to literacy in the United States for at-risk populations from childhood through adulthood.
The VLF provides grants and technical advice and training to Virginia's community-based and faith-based literacy organizations.
In 1999, he oversaw a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant, and became the founding director of Communities in Schools (CIS) of Virginia, which he started with U.S.
In 2002, Emblidge was appointed President of the Board of Education in Virginia by Governor Mark R. Warner, and held that position until January 2010.
[9] In 2009, outgoing Governor Timothy M. Kaine appointed Emblidge to the board of trustees of the Library of Virginia, and he became its chair in 2013.
[13] Established to provide research and development projects that study the problems of illiteracy, the Literacy Institute has attracted three Early Reading First grants from the U.S. Department of Education from 2004 through 2011, totaling over $12 million.