Twila Marie Christensen Liggett, American academic administrator, public television company executive. Recipient Grand award New York, 1993, Gold medal award International Film and television Festival, 1996, World Gold medal New York International Film & television, 1995, Council on Internat.Nontheatrical Events Golden Eagle award, 1995, Image award National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1994, 96.
Background
Liggett, Twila Marie Christensen was born on March 25, 1944 in Pipestone, Minnesota, United States. Daughter of Donald L. Christensen and Irene E. (Zweigle) Christensen Flesher. Bachelor of Science, Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1966.
Education
Master of Arts, U. Nebraska, 1971, Doctor of Philosophy, 1977. Director vocal and instrumental music Sprague (Nebraska)-Martell Public School, 1966-1967. Teacher vocal music, public schools, Syracuse, Nebraska, 1967-1969.
Teacher Norris Public School, Firth, Nebraska, 1969-1971.
Consultant federal reading project, public schools, Lincoln, 1971-1972. Curriculum coordinator Westside Community Schools, Omaha, 1972-1974.
Director State program Right-to-Read, Nebraska Department Education, 1974-1976. Assistant director Nebraska Commision on Status of Women, 1976-1980.
Assistant director project administration/development Great Plains National Instructional television Library., U. Nebraska, Lincoln, 1980-1997.
Executive producer Reading Rainbow, Public Broadcasting Service national children"s series, 1980. Senior Vp. for Edition and Special Projects, Lancit Media Ent., Limited., New York, 1998 (11 National Daytime Emmy awards 1990-1997, 7 National Daytime Emmy nominations, 1998, National Primetime Emmy nomination 1996). Consultant unites states department Education, 1981.
Far West Regional Laboratory, San Francisco, 1978-1979.
Panelist, presenter American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Education Association, National Endowment for Humanities, National Science Foundation, Corporation Public Broadcasting, International Reading Association, Blue Ribbon panelist, Academy television Arts & Sciences, 1991-1998, finaljudge National Cable Ace Awards, 1991-1992, 97.
Career
Director vocal and instrumental music Sprague (Nebraska)-Martell Public School, 1966-1967. Teacher vocal music public schools, Syracuse, Nebraska, 1967-1969. Teacher Norris Public School, Firth, 1969-1971.
Consultant federal reading project public schools, Lincoln, 1971-1972. Curriculum coordinator Westside Community Schools, Omaha, 1972-1974. Director state program Right-to-Read Nebraska Department Education, 1974-1976.
Assistant director Nebraska Commission on Status of Women, 1976-1980. Assistant director project admisntrn./development Great Plains National Instructional television Library. University Nebraska, Lincoln, 1980-1997, 2002—2005.
Senior vice president for education Lancit Media Ent., Ltd. a Junior Net Company, New York, 1998—2001. Executive producer Reading Rainbow/Nebraska Educational television Network/GPN, 1980—2005, Nebraska Educational television Network/GPN, 2001—2005. President Twila Liggett Media, Inc., 2005—2007.
Assistant professor literacy Marymount Manhattan College, since 2006. Consultant United States Department Education, 1981. Consultant Far West Regional Laboratory Nebraska Education television Network, San Francisco, 1978—1979.
Panelist, presenter in field. Blue Ribbon panelist National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, since 1991. Final judge National Cable Ace Awards, 1991—1992, 1997.
Membership
Board directors Planned Parenthood, Lincoln, 1979-1981. Member National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, International Reading Association (panelist, presenter, Special award Contributions Worldwide Literacy 1992), American Women in Film and television, Phi Delta Kappa.