Charisse Cowan Pitre is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses related to literacy education. These courses include: Secondary Reading in the Content Areas, Part I and II.

Dr. Cowan Pitre's research interests include educational opportunity programs, literacy education, and equity education related to issues of college preparation and readiness among P-12 students from diverse social and economic backgrounds. Journals in which her research has been published include Teacher Education and Practice and Metropolitan Universities. She has presented at several national and international research conferences including the College Board Forum, the National Association of Multicultural Education, and the American Education Research Association.

Dr. Cowan Pitre earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1991 from the University of Washington. Her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction was granted from Seattle University in 1996. She earned a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Texas in 2002. Dr. Cowan Pitre is a former middle school English language arts/reading teacher.