ECED PhD Program Information

Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education Department believes that students and faculty are reflective partners actively engaged in a continual learning process to gain the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be teachers, researchers, professionals and leaders in early care and education.

Students and Faculty:

• Engage in innovative and effective learning experiences that positively impact their lives as well as children, families and the global community.
• Advocate for the early care and education profession.
• Demonstrate excellence in early care and education through the understanding and application of theory, research and practice in a variety of real-world settings.
• Appreciate the uniqueness of each individual when preparing the teaching and learning environment.
• Honor the culture and diversity of ALL children and families within a changing global and technological society. 

Download the PhD in Early Childhood Education brochure

PhD ECED Brochure

Inquire about availability of PhD Fellowships when applying. Typically fellowships are offered for 3-year periods.

Scholarships

• Clemmer College

  Clemmer College offers a wide array of scholarships to accepted prospective students and currently enrolled ETSU students majoring in an academic program housed within Clemmer College. 

  Learn more

• Graduate School

  Scholarships, Grants, and Assistantships

  DEADLINES: All materials must be submitted by the following deadlines:

  • Fall Semester - July 1
  • Spring Semester - November 1
  • Summer Semester - April 1

  International Merit Scholarship

  Quillen Graduate Scholarship

  Regional Scholarships

  Program Specific Scholarships: See the Clemmer College Tab on this PhD Program Web Page

  Assistantship Information

  Research Grants

  Thesis and Dissertation Scholarships

• Diversity Scholarships

  Diversity Incentive Minority Scholarship

  For information please contact:

  
  Special Assistant to the President for Equity and Diversity
  Affirmative Action Director
  423.439.4445
  
  

  Southern Regional Education Board

  • Doctoral Scholars Program
  • The program’s goal is to produce more minority Ph.D students who seek careers as faculty on college campuses.

Program Graduates

• Saundra Stiles 2025

  

  Dissertation Title: A Qualitative Case Study Describing Behaviors of Preschoolers in Forest Schools

  Co-Chairs: Drs. Broderick & Evanshen

• Kehinde Helen Orimaye 2025

  

  Helen is an education resource coach at the University of Missouri--Kansas City. She also is the founder of readymathematicians.org.

  Dissertation Title: Preschool Teachers' Perspectives on Conceptual Movement in Academic Instruction: A Mixed-Methods Study with Implications for Early Math

  Chair: Dr. Lange

• Karen Dumas 2025

  

  Karen is an early childhood education instructor at Carlisle Area School District in Pennsylvania.

  Dissertation Title: Reading Between the Lines: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Teachers' Understanding and Implementation of the Science of Reading

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Ruth Copeland 2025

  

  Ruth is a freelance early childhood special education consultant in Knoxville, TN.

  Dissertation Title: The Importance of the Relationship Between General and Special Education Co-Teachers in Inclusive Preschool Programs

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Jessica Carter 2025

  

  Dissertation Title: Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn: A Qualitative Investigation of Inquiry-Based Learning and Metacognition in Preschools.

  Chair: Dr. Broderick

• Amani Alhassan 2025

  

  Dissertation Title: Integrated STEM Education for In-Service K-5 Elementary Teacher: Definitions, Self-Efficacy, and Teaching Practices

  Chair: Dr. Lange

• Fatimah Ahmed Rubayyi 2024

  

  Fatimah is teaching at Jazan University's Department of Education in Jizan, Saudi Arabia.

  Dissertation Title: The Perspectives and Experiences of Arabic Mothers About Families' Home and School Engagement

  Chair: Dr. Broderick

• Maria José Araujo Dias 2024

  

  Maria is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education at Ball State University.

  Dissertation Title: Exploring Early Childhood Teachers’ Experiences in Teaching Multilingual Children in Public Mainstream Schools in Tennessee

  Chair: Dr. Broderick

• Jennifer Bilbrey 2024

   

  Dissertation Title: Design and Validation of a Test for Teachers: Measuring Knowledge of Trauma

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Patience Mensah-Bonsu Aggrey 2024

  

  Patience is an adjunct faculty member at ETSU.

  Dissertation Title: An Exploration of K-3 Teachers' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Instructional Technology Use Pre-, During, and Post- COVID-19

  Chair: Dr. Evanshen

• Wesam Alshahrani 2024

  

  Wesam is an Early Childhood lecturer at King Khaled University, in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

  Dissertation Title: An Examination of Early Childhood Leadership in Public Elementary Schools: A Mixed Methods Study

  Chair: Dr. Evanshen

• Owale Olubowale 2023

  

  Wale is currently an Assistant Professor at the Metropolitan University of Toronto.

  Dissertation Title: Childhood Trauma in Early Care and Education: Understanding School Administrators' Perceptions.

  Chair: Dr. Evanshen

• Ehichoya Edokhamhen 2023

  

  Ehi is currently an Assistant Professor, Tennessee State University

  Dissertation Title: Building Resilience: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Head Start Teachers Coping During the Covid-19 Pandemic. 

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Katherine Madison 2023

  

  Dissertation Title: Exploration of Privilege and Demographics Associated with Teachers' Self-Efficacy in Culturally Responsive Classroom Management 

   

  Chair: Dr. Malkus

   

• Sonia Yoshizawa 2023

  

  Sonia is currently the Pedagogista/Assistant Director. School name: St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Website: smes.org 

  Dissertation Title: Sound and Music Opportunities in Toddler Learning Environments

  Chair: Dr. Facun-Granadozo

• Kristy Castanon 2023

  

  Kristy is a kindergarten teacher at Rural Retreat Elementary School in Virginia.

  Dissertation Title: Perceptions of Primary Caregivers About Managing their Child's Transition to Kindergarten: A Mixed Methods Study

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Kara Boynewicz 2022

  

  Kara is an Associate Professor in the Rehabilitative Sciences Program at East Tennessee State University.

  Dissertation Title: Early detection of atypical motor and neurobehavior development of infants exposed to opiates: A prospective study

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Guillermo Mendoza 2022

  

  Guillermo is Chief of Staff at Northeast State Community College.

  Dissertation Title: Examining Teachers Referral and Placement Decisions for Gifted and Talented Programs of Hispanic Children

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Tahani Ahmed 2022

  

  Dissertation Title: An Investigation of the Relationship Between Teachers’ Personal Epistemologies and Their Self-Efficacy About Culturally Responsive Classroom Management

  Chair: Dr. Malkus

• Qiuji Tian 2022

  

  Qiuju (Daisy) is an Assistant Professor at Kean University.

  Dissertation Title: The Impact of an Integrated STEM Collaborative Approach on Early Childhood and Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Curricular Role Identity for Teaching Science.

  Chair: Dr. Lange

• Narges Sareh 2020

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Narges is an Assistant Professor at East Tennessee State University.

  Dissertation Title: The relationship between the amount of time spend in block center and gender differences in preschool children’s spatial performance.

  Chair: Dr. Lange

• Randa Dunlap 2020

  

   

   

   

   

  Randa is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood at the Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

  Dissertation Title: Determining if Classroom Pets as part of an Empathy-Based Intervention Affect Public Elementary Students ' Empathy.

  Chair: Dr. Malkus

• Tara Voit 2020

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Tara Voit is currently an adjunct professor at Santa Fe Community College.

  Dissertation Title: Head Start Preschool Teachers’ Perceptions of Reggio Emilia
  Principles Practiced Within Their
  Own Setting: A Case Study.

  Chair: Dr. Broderick

• Tsitsi Nyabando 2019

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Tsitsi is currently an Assistant Professor at Eastern New Mexico University

  Dissertation Title: Second Grade Students’ Perceptions of Their Classrooms’ Physical Learning Environment.

  Chair: Dr. Evanshen

• Michael Garrett 2018

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Michael Garrett is currently teaching in the Math and Statistics Department at ETSU.

  Dissertation Title: Seeing the World Differently. An Exploration of a Professional Development Model Bridging Science and Lay Cultures.

  Chair: Dr. Broderick

• Rebekah Taylor 2018

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Rebekah Taylor is an adjunct professor for ETSU.

  Dissertation Title: A Mixed Methods Exploration of East Tennessee Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions, Knowledge, Practices, and Resources of Critical Literacy.

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Hongxia Zhao 2018

  

   

   

   

   

  Hongxia Zhao is currently an Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University, Carlsbad.

  Dissertation Title: Examining Contributors to Preschoolers’ Classroom Engagement using Structural Equation Modeling.

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Stephanie Stephens 2018

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Dissertation Title: Teachers’ response to infants’ nonverbal communication and use of response to facilitate a dialogue.

  Chair: Dr. Geiken

• Cathy Landy 2018

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Cathy Landy is currently working as a contractor for the Upper TN River Roundtable as a Save Our Streams coordinator

  Dissertation Title: The State of Outdoor Education in Northeast Tennessee: Preschool Teacher Attitudes Toward Outdoor Education.

  
  Chair: Dr. Malkus

• Jennifer Lynberg 2018

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Jennifer is an Assistant Professor at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

  Dissertation Title: Teachers and their perceptions about adaptive skill training within an Early Childhood comprehensive development classroom for students with intellectual disabilities.

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Brandie Maness 2018

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Brandie (Maness) Dillman is the founder and behavior consultant at Root & Bloom Behavior Consulting.

  Dissertation Title: Preschool Teachers’ Perceptions of Children Prenatally Exposed to Drugs.

  Chair: Dr. Trivette

• Gina Wohlford 2018

  

   

   

   

   

  Gina Wohlford is currently Superintendent of Norton City Schools, Norton, VA.

  Dissertation Title: Observation and Interpretation: Teachers’ beliefs and the impact of intervention on teachers’ meaningful conversations with children in preschool programs

  Chair: Dr. Broderick

• Michelle Johnson 2017

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Michelle Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Nutrition Program, Department of Allied Health Sciences, ETSU. She is also Dietetic Intern Director & Consultant Dietitan.

  Dissertation Title: Design and Validation of a Scale for Preschoolers: Measuring Nutrition Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors.

  Chair: Dr. Malkus

• Kim Austin 2017

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Kimberly is currently an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at Southwest Virginia Community College.

  Dissertation Title: Parental Perceptions of Preschool Age Children’s Literacy Development in a Rural Appalachian Community.

  Chair: Dr. Hale

• Teresa Boggs 2016

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Teresa is an Associate Professor and the Director of Clinical Services for Speech-Language Pathology at ETSU.

  Dissertation Title: The effects of environmental modifications and visual supports in the home on engagement and challenging behaviors in children with autism.

  Chair: Dr. Evanshen

• Lori Hamilton 2016

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Lori Hamilton is currently an Assistant Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University.

  Dissertation Title: Teachers perceptions of intensive professional development in the Daily Five™ in literacy instruction: A multiple case study.

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Jill Leonard 2015

  

  Jill is the Coordinator of Early Intervention, Pre-K/K at the Washington County School System.

  Dissertation Title: Professional Learning Communities as a Professional Development Model Focusing on Instructional Practices Used to Teach Writing in Early Childhood

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Charity Hensley 2015

  

   

   

   

   

   

  Charity Hensley is an Assistant Professor at Emory & Henry College.

  Dissertation Title:  Use of the Physical Classroom Environment as a Teaching & Learning Tool Including the Impact of the Common Core State Standard Initiative in Kindergarten through Third Grade Primary Classrooms in Northeast Tennessee.

  Chair:  Dr. Evanshen

• Kim Cassidy 2015

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Kim Cassidy recently is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Shawnee State University in Ohio.

  Dissertation Title:  Determining if Grandparents as Primary Caregivers of Pre-K through Third Grade Students in Northeast Tennessee Perceive Delivery of Information and  Services as Effective in Decreasing Chronic Absence.

  Chair: Dr. Malkus

• Ruth Facun-Granadozo 2014

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Ruth Facun-Granadozo is currently an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at East Tennessee State University.

  Dissertation Title: Developing Mastery in Phonemic Awareness and Morphemic Awareness: A Multiple Case Study of Preservice Early Childhood Educators.

  Link to article on Ruth's research in Illuminated, in the ETSU Graduate School student research magazine.

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Angie Baker 2014

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Angie Baker is an Assistant Professor at King College.

  Dissertation Title: An Exploratory Critical Study of Questioning Strategies Posed by Early Childhood Teachers During Literacy Blocks.

  Chair: Dr. Sharp

• Helen Lane 2012

  

   

   

   

   

   

  ETSU Early Childhood Faculty pose with Dr. Helen Lane, the first recipient of the ETSU Early Childhood Program PhD.

  Click here to read an article about Dr. Helen Lane receiving the first ETSU doctoral degree in Early Childhood in the Johnson City Press.

  Dissertation Title: Influences of Caregiver-Child Interactions and Temperament on Cortisol Levels of Toddlers in Full-Day Childcare.

  Chair: Dr. Gloeckler