Online Bachelor of Science Early Childhood Education

Dr. Laura Dinehart, Program Developer and Faculty
Laura Dinehart is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education and the Executive Director of the School of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on the developmental and early academic outcomes of young children within the context of the early care and education environment. Beyond her research, Laura has served as the Chair of the Department of Leadership and Professional Studies and Chair of the Faculty Senate Committee for Online Learning.

Dr. Daniela Fenu Foerch, Program Leader and Faculty
Daniela Fenu Foerch is an Instructor of Early Childhood Education and the Program Director of the Early Childhood Fully Online Undergraduate Program within the School of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on the nurturing of Emotional Intelligence in young children. Daniela is active in program and curriculum development. Daniela has published several articles in the area of early childhood education. Aside from her teaching and research, Daniela serves as the Principal Investigator for the QIRS and Developmental Assessment Programs at FIU.

Dr. Andrea Adelman, Faculty
Dr. Adelman received her doctoral degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood, from the University of Miami. Dr. Adelman’s areas of specialization include: special education, assessment, behavioral management, family-centered practices, child development, teaching diverse students, cultural competence, and culturally responsive instruction. In addition to teaching and mentoring undergraduate students, Dr. Adelman is active in several research projects and program/curriculum development.  
Dr. Adelman has conducted published research in the areas of: preservice teacher education and field experiences, effective behavioral management, connecting language and behavior in early childhood, early intervention for mild to moderate language impairments, efficacy of a merged, dual certification program for special education and elementary education, effective vocabulary strategies in early childhood, structured video observation for the purposes of professional development, and teacher training for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Angela K. Salmon, Faculty
Associate Professor and Director of the Early Childhood Program at Florida International University, founder of the Visible Thinking South Florida initiative. She is Habits of Mind Certified and Consultant. Her long-standing partnership with Project Zero at Harvard University and Institute Habits of Mind has evolved into numerous research initiatives, national and international lectures, and publications. Her research interests in the interplay between cognition, language and literacy development led to research in areas like children’s theory of mind, habits of mind, executive functions, metacognition, language and literacy development, teacher’s discourse in the classroom. Her research draws from teachers’ action research initiatives that she coaches. Dr. Salmon’s work has been featured in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Ecuador, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama, and other countries. She is currently chairing the 18th International Conference on Thinking.