Dorothy June Sciarra continues to be an active early childhood educator in a diverse variety of situations. She has served as director of the child development laboratory center at the University of Cincinnati, serving children and families from a wide range of backgrounds. She also served as department head with responsibility for early childhood associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs. She has been involved in several community early childhood efforts including board membership on the University of Cincinnati Early Learning Center. She is active in 4C, a National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, and has participated tirelessly on many of its Agency training committees. She is a recipient of the 4C Early Childhood Award and was the first recipient of the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children's Early Childhood Teacher Educator Award. In 2007, 4C again recognized Dr. Sciarra's work by naming the 4C library in her honor. Dr. Sciarra has mentored many early childhood educators, including coauthor Anne Dorsey. Together they also wrote LEADERS AND SUPERVISORS IN CHILD CARE PROGRAMS (Delmar Cengage Learning). In 2010, Dr. Sciarra and Professor Dorsey were honored with the United Way Impact Award for their work in promoting appropriate early childhood education.
Ellen M. Lynch is associate professor of early childhood education at the University of Cincinnati. Her doctorate is in special education with a focus on early childhood special education. She has been active in local and state early childhood organizations, including the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (OAEYC), for which she served as chair of the Children with Special Needs Committee; the state Board of Directors; and the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children. Additionally, she served as president of the Ohio Coalition of Associate Degree Early Childhood Programs. Dr. Lynch's current scholarly interests include engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and exploring the use of technology to support learning among preservice teachers. She is both an editor and reviewer for several problem-based learning journals. She has presented widely at local, state, national, and international levels on a variety of aspects of teaching young children, teacher education, and best practices for teaching in higher education.
Shauna M. Adams (Ed.D., Early Childhood and Special Education, University of Cincinnati) is a professor of early childhood at the University of Dayton (UD), where she also serves as the executive director of the Center for Early Learning. Dr. Adams has taught graduate and undergraduate students in such courses as child development, preschool methods and primary methods. She also teaches early childhood advocacy, research and leadership. In her role as executive director, Dr. Adams promotes opportunities for the Bombeck Family Learning Center to serve pre-service and in-service early childhood professionals as a demonstration school and forum for professional development. She also advocates for children and families by serving on local and state committees that support quality early care and education, and she serves UD's mission by supporting Catholic early childhood programming. Dr. Adams became immersed in early care and education through her work with the Bombeck Family Learning Center and has established partnerships with Head Start, public school preschool and other early childhood education programs. She also partners with a variety of agencies that support young children and families. She has worked with community partners to develop UD's online Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy programs. She is also the lead author of the ACCESS Curriculum series and has produced articles, conducted presentations, developed websites and pursued other outlets to share this curriculum with the field of early childhood education.
Anne G. Dorsey is Professor Emeritus at the University of Cincinnati. She began her ECE career working in the Child Life Department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Three sons later, she taught both preschool and college courses while attending graduate school. Locally, Professor Dorsey served on the Committee of Management of YMCA Child Development and continues to serve on the UC Early Learning Center Board, the Promoting Resilient Children Advisory Board, and the SPARK Advisory Board of the Children's Home. She was a member of the NAEYC Ethics Panel, the NAEYC Professional Practice Panel, and the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children Board. Professor Dorsey visited many colleges and universities as a member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Board of Examiners. As a strong supporter of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, she served as secretary, program chair, president, and editor of the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education in its very early format, and served as president of the NAECTE Foundation. She received the OAEYC Teacher Education Award and the NAECTE Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Educator Award.
