Education

The Teachers Among Us
Eastern’s tradition of preparing exceptional educators continues

Eastern’s deepest roots are in education. Since opening its doors in 1889 as the Willimantic State Normal School, preparing skilled and compassionate teachers has been a pillar of...

Posted on October 26, 2026 by Kyle Berson '26

Where Play Meets Purpose
20 years of the Child and Family Development Resource Center

When a group of toddlers walks into the playroom at the Margaret S. Wilson Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC), they seem like typical preschoolers — curious, noisy, and...

Posted on October 26, 2026 by Savannah Striano ’25

Banned Books Week event examines the state of censorship
'Let books be. Protect the freedom to read'

Eastern faculty, alumni, and guest speakers examined the state of censorship at a Banned Books Week-inspired event on Oct. 6. Titled “An Update: Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read and...

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Kyle Berson '26

Lee and Dancik take on cyberbullying research
‘A true interdisciplinary collaboration’

A pair of Eastern Connecticut State University professors have joined forces to research cyberbullying. Education Professor Kwangwon Lee and computer science Professor Garrett Dancik linked their...

Posted on September 16, 2026 by Noel Teter ’24

Early childhood experts weigh in on Dolly Parton’s literacy legacy
From Imagination Library to Lily Pad Lending, ‘literacy strengthens communities’

Dolly Parton left behind more than a musical legacy following her passing on Aug. 25. The country music icon was also a philanthropist and a staunch advocate for early childhood literacy....

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Kyle Berson '26

CFDRC expands childhood STEAM learning through grant

The Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University recently received a $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (CFECT) to...

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Savannah Striano ‘25

Child and Family Development Resource Center celebrates 20 years

Eastern Connecticut State University's Child and Family Development Resource Center celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 26, marking two decades of serving children, families, and future...

Posted on July 01, 2026 by Savannah Striano '25

Academic year closes with 7 faculty, staff awardees

Seven faculty and staff members received University and Board of Regents awards at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year, representing the best of excellence in teaching and service to the...

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Noel Teter '24

Education alumni awarded for teaching excellence
Jake Paciotti ‘21 and Laina Rivers M‘18 recognized

What does it mean to be an outstanding teacher? For Eastern alumni Jake Paciotti ‘21 and Laina Rivers M‘18, it means going above and beyond both inside and outside of the classroom....

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Kyle Berson '26

VIDEO: ‘Fun Mud Day’ mediates mini-shenanigans

Adorable antics were abundant during Fun Mud Day on May 1 at Eastern's Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC). The 12th annual event encourages young children to get dirty as...

Posted on May 05, 2026 by Elisabeth Craig '26

VIDEO: Students shine at CREATE conference

Student research and creative activity took center stage at Eastern Connecticut State University on April 24 during the annual CREATE conference, a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate...

Posted on May 04, 2026 by Michael Rouleau

4 alumni take the helm as school principals

Since its founding in 1889 as a normal school tasked with preparing primary school teachers, Eastern Connecticut State University has seen thousands of teaching candidates graduate to become...

Posted on January 08, 2026 by Ed Osborn

Brian Betesh ‘05 named Connecticut Teacher of the Year

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker recognized Eastern alum Brian Betesh ’05 as the 2026 Connecticut Teacher of the Year this...

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Eastern hosts New England conference for English teachers

Eastern welcomed English educators from across New England on Oct. 25 for the 123rd annual New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE) conference. Hosted in partnership with the...

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Fun Mud Day brings spirited fun for young children

Eastern’s Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) hosted children from its program and from E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield for its 11th annual “Fun Mud Day.” The...

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig

Eastern names 2025 Barnard Scholars
Two graduating seniors earn CSCU's top honor

Eastern Connecticut State University has named its two 2025 recipients of the Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award, the most prestigious undergraduate honor given by the Connecticut State...

Posted on May 07, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Student attendees at SHAPE American Convention and Exposition

Physical education students win big at SHAPE national convention

Eight physical education (PE) students at Eastern Connecticut State University earned top accolades at the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention and...

Posted on May 07, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Award-winning children’s author shares insights with education students
Newbery Honoree Kyle Lukoff visits campus

Eastern welcomed acclaimed children’s author Kyle Lukoff to an educational lecture, Q&A session, and book signing on March 25. The event, attended by more than 40 students, faculty, and...

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Alumna Jessica Chapman ’11 wins prestigious Milken Educator Award
Chapman is Connecticut’s only 2024 recipient, one of 45 nationwide

Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Jessica Chapman ’11, a history and social studies teacher at Norwich Free Academy (NFA), was recently surprised with one of the nation’s top...

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Noel Teter '24

Literacy event unites authors, families, teachers in love of reading

Children and families filled Eastern’s Child and Family Development Resource Center on Sept. 17 for a childhood literacy event titled “Read a Book, Love a Book: Developing...

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Kyle Berson

CECE wins Telly Award for video on children’s music development

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) recently won a Telly Award for a video involving music development in childhood education.

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Noel Teter

Eastern faculty win BOR teaching and research awards

Three Eastern faculty members were recognized at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year as part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) annual Board of Regents Faculty...

Posted on June 03, 2024 by Ed Osborn

Eastern inducts hundreds into honor societies in spring 2024

More than 20 academic programs and departments at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized student achievements this spring 2024 semester during honor society inductions and award ceremonies.

Posted on May 16, 2024

Education students visit schools in Puerto Rico

The Department of Education at Eastern sponsored a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, this past spring semester to expose students to the different education environments between the island and...

Posted on May 01, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Outstanding future professionals honored at national physical education conference

Two students from Eastern Connecticut State University recently traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for the SHAPE America National Convention — the nation’s leading convention for health and...

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Marcus Grant

Moorehead opens Women's Center series with talk on self-mentorship

Tanya Moorehead, professor of special education at Eastern Connecticut State University, spoke to students at the inaugural Women’s Center “She Leans In” event. Drawing from her...

Posted on March 01, 2024 by Marcus Grant

Plots that pivot on the gothic and gruesome
Eastern professor publishes dictionary of horror stories

Wolfmen, witches, vampires and zombies loom in tales told by humans for more than 6,000 years. That history is chronicled in a new book by a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University titled...

Posted on January 09, 2024 by Lucinda Weiss

4 advanced graduate programs move fully online this spring

Four accelerated online graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working professionals will begin at Eastern Connecticut State University in the Spring 2024 semester, with master’s...

Posted on December 06, 2023 by Cindy Weiss

Eastern students stand out at physical education conference

Physical education students stand out at state conference
Eastern wins College Bowl second year in a row

Eastern’s physical education majors won the College Bowl at the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHPERD) fall conference on Nov. 16 and 17,...

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Eastern's preschool staff present on dramatic retelling

Two representatives from Eastern’s Child and Family Development Research Center (CFDRC) recently presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children in Nashville, TN....

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

Eastern undergrads present research at liberal arts conference

Eastern represents at regional liberal arts conference

Fifteen Eastern Connecticut State University students made the long drive to Mahwah, NJ, on Oct. 27 to present their research on topics ranging from history to coding. The presentations at the...

Posted on November 07, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Honors history students present at New England conference

The education of children in Japanese American relocation camps in the United States during World War II, and the threats posed to democracy by corporate interests near the turn of the 20th...

Posted on November 02, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Success Scholars students and faculty gather for a photo in spring 2023.

Success Scholars program fosters 'STEM identity'

University students see themselves many ways based on different things they do. This idea sparked a research interest in Laura Rodriguez, assistant professor of education at Eastern Connecticut...

Posted on November 01, 2023 by Noel Teter

Teachers from campus preschool present on nurturing curiosity

Five teachers from the Child and Family Development Resource Center at Eastern Connecticut State University have conducted research on the importance of nurturing a child’s curiosity and...

Posted on November 01, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

More high school students earn credits at Eastern with dual enrollment

A growing number of high school students in Connecticut are enrolling in courses that can earn credits at Eastern Connecticut State University under a dual enrollment program that recently received...

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Students can travel the world via 5 global field courses in 2024

Students will be able to travel the world with their Eastern peers during five global field courses in the coming spring/summer 2024 semesters. Departments offering courses include education,...

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Alumnus Ryan Kelly named East Haddam's Teacher-of-the-Year

Eastern Connecticut State University alumnus Ryan Kelly ’18 was recently named Teacher-of-the-Year in East Haddam. He credits much of his success and drive to the influence of his professors...

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Veteran Andrew Shetland receives Future STEM Teacher scholarship

Andrew Shetland ’25, a U.S. Army veteran, father and graduate candidate at Eastern, received a Future STEM Teacher scholarship from TEACH Connecticut, a nonprofit founded by the U.S....

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Eastern again cited as a ‘College of Distinction’

Eastern Connecticut State University is a “College of Distinction” for the 2023-24 academic year, a designation given by an organization of the same name that evaluates undergraduate...

Posted on June 06, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

CECE wins eighth Telly award for video on how books can create inclusive classrooms

A video released this past fall by the Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) at Eastern Connecticut State University on “Using Children’s Books to Help Build Inclusive...

Posted on June 01, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Campus playground awash with mud and mayhem
Fun Mud Day makes post-pandemic return

The typically orderly playground of the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) devolved into muddy chaos on May 5 for the preschool’s annual Fun Mud Day. For two hours, children...

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Michael Rouleau

Internships lend real-world experience in spring 2023

Nearly 100 Eastern Connecticut State University students completed internships in the spring 2023 semester. Students explored a variety of opportunities on and off campus that related to their...

Posted on May 01, 2023 by Molly Boucher

Education research looks at autistic toddlers’ social turn-taking

A new method for parents of autistic toddlers to encourage their children to take turns in social communications is the focus of an Eastern Connecticut State University research team in the Center...

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Grace Lin speaking at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Author Grace Lin reflects on worldview granted by children's books
Award-winning author graces Visiting Writers Series

Grace Lin, award-winning children’s author and illustrator, visited Eastern Connecticut State University’s campus on April 5 to talk about, “Windows and Mirrors of your...

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Jack Jones

Physical education students win national college bowl

For the second year in a row and fourth year overall, Eastern physical education teacher candidates have won the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National College Bowl.

Posted on April 03, 2023 by Ed Osborn and Michael Rouleau

Eastern graduate and CECE research assistant Stefanie Dominguez ’17 sits in front of the remote video recording technology she used to conduct research for her honors thesis.

Early childhood education videos reach 5 million YouTube views

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) reached a new milestone on March 23 when it passed 5 million views on its YouTube channel. The center is a...

Posted on March 23, 2023

Student leaders attend IMPACT Conference on civic engagement

Six student leaders at the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) at Eastern Connecticut State University attended the recent IMPACT Conference on civic engagement for students from colleges around...

Posted on March 08, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

"Writing a Watertight Thesis" book cover.

Fabrizi's book offers tips for a 'watertight' thesis

Mark Fabrizi, associate professor of education at Eastern Connecticut State University, has published “Writing a Watertight Thesis, 2nd edition,” with Bloomsbury Publishing. The first...

Posted on February 09, 2023 by Molly Boucher

EastConn grant brings elementary students to Eastern’s campus

An interdistrict grant from EastConn, a public, nonprofit regional educational service agency, brought fifth-grade students from several nearby communities to Eastern Connecticut State...

Posted on February 09, 2023 by Noel Teter

Eastern requests nominations for spring 2023 excellence awards

Eastern Connecticut State University is requesting nominations for its annual excellence awards. Each year, Eastern presents six excellence awards to employees who made outstanding contributions to...

Posted on February 07, 2023 by Noel Teter

Alumna Elaine Hill ’17 wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Elaine Hill ’17 was surprised with one of the nation’s most prestigious education awards, the Milken Educator Award, on Jan. 12 in a surprise...

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Noel Teter

Eastern preschool teacher co-presents on translanguaging at national conference

Preschool teacher Karla Alamo recently presented with researchers from three universities at the National Association for the Education of Young Children in Washington, D.C. Alamo is a bilingual...

Posted on January 10, 2023

Physical education majors win College Bowl

Six physical education teacher candidates at Eastern placed first in the 13th annual Connecticut Association for Health Physical Education and Dance (CTAHPERD) Dee Perilli College Bowl on Nov. 17...

Posted on December 05, 2022 by Jack Jones

Eastern's teacher preparation programs receive Frank Murray Recognition

Eastern’s teacher preparation programs recently received the 2022 “Frank Murray Recognition for Continuous Improvement” by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator...

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Jack Jones

Bouley’s book on implicit bias makes best-seller list

Eastern Connecticut State University Professor of Education Theresa Bouley recently hit Library Journal’s best-seller list for academic/education-centric books with her latest release,...

Posted on October 04, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Education lecturer aims to ‘gamify’ education
Robert Ford receives Best Article award

Robert Ford, a lecturer for Eastern Connecticut State University’s Education Department, had his research efforts acknowledged for “gamifying” learning techniques within classroom...

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Jack Jones

Eastern students give local preschoolers a summer ‘Jumpstart’
CCE program develops pre-K skills

Four Eastern students are spending their summer working with Willimantic children through the early childhood program known as “Jumpstart.” Through the Center for Community Engagement...

Posted on August 02, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern named a 2022-23 College of Distinction

Colleges of Distinction has recognized Eastern Connecticut State University for a variety of distinctions in its 2022-23 rankings, including badges of distinction for Public Colleges, Connecticut...

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

3 students co-author article on dual language learners

Three Eastern Connecticut State University students have co-authored an article with professor emeritus Jeffrey Trawick-Smith and Julia DeLapp, director of the Center for Early Childhood Education,...

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Students reflect on spring 2022 internships

Eastern Connecticut State University students participated in both on-campus and off-campus internships during the spring 2022 semester. Internship locations ranged from Eastern’s Office of...

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Jacob Blain and Bobbi Brown

SHAPE Bowl team left to right: Sarah Gallagher '23, Cole Paquin '23, Joe Banas '22 and Madeleine McGee '22.

Third win for physical education students at SHAPE Bowl

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Physical Education program continued its tradition of winning the annual Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) College Bowl competition on...

Posted on May 02, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Award-winning illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal discusses journey

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal on April 13. Martinez-Neal gave a book talk on three of her works, shared...

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Xing Liu authors second book on R programming language

Xing Liu, professor of education at Eastern Connecticut State University, recently released his second book, “Categorical Data Analysis and Multilevel Modeling Using R.” The release...

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Molly Boucher

Rezai contributes to 'Fast Fierce Women' book

Niloufar Rezai, director of the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University, has contributed a chapter in the book “Fast Fierce Women.”...

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Physical education students represent state and University
Franchetti and McGee named 'Outstanding Future Professionals'

Eastern Connecticut State University students Alexa Franchetti and Madeleine McGee were recognized as Outstanding Future Professionals by the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education,...

Posted on December 06, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

Bouley co-authors 2 books on inequality and implicit bias in education

Theresa Bouley, professor of education at Eastern Connecticut State University co-authored two recent publications titled “The Economic and Opportunity Gap: How Poverty Impacts the Lives of...

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern students teach of The Amistad’s journey to freedom
Partnership with Discovering Amistad serves Hartford-area middle, high schoolers

Eight students from Eastern Connecticut State University are working with Discovering Amistad this September and October, teaching Hartford-area middle and high school students about the famed...

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Fabrizi, Stoloff present at international 'Literature and Language' conference

David Stoloff and Mark Fabrizi of the Department of Education at Eastern Connecticut State University presented at the two-day virtual international conference “Literature and Language: A...

Posted on September 09, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern offers master’s degree in Special Education
Program to address shortage of special education teachers

To prepare students for the evolving field of special education, Eastern Connecticut State University is offering a new Master of Science in Special Education. The program is an advanced degree for...

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern's early childhood center wins 7th Telly Award
Video investigating play of dual-language learners wins bronze award

The Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) at Eastern Connecticut State University was recently awarded a “Telly Award” for one of its video productions. The video, “A Study...

Posted on June 03, 2021 by Dwight Bachman