Faculty/Staff Information

Chair, Division of Education and Leadership; Early Childhood faculty and advisor to students in the Early Childhood program.

Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning-Early Childhood focus, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Educational Administration K-12 Principal, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, MN
M.S. in Special Education: University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, MN
B.S. Early and Exceptional Education, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN

Dr. Cindy Ryan has over 18 years of experience in early intervention/early childhood special education, teaching in inclusive programs across the country. Cindy also has experience in school administration, serving as Early Childhood and Special Education Coordinator for two school districts before moving in higher education.
In addition, Cindy is a proud mother of three grown children, and grandmother to Zephyr, an amazing young boy. Cindy moved to the coast last year (2018), and loves to walk on the beach in search of the treasures that wash up (agates, sea glass, etc.). When looking off her deck, Cindy also enjoys watching whales, sea lions, and sea otters playing in the surf.

You will be an active participant in our class. I consider you a co-teacher, so be ready to take part! We are going to take a journey where you will learn about research-based best practices in early childhood, inclusion, and social justice. You are going to be pushed to dig deep into the topic, and take part in the conversation. 

Early Childhood, Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education

Inclusion, non-traditional students, relationship-based practices

2014-2019 Project PIECE (Promoting Inclusion in Early Childhood Educators), $1,000,000

ED 519 Poverty, Young Children and their Families

ED 520 Global Perspectives in Early Childhood

ED 548 Early Childhood Curriculum

ED 585 Leadership in Early Childhood

ED 603 Professional Project

ED 603 Thesis

ED 633 Research and Writing

ED 689 Contemporary Children’s and Young Adult Literature in the Classroom

SPED 682 Contemporary Issues in Special Education

ED 220 Introduction to Early Childhood

ED 231 Typical and Atypical Development

ED 232 Health & Safety Practices in ECE

ED 242 Child Development

ED 250 Inclusive Practices in ECE

ED 259 Special Education and Inclusive Communities

ED 322 Early Childhood Motor Development & Movement Education

ED 324 Creative Arts in ECE

ED 345 Designing Early Childhood Environments

ED 350 Emergent Literacy in ECE

ED 368 Science & Social Studies in Early Childhood Settings

ED 404, 405, 429 Student Teaching Seminar

ED 411, 412, 498 Field Experience

ED 419 Poverty, Young Children and their Families

ED 420 Global Perspectives in ECE

ED 442W Human Development and Learning Through Literacy

ED 443 Developing Literacy

ED 446 Environments for Diverse Learners

ED 448 ECE Curriculum

ED 450 Authorization Specialty: Classroom Management

ED 464 (formerly ED 382) ECE Family and Community Involvement

ED 466 (formerly ED 326) Technology in Inclusive ECE

ED 485 Leadership in ECE