Dr. Regena Fails Nelson | Professor

2427 Sangren Hall | Phone: (269) 387-3509 | FAX: (269) 387-3880| regena.fails.nelson@wmich.edu

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BIO

Dr. Regena F. Nelson is a Professor in early childhood education with 19 years of research, teaching and consulting experience in the field. She has worked on numerous research studies on school readiness, authentic assessment, early childhood program evaluation, culturally appropriate practices, and mentoring.

Her work has been published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Journal of Research on Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education Journal, Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, and Multicultural Perspectives. She teaches research methods, assessment and child development courses. She coordinates the early childhood graduate and undergraduate programs at WMU in which over 400 students are enrolled.

Dr. Nelson serves on regional, state and national boards of several early childhood organizations affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. Dr. Nelson has served as a consultant for early childhood programs throughout Michigan and the Kamehameha preschool program in Hawaii.

Dr. Nelson received $117,937 from the U.S. Department of Education CCAMPIS program to fund the fourth year of the College Assistance for Parenting and Education project. CAPE provides financial, social and academic support to college students with children. Children’s Place Learning Center at WMU gives CAPE participants a reduced rate for child care. Each semester CAPE sponsors several family events allowing participants to network with each other and with campus staff. Dr. Nelson works closely with all participants, monitoring their academic performance and progress toward graduation.

Currently, she works with local Head Start, state-funded and private preschool programs using a professional development model that places student interns with exemplary preschool teachers. The program has had a significant impact on early childhood education students’ ability to be successful teachers in programs that serve children in poverty.