Mary Benson McMullen, PhD, is professor of early childhood
education at Indiana University (IU), where she has been on faculty since 1993.
She received a BS from Michigan State Uni...view moreMary Benson McMullen, PhD, is professor of early childhood
education at Indiana University (IU), where she has been on faculty since 1993.
She received a BS from Michigan State University and earned MS and PhD degrees
in child development from Florida State University. During and after her
graduate education, she worked as a teacher of infants, toddlers, and
preschoolers and then as an early childhood program director, before accepting
her position at IU. At IU, she teaches courses to preservice and in-service
early childhood teaching professionals, as well as to doctoral students who
plan to become early childhood teacher education scholars. Mary’s primary
research interests involve factors that influence quality early care and
education for infants and toddlers; the healthy overall growth, development,
learning, and well-being of young children (birth through age 5); teaching
beliefs and practices across cultures and contexts; and factors that influence
and ensure the well-being of professionals who care for young children. She has
published dozens of articles for both research and teaching journals, as well
as numerous book chapters. She is coeditor of the 2019 book The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Care
and Education. Mary lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where she and her husband
of 40 years raised their three sons.view less