Megan Purcell

Areas of Expertise

• Educator Preparation, Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Developmental Health and Wellness

Department of Human Development and Family Science Research Area(s)

• Early Childhood Education and Care

Biography

Dr. Megan Purcell is a Clinical Associate Professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. Her primary responsibilities include program coordination, teaching, and field supervision for teacher candidates in the Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs program. Dr. Purcell’s goal is to prepare early childhood educators and early interventionists to provide highly effective, inclusive services for ALL children to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Education

• PhD, 2003, University of Kansas

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Safe Zone

Current Courses

• HDFS 10000 - Orientation to Current Issues in Human Development and Family Studies
• HDFS 40800 - Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education: Issues and Professional Practices
• HDFS 41200 - Music and Movement in Early Childhood
• HDFS 43030 - HDFS Student Mentors
• HDFS 45000 - Supervised Teaching in Inclusive Programs for Young Children

Selected Publications

• Purcell, M., & Ruprecht, K. (2022). Trauma informed practices in early childhood education: Preparing those who care for our youngest learners. In O. Schepers, M. Brennan, & P. Bernhardt (Eds.),Developing trauma-informed teachers: Creating classrooms that foster equity, resiliency, and asset-based approaches: Vol. 1 Contemporary perspectives on developing trauma informed teachers. Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing.
• Dobbs-Oates, J., Elias, C., Purcell, M., & Watkins, N. (2021). Experiential learning from home: The impact of COVID-19 on field-based practices. The Working Paper Series, Navigating Careers in the Academy: Gender, Race, and Class. West Lafayette.
• Ruiz, Y., MacDermid Wadsworth, S. M., Elias, C. M., Marceau, K., Purcell, M. L., Redick, T. S., Richards, E.A., & Schlesinger-Devlin, E. (2020). Ultra-rapid development and deployment of a family resilience program during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from Families Tackling Tough Times Together. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 6(S2), 35-43.
• Schlesinger-Devlin, E., & Purcell, M. (2019). An innovative early childhood laboratory school. In O. N. Saracho (Ed.), Contemporary perspectives on research on laboratory schools in early childhood education. Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing.
• Purcell, M., & Taber-Doughty, T. (2016). Life skills for preschool students with intellectual disability. In R.M. Gargiulo & E. Bouck (Eds.), Instructional strategies for students with mild, moderate, and severe intellectual disability. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Professional Affiliations

• President, Executive Board, Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (2022-2023)
• Member, Indiana Interagency Coordinating Council (2022-2025)
• President Elect, Executive Board, Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (2021-2022)
• Vice President, Executive Board, Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (2020-2021)