West Liberty University’s College of Education is participating in an international delegation study abroad program hosted in Reggio Emilia, Italy — acclaimed for exceptional early childhood education. Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Miriam Roth-Douglas is representing WLU in the delegation.

“We are honored to have the prestigious opportunity to participate in an international delegation with such an esteemed group of colleagues, and to interact and learn from the global leader in early childhood education,” said Dr. Keely Camden, dean of the West Liberty University College of Education.

Dr. Miriam Roth-Douglas

The tour is to study, observe and bring back curriculum principles of the award-winning pre-school and early childhood development techniques of Reggio Emilia, integrated within classrooms worldwide.

“This type of recognition of West Liberty University’s College of Education is a testament to the many developments of our curriculum, the growth in demand of our classes and educational resources and our increased student population,” Camden added.

Roth-Douglas has credentials and international education experience including a 2004 Fulbright Scholarship while at West Virginia University.

She earned a Master’s of Arts in German degree and TESOL at West Virginia University in 2006, a Master’s of Arts in Elementary Education degree with a focus on Art Education at the University of Bamberg-Baemberg, Germany in 2007 and an Interdisciplinary Doctoral in Education degree from West Virginia University in 2011.

Upon conclusion of the international tour, the West Liberty University College of Education will host a series of public events to educate parents, students and teachers about the Reggio principles and their application in the classroom. The event information will be available on the College of Education’s social media pages the week of March 25. (Facebook or Twitter)

In 1991, Newsweek selected a school that used the Reggio Emilia’s approach to preschool education as the best in the world.

Sponsored by West Virginia University’s College of Education, the international delegation also includes top-tier higher education institutions across the country including Columbia, Keene State College, Pierpont College, Portland State University, Towson University, University of Colorado, University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina, University of Vermont, University of Washington and Webster University.