Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner is an Associate Professor in the School of Education, where she teaches in both the PK-3 teacher certification program and the early childhood education graduate program. Her research focuses on the application of educational philosophies in child development settings and the impact of stress on teachers and children in early care environments. Her work has been widely published in respected journals such as the Journal of Health Psychology, Early Child Development and Care, and the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education. Dr. Baumgartner brings a wealth of practical experience from directing early child development laboratory schools and teaching courses on critical perspectives in early childhood education, child development, and stress management in educational settings. She also serves as co-faculty advisor for LSU’s student chapter of the Association for the Education of Young Children.

Recognized for her contributions to education, Dr. Baumgartner has received several prestigious awards, including the 2013 Distinguished Education Research Article Award from the Journal of Research in Childhood Education and LSU’s 2011 Tiger Athletic Foundation Teaching Award. Her research and funded projects include studies on teacher stress, emotional well-being, and social support networks in early childhood education. Beyond her academic roles, she contributes significantly to the field through national service, including membership on the Early Education and Child Development SIG Executive Committee of the American Educational Research Association and as a long-time member of the editorial board for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education.

Ingrid Anderson, Ed.D., is an associate professor of practice at Portland State University, working in both the College of Education and the School of Social Work. Dr. Anderson is the program coordinator for the online Infant/Toddler Mental Health (ITMH) graduate certificate and works with Trauma Informed Oregon. Dr. Anderson leads initiatives that foster interdisciplinary and innovative community partnerships, creating opportunities for professional development, research, advocacy, and services to children and families.  

Dr. Anderson’s research focuses on well-being in early childhood and the emotional lives of early childhood educators. She has secured over $6M since 2015 for student scholarships and research. Her current work focuses on supporting early childhood educators in rural Oregon, working to support culturally sustaining educational models in early childhood coursework professional development, and in early childhood mental health and trauma informed practices. In 2019, Dr. Anderson was named the College of Education Researcher of the Year and, in 2022, a Foundation for Child Development Young Scholar.

Dr. Anderson is a recognized advocate for integrating digital and physical learning environments in early childhood settings. Her project, Playing in Digital Spaces: Combining Physical and Digital Environments Together, funded by the Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood, explores innovative ways to enrich early learning experiences through digital integration. She is part of a consortium exploring Sustainability in Early Childhood Education.

Dr. Anderson works with early childhood education programs across the US and in Singapore and Peru. She is a member of the Oregon Child Care Research Partnership, and she serves on the Boards of the Oregon Child Development Coalition (seasonal and migrant Head Start) and Teaching Preschool Partners. Her books from Redleaf Press include Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Strength-Based Approach for Early Childhood Educators and Caring for Self: A Workbook for Early Childhood Educator Wellbeing. You can access the Workbook for Early Childhood Educator Wellbeing for free through The Ford Family Foundation Select Books if you live or work in Oregon.

She finds great joy in cooking the traditional recipes of her childhood. You can find her most weekends cooking arroz con gandules for family and friends, spending time reading, or exploring the Pacific Northwest.