Ilene R. Berson

Dr. Ilene R. Berson is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of South Florida (USF), where she coordinates the Early Childhood Doctoral Program within the Department of Teaching and Learning. She also holds affiliate faculty appointments in Learning Design and Technology and Qualitative Research. Her scholarly work focuses on the intersection of technology, inquiry-based learning, and children’s civic identity, with a particular emphasis on participatory pedagogies in digital environments.

• Major research themes include digital citizenship, visual research methods, and the integration of primary sources in early childhood curricula.
• She has co-developed the KidCitizen app, funded by the Library of Congress, to foster civic engagement through digital tools.

Her recent research trends, including the award-winning article Cultivating Wonder, highlight strategies for embedding inquiry and authentic engagement in early childhood social studies education. Other publications examine topics such as culturally specific primary sources, cybersecurity in the classroom, and historical thinking in pre-K-12 settings.

Scientific awards include:

• 2025 Taylor & Francis Outstanding Article Award (with Michael Berson)
• USF President’s Award for Women in Leadership
• USF Institute on Black Life Service Award
• American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group Distinguished Service Award
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Excellence in Evaluation Award

Dr. Berson has secured competitive funding from the National Science Foundation, Library of Congress, Spencer Foundation, and Florida Department of Health to advance digital well-being and civic engagement in early education. She also serves on the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Advisory Board and leads community partnerships with institutions like the Tampa Bay History Center Education Committee.