Julia Kroeker

Dr. Julia Kroeker is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at Florida Southwestern State College (FSSC), located in Lee, Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and has nine years of teaching experience in preschool and kindergarten. Her research focuses on play-based learning, mixed methods research, and preschool program design. She has published in the Universal Journal of Educational Research and presented at conferences like NAAEE and TASP.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska at Lincoln (2014)
• M.S. in Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska-Omaha (2006)
• B.A. in Elementary Education with Early Childhood Endorsement, Hastings College (2003)

Research Interests:

• Investigates the role of indoor and outdoor play in early childhood education.
• Advocates for play as a critical component of preschool curricula.
• Utilizes mixed methods to analyze child behavior and program effectiveness.

Community Engagement:

• Organizes an annual Pop-Up Adventure Play Day in collaboration with FSSC’s School of Education and Early Childhood students.