Regena Fails Nelson

Dr. Regena Fails Nelson is a Professor in Early Childhood Education at Western Michigan University's Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies with over 25 years of experience. As Director of the Urban Teacher Residency Program, she leads a $5-million Department of Education initiative to develop culturally competent educators for urban schools. Her research examines school readiness, authentic assessment, and trauma-informed teaching practices.

She has secured over $2 million in grants supporting student-parents and directs the Center for Community Engagement connecting students with community organizations. Her scholarly work appears in Early Childhood Research Quarterly and Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education.