Christina Waterman

Christina (Christy) Waterman serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at Pacific Oaks College (Pasadena campus), bringing extensive practical experience from preschool leadership roles at institutions including Harry Pregerson Child Care Center, Child Education Center in La Canada, and Burbank Community YMCA.

Her research interests center on progressive early childhood education frameworks, integrating child development theory with practical application. She emphasizes culturally responsive pedagogy, particularly through her work with tribal communities including the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Creek (Muskogee) Nation, Iowa Tribe, Pawnee Nation, and Central Tribes of the Shawnee Area. Her teaching philosophy advocates for inquiry-based learning, family collaboration as co-constructors of education, and development of respectful relationships considering cultural and social influences on child development.

Waterman holds a BA in Psychology from Oklahoma State University (2000) and an MA in Child Development from Tufts University (2002). As an enrolled tribal member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma with Creek descent, she actively incorporates Indigenous perspectives into her educational advocacy.

She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and focuses her professional work on preparing early childhood educators through practical, culturally responsive frameworks that address diverse developmental factors throughout children's lifetimes.