Leslie Couse

Dr. Leslie Couse is a Professor and Executive Director of Engagement and Faculty Development at the University of New Hampshire. She leads programs advancing faculty success and focuses on inclusive teacher education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership development. Her work bridges early childhood education and higher education professional development. She has directed US Ed-funded grants like the UNH Teacher Residency for Rural Education (TRRE), emphasizing rural educator preparation.

**Education**: PhD in Child and Family Development (Syracuse University), M.Ed. in Physical Education (SUNY Brockport), M.S. in Public Administration (Russell Sage College), B.S.Ed. in Physical Education (SUNY Cortland).

**Research Interests**: Inclusive teacher education, technology in early learning, leadership development across career stages, and professional development for educators. She co-authored the *Handbook of Early Childhood Teacher Education* (2016) and contributed to frameworks for rural teacher residencies.

**Grants**: Principal Investigator for UNH-TRRE (2016–2022), Early Childhood Special Education Assistive Technology Project (2012–2019), and leadership-focused initiatives. Her work emphasizes community-university partnerships and policy impact.

**Awards**: None explicitly listed, but she holds editorial board roles (e.g., *Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education*) and governance positions (NAECTE).

**Labs/Teams**: Key contributor to the Research and Engagement Academy for STEM faculty development and the LEND leadership training program.