May Britt Drugli

May Britt Drugli serves as Professor of Pedagogy at RKBU Midt-Norway (Regional Knowledge Center for Children and Young People - Mental Health and Child Welfare), which is affiliated with the Department of Mental Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She also holds a Professor II position at SePU, Innlandet University College. Her work focuses on bridging research and practice in early childhood education and mental health.

Dr. Drugli earned her Cand. paed degree followed by a Dr. philos. doctorate in 2007 with her thesis titled 'Young children treated because of ODD/CD: conduct problems and social competence in day-care and school settings.' Prior to her academic career, she gained extensive practical experience working in child welfare with young children in Oslo and in developmental roles across kindergartens, schools, child welfare, and health centers in Trondheim municipality.

Her research centers on the critical early years of childhood development, particularly examining small children in kindergarten settings. She investigates how kindergarten quality impacts child development, the importance of teacher-student relationships, connections between kindergarten/school environments and mental health, and the effectiveness of intervention research. Her work emphasizes practical applications that can directly improve early childhood educational practices and child welfare systems.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on stress physiology in young children (particularly cortisol measurement), teacher-child interactions, quality improvement in childcare settings, and the transition experiences of toddlers entering kindergarten. Her research employs mixed methods approaches combining biological markers with qualitative observations and parent/teacher perspectives. A recurring theme is how high-quality interactions and environments can buffer against stress and promote positive developmental outcomes.

Dr. Drugli actively contributes to professional development through her service on the board of the National Development Centre for Children and Young People (NUBU) in Oslo and as a member of the admissions council for PhD candidates at NTNU's Department of Mental Health. She also serves on the Expert Group addressing how kindergarten, school, and early childhood education impact social equalization and mobility. Her teaching primarily connects to her research projects, and she supervises both master's students and PhD candidates.

She leads significant research initiatives including 'Safe before 3' (Trygg før 3), a quality improvement intervention study in 70 kindergartens across 7 municipalities focusing on staff-child interactions, and 'Small and new' (Liten og ny), a public health project developing adjustment models for young children entering kindergarten in Trondheim. These projects exemplify her commitment to translating research into practical applications that directly benefit children, families, and educational professionals.