Tara McLaughlin

Associate Professor Tara McLaughlin serves as Head of the Institute of Education at Massey University within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and directs the Early Years Research Lab (www.eyrl.nz). With 25+ years of professional experience across the United States and New Zealand as a teacher, teacher educator, and researcher, she leads academic and professional education programmes at Massey University.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Arts from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2000)
• Master of Education from University of Florida (2003)
• Doctor of Philosophy from University of Florida (2011)

Dr. McLaughlin's research centers on Early Childhood Education and Early Years Education, with significant contributions to teacher education methodologies and practical applications in early learning environments. Her work emphasizes evidence-based approaches to improve educational outcomes for young children.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Judith Duncan Award for Research in Early Childhood Education (2019) from the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, Early Childhood Education Special Interest Group
• Early Career Research Award (2014) from Massey University

As a Doctoral Supervisor, she mentors graduate students and has secured competitive research funding including the Early Career Research Award. She founded and leads the Early Years Research Lab, which conducts interdisciplinary research on early childhood development and educational practices.