معرفی
Will Parnell, Ed.D., serves as Professor of Early Childhood Education at Portland State University's College of Education, where he also acts as Pedagogical Liaison to the Helen Gordon Child Development Center. He previously served two 3-year terms as Department Chair of the Curriculum and Instruction Department and currently holds leadership positions as Foundation President of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Education and Founder of the Inventing Remida Portland project.
Dr. Parnell completed his doctorate in education at Portland State University in 2005. His educational background has informed his extensive work in Reggio-inspired practices, where he focuses on making listening and learning visible and valued through children's creative expression and representational work.
Parnell's research centers on meaning-making through early childhood education arts-based narrative-building processes that directly inform classroom practices. His work challenges traditional early childhood research methodologies by emphasizing the importance of documenting and making visible young children's learning experiences. He approaches education through the lens of rethinking readiness in the early years and creating innovative learning designs that honor children's full participation in their educational journeys.
His scholarly output shows a consistent focus on qualitative and arts-based research methodologies within early childhood contexts. The publications reveal a trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated approaches to understanding children's lived experiences through narrative, documentation, and creative expression. His work demonstrates how research can be both rigorous and respectful of children as full participants in their learning processes.
- 2020 Society of Professors of Education Book Award Honorable Mention for 'Meaning Making in Early Childhood Research'
As an active researcher, Dr. Parnell serves as Principal Investigator on three research grants totaling $2.5 million in funding. He mentors numerous doctoral candidates across the United States and Australia, extending his influence beyond his immediate institution. His work with the Inventing Remida Portland project represents a significant contribution to sustainable educational practices through creative reuse materials.
Through the Helen Gordon Child Development Center and his global consulting work, Parnell has established networks that connect educational theory with practical implementation across diverse cultural contexts including the United States, Canada, China, Australia, Bulgaria, and Denmark.
