Lyndsey Benharris

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR/DEPARTMENT CHAIR/GRADUATE PROGRAM CHAIR
Education School of Education
Lyndsey Benharris, Education Department Chair
978.665.3539 Office: McKay 108B
Office Hours
Spring 2024

Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30-10:45am
-Department Chair
-Undergraduate Program Chair for the BSE in Early Education and Care
-Graduate Program Chair for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and M.Ed. Elementary Education

Biography

Dr. Lyndsey Benharris is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education. Dr. Benharris is the  Chair of the Education Department. She has an excellent knowledge of early childhood classrooms, with eleven years of experience as an early childhood special education teacher and two years in a regular classroom. As part of her duties at the Early Learning Center in Rhode Island, Lyndsey served as the chair of IEP evaluations for the early childhood program. Lyndsey was an adjunct professor at Rhode Island College where she taught courses in science and social studies methods. In 2016 Lyndsey completed her doctoral work in Education at the University of Rhode Island. Her dissertation was titled: Exploring Critical Literacy with Early Childhood Educators.

Courses Taught

Observation, Documentation & Assessment in Early Years (EDUC 3090)
Early Childhood Literacy (EDUC 3095)
Community Practicum (EDUC 4001)
Community Practicum Seminar (EDUC 4002)
DAP Programs in Early Childhood Education (EDUC 3023)
Investigations in Science & Social Studies in Early Childhood Education (EDUC 3055)
Early Math for Early Childhood Educators (EDUC 3040)
Science & Social Studies for Diverse Learners (SPED 3150)

Background

Ph.D., University of Rhode Island
M.Ed., Lesley University
B.A., Salve Regina University

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS and CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Self-Reflections on Critical Retellings- Our Process of Revisiting the Cultural Myths of Christopher Columbus through an Indigenous Lens- New England Educational Research Organization- April, 2020 Paper Accepted, Conference Cancelled due to pandemic 
  • Why Untold Stories Matter: The Missing Voices of the People of First Contact- Literacy Essentials- April, Proposal Accepted, Conference Cancelled due to pandemic
  • Benharris, L., (2020) The LGBTQ+ movement towards equity: Historical perspectives and social justice implications. In S. T. Brand & L.E. Ciccomascola (Eds.), Social justice and putting theory into practice in schools and communities (pp. 96-110). Philadelphia, PA: IGI Global Publishing.
  • Critical Retellings- The Process of Revisiting the Cultural Myths of Christopher Columbus through an Indigenous Lens- International Literacy Association, New Orleans, LA-October 10, 2019
  • Reflective Discussion of Critical Literacy in Early Childhood- New England Educational Research Organization- April 28, 2019
  • Sowing New Ground: A Reflective Discussion of Critical Literacy and Civic Engagement in a Diverse, Urban, Elementary School – A Longer Conversations – Massachusetts Association for College and University Reading Educators Research Roundtable – MACURE Luncheon – June 1, 2018
  • Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education- New England Faculty Development Consortium- June 9, 2018
  • Sowing New Ground: A Reflective Discussion of Critical Literacy and Civic Engagement in a Diverse, Urban, Elementary School – Massachusetts Association for College and University Reading Educators Research Roundtable – MRA Conference – April 10, 2018
  • How Literacy Class Can Liberate Underprivileged Populations: Critical Literacy and Marginalized Populations- Graduate Research Conference-University of Rhode Island- 2016

Served as active and contributing member of and/or submitted proposal, papers, manuscripts and/or creative work -

  • MRA
  • ILA
  • NAEYC
  • MAEYC