Our Mission and Vision
The NMSU Glass Family Research Institute for Early Childhood Studies seeks to influence policy and practices related to New Mexico’s young children, families, and early childhood educators through contemporary interdisciplinary research, educational degree offerings, university and community lab schools, and collaborative partnerships at the international, national, state, and local level.
Our Vision is to:
- Promote educational equity for communities and institutions through an increased understanding of diversity, inclusion, and social justice practices.
- Conduct research on early childhood teacher preparation to advocate for and increase culturally sustaining pedagogy and linguistically responsive caregiving.
- Strengthen partnerships with agencies, institutions, and communities to better serve the overall well-being of families with young children.
- Create and share resources for children and their families, teachers, teacher candidates, teacher educators, administrators, policy makers, and scholars to facilitate their learning, teaching, professional development, and research.
A Message from the Director
Dr. Angela Owens
It is my honor to welcome you to the Glass Family Research Institute for Early Childhood Studies! My name is Dr. Angela Victoria Enriqueta Owens, and I have served the borderland education community for over 20 years in the areas of early childhood, after-school care, special education, professional development, and leadership. The G.F.R.I. is an interdisciplinary research institute that supports innovative research and service projects that broadly focus on early childhood topics relevant to the southern N.M. area & borderland. This synergistic research space has an array of collaborators who are passionate about early childhood education and care from all over the world. It is physically located on the basement level of the College of Health, Transformation and Social Transformation and was made possible through a generous donation from the Glass Family.
The G.F.R.I. focuses on research projects that provide local and unique perspectives of early childhood stakeholders in our area. I welcome you to stop by our office space that has a variety of flexible seating areas, several beautiful aquariums to help you balance work and mindfulness, and a lactation space for new mothers and families. You can collaborate here with students, faculty, colleagues, and the community. You’ll also get to see our emerging vegetable and sensory garden areas located at O’Donnel Hall, Room 048. Welcome y bienvenidos a todos!
