School of Education

Brandy James is Program Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Program at IUPUI. Her key research and policy interests include advancing the quality of children's caregiving environments, strategies for promoting family engagement in early intervention programs and understanding of paraprofessional educator and teacher relationship qualities. She is currently working on research related to how pre-service educators understand Anti-Bias Education and Equity Practices in Online Teacher Prep Programs. She is currently developing professional development for early childhood special educators and paraprofessionals on building collaborative practices within the working relationships.

• PhD. Elementary Education, 2020, Ball State University
• M.S. Gerontology, 2008, University of Missouri St. Louis
• M.A. Counseling, 2001, Chapman University
• B.S. Psychology & Human Development, Ball State University

• EDUC F-200

• Early Childhood Special Education

• Early Intervention

• Family Engagement

• Early Childhood Gender Equity Practices

• Early Childhood Diversity Practices

• Early Childhood Leadership & Management

• Teacher knowledge of children with special/complex health care needs P-3 Grades
• Maternal coping and adaptation due to caregiving of children with special needs
• Diversity within early childhood settings on college and university campuses
• Pre-Service educator knowledge of Anti-Bias and Multicultural Education practices
• Suspension and expulsion of children of color in early childhood settings
• Sociocultural factors related to child care selection & cost for families of color
• Experiences in higher education for students of color

• James, B. & Sellers, D. (2007). Age Buzz: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Kansas State University Research and Extension.
• James, B. (2008). Women and Motherhood. Teaching Mothershood: A Collection of Post-Secondary Courses on Mothering/Motherhood. The Association for Reearch on Mothering

• Project Title: Moving Beyond A “Tourist Approach” in Anti-Bias Education: An analysis of pre-service Teacher Knowledge in a Multicultural Focused Online Teacher Education Course IRB: (1367605-1)
• Project Title: Teacher Knowledge and Self Efficacy: Preschool Teachers Educating Students with Chronic Illness and/or Special Health Care Needs. IRB: (1187446-1)

• Early Childhood Personnel Center Doctoral Fellow

• James, B., Egan, L., Evans, M., Franklin, B., Turner, C., & Underwood, C. (2019). Moving Beyond A Tourist Approach in Anti-Bias Education: An Analysis of Pre-Service Teacher Knowledge in an Online Multicultural Education Course. Division of Early Childhood. Dallas, TX
• James, B. (2017). Inclusive practices in early childhood education. National Black Child Development Association, 42nd Annual Conference
• James, B. (2018). Diversity: Noun, Adjective or Verb. Indiana Statewide Child Care Resource & Referral symposium, Early Learning Indiana, Indianapolis, IN (Invited)
• James, B. & Rinker-Van Natta, T. (2018). From Culture Shock to Cultural Learning: Strategies for Working with Diverse Families.  Presented at First Steps Childcare Conference. Bloomington, IN (Juried)
• James, B. (2017). Engaging Children and Families with Disabilities: Taking the Fear of out Disability Caring in Faith Conference, Early Learning Indiana, Wabash, IN. (Invited)
• James, B. (2017) My Sippy Cup Runneth Over: The Lived Experiences of Mothers of Children with a Rare Syndrome. (EQRC) Ethnographic Qualitative Research Conference, Las Vegas, NV. (Poster Presentation)
• Chen, W. & James, B., (2007). Styles of Control and Readiness in Romantic Relationships. Poster presented at the Annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Pittsburg, PA.
• James, B. (2017). Putting the “I” in IFSP and IEPs: The Importance of Advocacy in Schools. Memphis, TN, CMTC-OVM International Conference (Invited)
• James, B. (2015). Facing Challenges of Raising a Child with CMTC-OVM. Atlanta, GA, CMTC-OVM International Conference (Invited)
• Gore, B., James, B & Sumaya, V. (2009). Yellow Brick Road to Parent Leadership and Advocacy. Parent Leadership Conference, Topeka, KS
• Gore, B., James, B. (2009). Kinship: Navigating the System. 33rd Annual Governor’s Conference, Topeka, KS
• James, B. (2007). Talking about Death and Loss with Young Children. Symposium Lecturer at the Kansas Association of Education of Young Children, Manhattan, KS (Juried)

• Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children – Diversity Committee Chair
• National Association for the Education of Young Children – Member
• Indiana Division of Early Childhood-Family Representative