Biography

Dr. Jami Swindell joined the Department of Education at Missouri S&T in Fall 2025. Prior to Missouri S&T, Dr. Swindell taught courses in early childhood special education at Fontbonne University and Rasmussen College.

Dr. Swindell’s research interests center on early childhood development, family-centered practices, and evidence-based approaches to caregiving and teaching our youngest learners. Their work examines how educators and families engage in early education programs, early intervention, and early childhood special education. Dr. Swindell’s work also focuses on workforce development, preservice preparation, and policy in early childhood education.

Dr. Swindell currently serves as President of the Missouri Division of Early Childhood (MODEC), an affiliate of the Council for Exceptional Children. She has previously served on the Division of Early Childhood’s national Policy and Advocacy Committee, as well as the Personnel Preparation Committee. Dr. Swindell also serves as the Secretary for the Missouri Association for the Education of Young Children (MOAEYC). She is actively involved in various local, state, and national stakeholder and workgroups- including the Missouri Early Childhood Special Education Stakeholders and the South Central Missouri Early Childhood Community Leaders.

Dr. Swindell has presented at multiple regional, national, and international conferences and contributed to professional development resources and publications for early childhood educators. Dr. Swindell teaches EDUC 1221 Health, Nutrition, and Safety, EDUC 2440 Observation and Assessment of Young Children, EDUC 3211 Child Development, along with serving as a University Supervisor for Student Teaching and collaborating with the Child Development Center.

Disciplines

Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, Family-Centered Practices, Pre-Service Educator Preparation, Teaming and Collaboration, Policy and Advocacy, Child Care, Preschool, Infant/Toddler Development

Education

• 2020- Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education
• 2010- M.S. in Early Childhood Education, Missouri State University
  • Graduate Certificate in Forensic Child Psychology
• 2007- B.S. in Early Childhood Development and Family Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia
  • Minor in Rural Sociology and Community Development