Dr. Trepanier-Street has been the director of the ECEC since 1996.  She is the associate dean of the School of Education, an early childhood professor and supervisor of student teachers and the undergraduate program.  She has taught at UM-Dearborn since 1977.  She has an Doctorate in Education from the University of Rochester (New York), an M.A. in Educational Psychology from Miami University (Ohio) and a B.A. in Child Development and Elementary Education from Marygrove College. She also studied at Northern Illinois University.

Most recently, Dr. Trepanier-Street was the recipient of the University's Distinguished Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Marygrove College, her Alma Mater. 

In addition to her work on campus, Dr. Trepanier-Street has been an advocate for early childhood education as a critical requirement for teacher certification. She has collaborated with representatives from other colleges and universities to lobby the issue.

She has authored and co-authored over 40 published articles, book chapters and abstracts on many aspects of teacher education, child development and the education of children with special needs, as well as other facets of her profession. She loves research which is reflected in titles documenting her research experiences.

Sister Marie Hopkins, IHM, Professor Emeritus, Marygrove College, writes, “Not only does Dr. Trepanier-Street publish, she is a popular lecturer who is in demand for topics ranging from ‘Personal and Professional Growth of College Mentors of Young Children,’ and ‘Encouraging a Generation of Peacekeepers’ to ‘How Do Children Represent Their Thinking?’ Titles of her publications and her lectures show her desire to foster compassion in others. She must first possess it in order to promote it.”

Dr. Trepanier-Street teaches courses in child development, early childhood curriculum, young children with special needs, and cognition and memory.  Her research has focused on the areas of gender equity, early childhood curriculum and teacher education.  She has conducted several studies using children's creative writing to investigate children's attitudes and perceptions regarding gender issues.  She has studied how children's literature can positively influence children's attitudes regarding gender equity and equity towards children with special needs as well as promote children's prosocial development. 

In the area of early childhood curriculum, Dr. Trepanier-Street has written several articles on the curriculum approach of using classroom long-term projects based on children's interest to promote cognitive and social development in children.  Recently, she published an article on how technology can enhance children's learning in long-term projects.  She has also written articles on how using the project approach can be a valuable tool for professional collaboration and development of student and experienced teachers.  She has shared her early childhood expertise with researchers, teachers and parents at numerous local and national conferences.  The research projects and writings have been published in book chapters and numerous professional journals, such as, the Journal of Early Childhood Education, Journal of Research in Childhood Education, Reading Research and Instruction, and the Journal of Early Adolescence.

Ms. Lapansee has an A.B. in Business Administration from Henry Ford Community College.  She has been the ECEC Business Manager since 1996.  Ms. Lapansee received the Exceptional Customer Service Award from the University in 2002.

Ms. Simpson is a Journalism major at Wayne State University.  She has been the ECEC secretary since 1998.  Ms. Simpson received the Exceptional Performance Award and the Exceptional Service Award from the University in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

Ms. Riegel has worked at the ECEC since 2002.  She came to the ECEC with 30+ years of office/clerical experience.  Ms. Riegel has recently completed professional development course at Schoolcraft College.

Ms. Jones is a graduate of Kent State University with a M.S. in Education and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education.  She has directed several early childhood programs over the past 28 years.

Ms. Jones has been the ECEC Education Coordinator since 2001 with a two year leave of absence during her husband’s employment in China.

She has presented at the MiAEYC Conference on "Applications of Technology in a Reggio-Inspired Program" and at the Michigan Early Childhood Collaborative Conference on "Developing Leadership in the Early Childhood Profession."

Ms. Kurtjian is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a M.A. in Special Education and a B.A. in Education.

She has worked at the ECEC since 2003.  Ms. Kurtjian has presented the MiAEYC Conference on "Clay Explorations: Connecting Project Work with Early Childhood Standards."

Mrs. Frendo is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a B.A. in Education and minors in Language Arts and Mathematics.

Mrs. Frendo has worked at the ECEC since 2003 and is a parent of a child who attends the ECEC.  She has presented at the MiAEYC Conference on "Linking the Reggio Approach to Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Pre-Kindergarten."

Mrs. Lenihan is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a B.A. in Education and minors in Math and Language Arts.

She has worked at the ECEC since 2005.  Mrs. Lenihan has presented at the MiAEYC conference on "The Growing Project: Toddlers Experiencing Growth and Development Through Family Pregnancy" and "Connecting Project Work with Early Childhood Standards."

Mrs. Daigneau is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a M.A. in Education and minors in Math and Social Studies.  She has been a teacher for five years.

She has taught at the ECEC since 2005.  Mrs. Daigneau has presented at the MiAEYC Conference on "Special Friends: Developing Peer Mentors."

Ms. Kurtjian is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a B.A. in Education and minors in Science and Math.  She has worked at the ECEC since 2007. 

Ms. Kurtjian has presented the the MiAEYC Conference on "Inquiry Learning with Playgrounds".

Ms. Finkelstein is a graduate of Michigan State University with a M.A. in Curriculum and Teaching and a B.S. in Child Development and Teaching.  Ms. Finkelstein also has a M.A. in Education Administration from UM-Dearborn.  She has been a teacher for 12 years.

Ms. Finkelstein has taught at the ECEC since 1998.  She has presented at the MiAEYC Conference on "Special Friends: Developing Peer Mentors," at the Michigan Collaborative Early Childhood Conference on "Magnetism: A Long-Term Investigation Incorporating Michigan's Early Standards of Quality for Pre-Kindergarten," and contributed to the article "Exploring How Project Work Enhances Student Teachers' Understanding of Children with Special Needs" published in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education.

Mrs. McAuliffe is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a B.A. in Education and minors in Language Arts and Math.

She has worked at the ECEC since 2007.  Mrs. McAuliffe has presented at the MiAEYC Conference on "Linking the Reggio Approach to Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Pre-Kindergarten."