Dr. Tamesha Harewood is an Assistant Professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies. She received her master’s degree in Child Development and PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from Michigan State University. Dr. Harewood’s research focuses mainly on the professional development of the pre-service early childhood workforce. She is particularly interested in the competencies needed by the early care and education workforce to support children’s learning and development. She is also interested in parental influences on children’s development, specifically children’s social-emotional development.  Dr. Harewood has worked with community partners in training professionals working with young children and has been involved in conducting research in her areas of interest for over 8 years. Dr. Harewood’s work aims to improve the quality of care children receive both in and out of the home.