Michael Abel

Background

About Michael Abel

Mike Abel is Associate Director at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Institute for Human Development and Director of the Early Childhood Innovation Center. He leads several quality improvement initiatives for the Missouri Office of Childhood. His research interests include organizational equity, leadership development, pedagogical leadership, family engagement, behavioral health, and systems capacity building with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. He is co-author of Building on Whole Leadership: Energizing and Strengthening your Early Childhood Program (Gryphon House). Formerly, Mike was the Director of Research and Evaluation for the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership and Assistant Professor at National Louis University. While there, he chaired the McCormick Center’s Whole Leadership committee; was the principal researcher for the L.E.A.D. Early Childhood Clearinghouse, a web-based tool on the status of early childhood leadership in the United States; and co-chaired the Research Strategies and Implementation group at National Louis University. In addition, he has experience as a researcher and instructor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, operations manager and adjunct instructor at Metropolitan Community College, and directed a child care center and a private K- 8 academy. Mike holds an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Policy and Foundations, an M.A. in Educational Administration, and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education. He served in a number of professional capacities with the National Association for the Education of Young Children including the NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council, Missouri AEYC President, Vice-President of Illinois AEYC – Chicago Region, peer-reviewer for NAEYC’s Higher Education accreditation system.