Rate My Professor Elisabeth Etopio

Dr. Elisabeth Etopio serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction within the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. She holds the positions of Assistant Dean for Teacher Education and Director of the Office of Educator Preparation. A former public school music teacher, Etopio earned her PhD in early childhood education from the University at Buffalo. She brings ten years of experience teaching MusicPlay classes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, complemented by certifications in early childhood music levels 1 and 2 from the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Etopio has been honored with an excellence in teaching award from the University Graduate School and frequently presents at regional and national conferences on young children’s music and creative movement responses. Her career at the University at Buffalo includes prior roles such as clinical assistant professor and involvement in programs like UB Teach, where she has contributed to teacher preparation since its inception.

Etopio's research specializations include the professional development of early childhood teachers, music learning in young children, and the interplay between children’s music learning and their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Her scholarly interests also extend to curriculum and instruction, access and equity, early childhood education, equity and poverty, music education, urban education, and virtual reality applications in teaching. Key publications feature "Preservice Science Teacher Preparation Using Virtual Reality" (2019, with Richard Lamb), "Virtual Reality Simulations and Writing: a Neuroimaging Study in Science Education" (2019), "Virtual Reality Simulation: Effects on Academic Performance Within Two Domains of Writing in Science" (2019), "A Case for Change in Teacher Preparation: Developing Community-Based Residency Programs" (2021), "Eden’s Garden: A cultivator’s chronicle" (2022), and "Effect of Music Instruction on Preschoolers' Music Achievement and Emergent Literacy Achievement" (2012). With 372 citations on ResearchGate, her work influences teacher education through innovative uses of technology and community-based residency models, including studies on music's impact on infant brain development and virtual reality for preservice science teachers. She recently secured funding from Erie 1 BOCES for collaborative educational support initiatives.