Rate My Professor Julie Rutland

Dr. Julie Rutland is Assistant Dean of Education and Applied Human Sciences and Professor in the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University. She is a faculty member in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership, with a focus on the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program. Rutland holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.A., all from the University of Kentucky. Throughout her career at Eastern Kentucky University, she has advanced from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and now Professor, while also serving in key administrative roles such as IECE Coordinator and MAT Program Coordinator. She possesses extensive practical experience in early childhood special education, having worked as a teacher, intervention specialist, and behavior consultant. Rutland teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in online and on-campus formats within the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership.

Rutland actively contributes to scholarship in early childhood education and special education through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and mentorship. Her publications include 'Applying Special Education High Leverage Practices to Recruit and Retain a Diverse Teacher Workforce' (2022, co-authored with Michelle Gremp, Maria L. Manning, and Mary Jo Krile), 'Fostering a Dynamic Cross-Disciplinary Culture at the Pedagogicon: Grow It' (2023, with Maria L. Manning, Jade Robinson, and Vanessa Tucker), and 'Con(template)ing New Designs: Applying Special Education High Leverage Practices' (2021, with Michelle Gremp, Maria L. Manning, and Mary Jo Krile). She has contributed to the book 'Assessing Young Children in Inclusive Settings' (chapter with Jennifer Grisham-Brown and others). Rutland has mentored honors theses and dissertations, including 'Perceptions of play-based curricula as an effective model of instruction for children with special needs' (A.B. Cooper, 2023) and 'The Relationship between Autism and the Multiple Intelligences Theory' (R.M. Duvall, 2020). In leadership, she serves as President of the Kentucky Division for Early Childhood and participates in university governance, including the Council on Academic Affairs and policy drafting teams. Her work supports teacher preparation, inclusive practices, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in education.