Biography

Dr. Earl Thomas currently serves as Professor of Human Development in the School of Leadership Studies at Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara California. Thomas has spent the majority of his career in higher education teaching and advising graduate students as well as carrying out administrative roles such as program chair and associate dean. His areas of expertise include adult learning and development, early childhood education program leadership, qualitative and action research design.

Dr. Thomas has written numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 books and contributed book chapters to major research publications in the field of education. His research interest center around diversity and teacher professional development transformation, adult learning, and professional development systems. He has presented at national conferences in early childhood and adult education.

Dr. Thomas has an extensive background that combines early childhood and adult development. He has served as program specialist in the Administration for Children and Families Federal Region VII Office of Head Start, and Regional Field Specialist at the National Center on Early Childhood Development Teaching and Learning Region V Chicago Federal Office of Head Start.

Industry Expertise (3)

Social Services

Education/Learning

Training and Development

Areas of Expertise (7)

Action Research

Transformative Learning

Mixed Methods Research

Adult Learning Theory

Qualitative Research Methods

Adult Development

Curriculum Development

Education (3)

Kansas State University-Manhattan Kansas: EdD, Adult Education

University of Missouri-Kansas City: MA, Adult Education

University of Missouri-Kansas City: BA, Psychology and Sociology

Event Appearances (6)

Building learner persistence in 2-year and 4- year colleges and universities through online instructor/student engagement

Annual American Association for Adult and Continuing Education 63rd Annual Conference  Charleston, SC.

2014-11-07

The role of governing boards in the oversight of RTI and school diversity transformation

Illinois Association of School Boards Annual Conference  Chicago, Illinois

2009-11-01

Lessons learned respective to program design and implementation of a faculty-led student peer-mentoring program

National Symposium on Student Retention  Mobile, Alabama

2010-11-01

The effect of traditional peer-mentoring vs. hybrid peer-mentoring on student retention and goal attainment

National Symposium on Student Retention  Buffalo, New, York

2009-10-01

Empowering Head Start Programs to plan and manage systems that influence cultural diversity

National Head Start Conference  Orlando, Florida

2009-05-01

Understanding the facilitators and barriers for private elementary schools to serve a diverse student population

National Alliance of Black School Educators 35th Annual Conference  Nashville, Tennessee

2007-11-01

Articles (15)

BOOK: Transforming Schools: Resources for undergraduate and graduate students to facilitate diversity school transformation

JW Press

Thomas, E.., & Bell, D.

Vol II. Oak Forest, Illinois

BOOK: Transforming Schools: Resources for pre-k-12 schools to facilitate school diversity transformation

JW Press

Thomas, E.., & Bell, D.

Oak Forest, Illinois

CHAPTER: Goal, attainment, retention and peer mentoring

In Sound Instruction

Ward, E.G., Thomas, E.E., & Disch, W.B.

Vol VI

Combining professional development instructional coaching to transform the classroom environment in preK-3 classrooms

Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching

Spelman, M., Bell D., Thomas, E., & Briody,J.

2016

CHAPTER: Minimizing barriers in teacher diversity professional development

Imagining a renaissance in teacher education: Teacher education yearbook XVI

Thomas, E.., & Bell. D.L.

(2008) Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.

Mentor service themes emergent in a holistic undergraduate peer-mentoring experience

Journal of College Student Development

Ward, E.G., Thomas, E.E., & Disch, W.B.

2014

Instructional coaching partner conversations in a prek-3rd grade teacher professional development experience

Journal of Adult Education

Thomas, E.E., Bell, D.L., Spelman, M., & Briody, J.

2015

Protégé growth themes emergent in holistic undergraduate peer-mentoring experience

Mentoring and Tutoring: Partnership in Learning

Ward, E.G., Thomas, E.E., & Disch, W.B.

2012

Technology use and the second level digital divide

Journal of Instructional Psychology

Reinhart, J.M., Thomas, E., & Toriskie, J.M.

2011

Understanding the teacher professional development facilitators and barriers to serve a diverse student population

Academic Leadership Online Journal

Bell, D., & Thomas, E.

2008

Goal attainment, retention and peer-mentoring

Academic Exchange Quarterly

Ward. E.G., Thomas, E.E., & Disch, W.B.

2010

A mentoring process to support teachers’ growth and retention

Academic Leadership Online Journal

Bell, D.L., & Thomas, E. E.

2007

Thoughtful planning fosters learning transfer

Adult Learning., summer & fall

Thomas, E.

2007

Teachers’ perceptions of a diverse school environments

Journal of the Alliance of Black School Educators

Thomas, E., & Bell. D.

2007

A new paradigm for male involvement in comprehensive child development programs

Journal of Children and Poverty

Thomas, E.

1995