Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment with Michele Turner

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Michele Turner, the Lead Research Fellow for the Institute for Equity and Transformational Change (IETC) at Madison College. Dr. Turner is a faculty member in the Early Childhood Education program and an expert in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Michele shares her expertise on the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. She discusses how a sense of belonging and setting high expectations impact students' success. Additionally, she shares how her personal experience with racism has shaped her perspective.

We also discuss the Action Research efforts at Madison College, including some current research being conducted to learn what our faculty are doing to support the success of our Black and Brown students. Michele emphasizes that Action Research projects can be done by anyone at the college, and it just starts with an idea.

Dr. Michele Turner currently serves as the Lead Research Fellow for Madison College's Institute for Equity and Transformational Change. In that capacity, she leads the Action Research initiative, co-facilitates a four-part culturally responsive teaching workshop series and a two-part Inclusive Syllabus workshop. She is also tasked with interviewing faculty members to elicit practical information that can be used by others to promote the persistence and success of marginalized student populations in alignment with the Achieving the Dream priorities.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater hired Dr. Turner in 2016 to create a 12-credit, four-course diversity credential for early childhood teachers and administrators. These courses are currently being taught throughout the state of Wisconsin. In 2019, Dr. Turner came to Madison College as an Early Childhood Education faculty member after seven years of teaching ECE courses part-time at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Dr. Turners' research interests include examining the experiences of Black childcare providers in Wisconsin. She and her daughter - Dr. Crystasany Turner, co-authored an article in the peer-reviewed journal of Urban Education, March 2023 Volume called, "A Sociohistorical Critique of the Systemic Disenfranchisement of Milwaukee's Black Women Childcare Providers."

Michele earned her doctoral degree in Urban Education and her master’s degree in Cultural Foundations of Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her focus is equity through a Critical Race Theory lens utilizing qualitative research.

For over thirty years, Dr. Turner has been involved in ECE. She is the owner and director of a nationally accredited large group early care and education center in Milwaukee. She enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.