Faculty Directory
Lori Ryan PhD
Teaching Professor, Early Childhood Education
- Affiliate Faculty, Leadership for Educational Organizations
- School of Education & Human Development
Office Hours: By appointment
Mailing Address:
- CU Denver
Lawrence Street Center
1380 Lawrence Street
Denver, CO 80204
Lori Ryan, PhD. is Teaching Professor at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Education & Human Development since 2013. Her work focuses on early childhood education and leadership, inclusive and equity-minded pedagogies, and joyful and playful learning. She is the early childhood education program lead. Lori’s teaching, research, writing, coaching, and consulting focus on building the capacity of teachers and leaders. Lori works with community partners to nurture the growth of teachers at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including her role as lead faculty in the SEHD partnership with Boulder Journey School. Lori has been in relationship with the educators of Reggio Emilia since 1992, and serves on the Ph.D. Board of Reggio Child Studies, at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and as founding member of the Fondazione Reggio Children. Lori is editor of the book, Learning with the Pedagogy of Reggio Emilia: Innovative Early Childhood and Teacher Education published by Teachers College Press in April 2026. When not working, Lori can be found in pool, yoga studio, enjoying Denver's trails and cultural institutions, or with her three grandchildren, Theo, Eleanor and Lottie.
Areas of Expertise
- Reggio Approach to Early Childhood and Primary Education
- Building Leadership Capacity in Schools
- Inquiry-Based Learning
- Environmental Design
- Leading and learning in early childhood and higher education contexts
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo
- MA, State University of New at Buffalo
- BA, Buffalo State
- Principal License, St. Louis University
- Coaching certificates, Cognitive Coaching and International Coach Federation
- Permanent Teaching License, New York and Missouri
Resumes/CV:
Awards
- SEHD Lynn Rhodes Award (Spring 2019)
- SEHD Service and Leadership (Spring 2018)
Affiliations
- Colorado Early Childhood Higher Education Partnership, Co-chair
- National Association for the Education of Young Children, Member
- Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children, Member
- Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education, Member
- National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Education, Member
- Dialogic Pedagogy: A Journal for the Study of Dialogic Education, Managing Editor
- PhD Board of Reggio Childhood Studies, University of Modena Reggio Emilia, Member
- Fondazione Reggio Children, Founding Member
Faculty by Program
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- ASPIRE to Teach
- Counseling
- Couple & Family Therapy
- Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Human Development and Family Relations
- Leadership for Educational Organizations
- Learning Design & Technology
- Learning, Developmental & Family Sciences
- Literacy Education
- Research & Evaluation Methods
- School Psychology
- Special Education
- STEM Education
- Teaching