Maria Fusaro

Maria's research centers on how young children, under age 5, learn from other people, through both verbal and gesture-based communication and through question-answer exchanges. Her recent work examines how preschoolers’ skill in asking questions supports their ability to solve science-relevant problems in innovative ways. Bridging her teaching and research, Maria also studies the preparation of undergraduate students for careers in infant/toddler care and education, and for providing high quality, supportive learning experiences for young children.

Education

• Ed.D., Human Development and Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Ed.M., Mind, Brain and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• B.A., Education Studies (Human Development) and Public Policy and American Institutions (Education Policy), Brown University

Areas of Research Interest

• Caregiver-child interaction
• Children’s questions
• Cognitive development
• Early childhood STEM
• Early childhood teacher preparation
• Gesture
• Infant/toddler caregivers
• Science inquiry

Recent Publications

• Smith, M.C., & Fusaro, M. (2020). Imagination and fantasy: Correlates of preschoolers’ science relevant inquisitiveness. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality
• Fusaro, M. (2020, Feb 17). To provide quality care for infants and toddlers, California must pay teachers a worthy wage [Commentary]. CalMatters. Prepared by Slusser, E., Fusaro, M., & Golloher, A. (equal contributors).
• LaParo, K., Lippard, C., Fusaro, M., & Cook, G. (2019). Relationships in early practicum experiences: Positive and negative aspects and associations with teacher characteristics and teaching efficacy. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education.
• Lippard, C., Fusaro, M., Decker, K., & Vallotton, C.D., (2019). Effects of prior formal and informal caregiving experiences on undergraduates’ infant/toddler caregiving beliefs and attitudes. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 40(4), 409-429,
• Early Childhood Initiative (2019). Response to Governor Newsom’s Budget Proposal. Prepared and disseminated on behalf of SJSU’s Early Childhood Initiative. Prepared by Slusser, E., Fusaro, M., & Golloher, A. (equal contributors).
• Mortensen, J. A., Kucskar Mitsch, M., Decker, K., Fusaro, M., Plata-Potter, S. I., Brophy-Herb, H., Vallotton, C. D., & Buell, M. J. (2019). Building bridges to overcome widening gaps: Challenges in addressing the need for professional preparation of infant-toddler practitioners in higher education. Occasional Paper Series, 42.