Dr. Patrice Farquharson’s journey in early childhood education is as dynamic as it is inspiring. For over 40 years, she has shaped young minds as the Executive Director of the West Haven Child Development Center (WHCDC), where she has been a fierce advocate for quality education and a mentor to generations of teachers.
She knows that success in early childhood education begins with well-prepared teachers. For 28 years, Patrice has shaped future educators as an Associate Professor in Post University’s John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education. Holding degrees from UCONN and SCSU, and her doctoral degree in education from Nova Southeastern University, she continues to lead and inspire in the field.
As Post University celebrates 25 years of online learning, Patrice stands as a pioneer in virtual education. Recognizing its potential early on, back when the university was Teikyo Post University, she secured a $25,000 state grant in 2000 to develop an online training program for childcare providers in collaboration with a regional education center. In 2002, she transitioned the University’s Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education to an online format, and in 2009, she launched the Bachelor of Science in Child Studies.
Last year, nearly 5,000 students were enrolled in Child Studies courses within the Burke School. The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies is one of the largest programs at Post. The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies and the Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education programs both hold accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a testament to their excellence.
Yet, Patrice’s path to leadership was anything but conventional. Before becoming a recognized expert in child development, she was captivating audiences in a different way—under the bright stadium lights as a New England Patriots cheerleader in 1980. That early experience honed the energy, confidence, and commanding presence that would later define her career as an educator, leader, and advocate. Just as she once inspired thousands in the stands, she now inspires thousands in the classroom and beyond, bringing that same passion, discipline, and drive to her mission of shaping the next generation of educators.
Before becoming a recognized expert in child development, she was captivating audiences in a different way—under the bright stadium lights as a New England Patriots cheerleader in 1980. Continuing reading about Patrice in the Spring-Summer Edition of the Post University Magazine.