My name is Pratima Mehta. I’m originally from India, and I received my primary teaching certification, bachelor’s degree (M.D. Avasare Gold Medal), and master’s degrees in Indian and English literature from Gujarat University, India.

I also hold a master’s degree in education, which I earned with honors at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). I was awarded the “Outstanding Graduate Student Award” in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on educational technology, during my time at the university. I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Education, with a focus on early childhood STEM education.

I have a diverse range of experience in various roles, having worked as an educator in three different countries: India, Japan, and Australia. Additionally, I hold certification in IT Training for School Teachers and Staff, organized by the Japanese Government in Okinawa. In my past roles, I have served as a curriculum and instruction designer, a Reggio philosophy-inspired curriculum, instruction, and assessment designer, and a mentor.

I work as a research associate in the Department of Teacher Education at the College of Education, UTEP. I am a proponent of diversity and multiculturalism in the classroom. My passion is early childhood education; it broadens our horizons and provides a broader vision of life. I believe education is empowerment; it cultivates human beings to achieve their highest potential, serving as a tool for fulfilling the immensity of being.