As an educator, Dr. Blitch uses student-centered pedagogical approaches and techniques to teach preservice teachers about early childhood curriculum and instruction. Prior to joining the faculty at UA, Dr. Blitch worked at an institute that provided system-level intervention serving children and families from birth to grade three. She also assisted with the development of a nutrition intervention that focuses on web-based professional development for early childhood educators. Dr. Blitch’s scholarly work examines how practices and discourses impact ethnically, racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse families and children in early childhood education. Her areas of expertise include: child development, early childhood education, early childhood curriculum development and planning, and preservice teacher preparation.