Dr. Rena Hallam

Assistant Professor

I joined the faculty in Child and Family Studies at UT in the fall of 2004.  Prior to this, I was on faculty at the University of Kentucky in their Department of Family Studies. I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Delaware in Individual and Family Studies with a focus on early childhood development.  During my doctoral work, I worked with colleagues to start and coordinate an Early Head Start program for low-income infants and toddlers and their families.  During this time, I was awarded a grant from the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families to conduct my dissertation on the maternal self-efficacy of low-income mothers of toddlers.  This experience and others solidified my commitment to applied research focusing on young children and families who are often considered “at-risk.” 

My research and  professional interests center around the needs of young vulnerable children and their families, particularly children in poverty and children with disabilities,  and their experiences within the early care and education system.  Within this broad arena, my current research focuses on three areas:  1) the preparation of early care and education personnel; 2) the use of authentic assessment practices linked to child standards; and, 3) the transition experiences of young children and their families as they move through the early care and education system.  Currently, I am one of the lead investigators of a federally-funded project, “Project LINK: A Partnership to Promote LINKages among Assessment, Curriculum and Outcomes in order to Enhance School Success for Children in Head Start Programs that is examining the impact of a standards-linked authentic assessment model on preschool child outcomes.

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Grisham-Brown, J. & Hallam, R. (2004).  Child care providers’ perceptions of a statewide early care and education initiative. Child Care and Youth Forum, 33(1), p. 19-31

Hallam, R. A., Buell, M.J. & Ridgley (2003).  Preparing early childhood educators to serve children and families living in poverty:  A national survey of undergraduate programs. Journal of Research in Childhood Education 18 (2), p. 115-124.

Hallam, R. A., Ridgley, R., & Buell, M. J. (2003).  Preservice preparation in home visiting:  A national survey of early childhood undergraduate programs, Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 24, p. 19-26.  

Hallam, R. A. Grisham-Brown, J., & Manno, C. (2003)  Responding to the Events of September 11th: One program’s story.  Dimensions, 31(2), 15-19.

Rous, B. & Hallam, R. (2002).  Easing the transition to kindergarten: Assessment of social, behavioral, and functional skills.  Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series.   S. Sandall & M. Ostrosky (eds).  Division for Early Childhood, Denver, CO.
**Also published in 1999 in Young Exceptional Children, 1(40), 16-21.

Buell, M. J., Hallam, R., & Beck, H. (2001).  Early Head Start and Child Care Partnerships:  Working Together to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families.  Young Children, 56(3), 7-12.

Buell, M., Hallam, R., Adams, J., & Wilson, K. (2000).  Project CREATE: Bridging the gap in training for infant/toddler child care providers.  Childhood Education, 76(5), 262-266. 

Contact the Department of Child and Family Studies

1215 W. Cumberland Avenue
240 Jessie Harris Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-1912

Phone: 865-974-8499
Email: rhallam@utk.edu

Contact CEHHS

335 Claxton Complex 1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone: 865-974-2201
Fax: 865-974-8718