Faculty Spotlight: Meridith Karppinen

When you first meet Meridith Karppinen, you will notice her love for music. A clarinetist at heart, she once dreamed of becoming the principal clarinetist for the London Symphony Orchestra. Life, however, took her on an entirely different path. Through a series of unexpected life events, such as running a daycare, connecting with early intervention specialists, and later teaching in preschool and Head Start, Meridith discovered a new calling in early childhood special education. That shift eventually led her back to school for a PhD, with a focus on inclusive practices and preparing teachers to support all students.

Along the way, Meridith noticed gaps in how teachers were prepared to support children with special needs. Inspired by a simple but powerful belief that every child deserves to feel like they belong, she started her PhD journey and research. Her goal is to help every teacher leave their training with strong teaching skills, but also with confidence and tools that support all children in the classroom. As she says, “If I can help impact that at any level, we’ll be sending better teachers out into the field, which is my ultimate goal.”

Outside of the classroom, Meridith is just as adventurous. She loves backpacking, tackling trails from Tahoe to the Tetons, and has big hiking plans for the next few years. She even has a clever system for family hikes: "paying" her kids not to complain, which makes for happy family trips and some funny memories. And, of course, music is still part of her story. From clarinet and flute to a dream of starting a polka band with colleagues, Meridith finds ways to keep her love for music alive.

We’re delighted to welcome Meridith to the faculty. With her blend of creativity, curiosity, and commitment to inclusive education, she is sure to make a lasting impact on our students and maybe even bring a little live music to the college :)