LaShorage Shaffer, Ph.D.

Dr. LaShorage Shaffer is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services. She is a member of the Department of Education in the college and teaches early childhood, early childhood special education, and education courses.

She also serves on various committees for the department and the university. Dr. Shaffer served as director for the Early Childhood Education Center, a university laboratory school where a trans-disciplinary and Reggio Inspired approach is strongly applied and practiced. She serves as a Board member of the Division for Early Childhood. Dr. Shaffer serves the field in various capacities, including as a member of professional organizations, presenting at conferences, and as a reviewer for journals and textbooks.  

Dr. Shaffer earned a doctorate in Special Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her doctoral research examined the content of social-emotional early learning standards and professional development within targeted states related to social-emotional early learning standards. Her research interests span from challenging behavior, supporting social-emotional development for children with and without disabilities, diversity and disability, evidence-based practices to enhance teaching, multicultural & citizenship identity, cultural responsiveness, personnel preparation, and policy.