Dr. Birgit Monks serves as the program chair for the Early Childhood Education and Adolescent Development program, and the California Teacher Permit Certificate Program at Union Institute & University.  Along with her administrative duties, she is teaching undergraduate early childhood education courses and graduate education courses in the Ed.D. program.

Birgit’s dissertation was on increasing capacity. She studied the behaviors of adults who become aware of their own lack of knowledge or skills that prevent them from successfully engaging in tasks or activities at work.

While completing a degree in social pedagogy in Germany, she worked with adolescents who had physical and mental disabilities and spent about 10 years with the Youth Welfare Department in Germany, where she also worked with typically developing young children. Her passion for quality programs for school-age children led her to create and administer afterschool settings.

After she moved to the United States, she attended Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California where she completed a bachelor’s and Master of Arts degree in Human Development. She received an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California.

Before joining Union Institute & University, Birgit was the director of a state-funded lab school at a Community College for children aged 18 months to kindergarten. Aside from her background in the administration of early childhood programs, she taught undergraduate and graduate early childhood education and human development courses.

Birgit believes in high-quality education and the bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Adolescent Development provides opportunities to empower and educate early childhood professionals. She values diversity and social justice and is engaged in several professional early childhood organizations where she advocates for equity and equal opportunities for children and adults. She is committed to support all students to reach their educational and professional goals.