Meir Muller, Ph.D., is a clinical assistant professor at the College of Education, an ordained rabbi, and has been principal of the Cutler Jewish Day School in Columbia, SC for the past 22 years.

Muller’s expertise is in childhood growth and development, social studies methods, cognitive development and teacher preparation. His research interests include constructivist theory and pedagogy, teacher preparation and development, research comparing early childhood issues in the Israeli and American society, and Israeli education.

In 2011, Haifa University’s Van Leer institute in Jerusalem convened its International Research Group on Jewish Education in the Early Years. Haifa University chose to examine 12 early childhood studies — six from Israel and six from the US. Muller’s paper “Kindergarten Children's Conception of Knowledge in Jewish Education" was one of the six chosen from the US. Muller is currently working on a study, “Attitudes Towards Inclusion: A comparison between Israeli and American Educators,” for the same organization at Haifa.

His recent published works include “Constructivism in Jewish Early Childhood Education” for the Journal of Jewish Education and “Focus on Ethics – Differing Faiths in a Faith-Based Program” for the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Young Children periodical.

Muller is currently rewriting South Carolina’s Early Learning Standards for the SC Department of Social Services. He is an advisor for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, co-president of the National Alliance of Jewish Early Childhood Educators, and a member of the SC Governor’s Child Care Council. 

USC’s College of Education presented Muller with the Scholastic Early Childhood Professional of the Year Award and the Early Career Teaching Award.