Our Team

We are a team of accomplished researchers, policy experts, operational staff, government relations strategists, and communicators. We share a passion for using evidence-based state policy to improve the lives of young children and their families, generating lifelong success stories for individuals, as well as strengthening the economies and communities in every state.

Senior Leadership

Cynthia Osborne, PhD

Executive Director and Professor of Early Childhood Education and Policy at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University

Kaeley Benson, PhD

Deputy Director

Alex Haralampoudis, PhD

Director of Data and Analytics

Jennifer Huffman, MPAff

Director of Research

Danielle Kahikina

Operations Manager

Abby Lane, PhD

Policy Director
Professional headshot of Sydne Lewis, a smiling woman with straight black hair, wearing a light blue shirt and a silver necklace, set against a blurred outdoor background.

Sydne Lewis

Communications Director

Policy Team

Becca Lustick, MA

Senior Policy Research Associate

Lara McCormick, MPAff

Senior Policy Associate

Allison McHorse

State Policy Analyst

Alyssa Rafa, MA

Assistant Policy Director

Sarah Ritter, MSW

Senior State Policy Analyst

Maria Spinetti, MS

Senior State Policy Analyst

Anna Thom, MA

Senior Policy Research Associate

Nanxi Xu, PhD

Senior Policy Research Associate

Data Team

Sean Craig, JD MA

Research and Evaluation Data Manager

Hilary Doe, PhD

Senior Data Analyst

Hannah Morris, M.Ed

Data Analyst

Vedika Nair, MPP

Data Analyst

Natalie Skatter

Senior Data Analyst

Research and Evaluation Team

Megan Collier, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Anna Kresse, MPH

Research Manager

Monica Navarro

Senior Research Associate

Sierra Rowe, MPAff

Research Associate

Outreach and Engagement Team

Joanne, a Graphic Designer at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, smiles warmly in an outdoor winter setting. She has short brown hair, wears glasses, and is dressed in a red vest over a dark sweater with red accents. Snow-covered tree branches and a blue house are visible in the background.

Joanne Blank

Graphic Designer

Jennifer Palmer, MPA

State Relations Manager
Maresa Whaley Headshot

Maresa Whaley

Senior Events Coordinator

Operations Team

Kiira DeCoster

Executive Assistant

Heaven Woldai

Administrative Coodinator

Support Team

Analisa Pines

Graduate Research Associate — Policy Team

Husain Zaidi

Graduate Research Assistant — Policy Team

Sarah Brown

Senior Student Associate — Research and Evaluation Team

Stone Dawson, MEd

Graduate Research Assistant

Lunaa Hao

Graduate Research Assistant

Rhea Patney

Senior Student Associate — Outreach Team

JoHanna Sestito, M.Ed

Graduate Research Assistant — Research and Evaluation Team