Lisa is working with the leadership team at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center to develop and launch a new early childhood research center at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. The center will build collaboration among early childhood faculty, engage the community to create research-practice partnerships, and elevate the early childhood education workforce.
Prior to joining Vanderbilt, Lisa held several leadership positions in early childhood education. Lisa served as Policy Director for Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (“TQEE”), an advocacy organization that advances evidence-based policy solutions to support young children, from birth through 3rd grade, to meet critical developmental and academic milestones.
Lisa served as Executive Director for the Office of Early Learning at the Tennessee Department of Education, where she led and managed multiple statewide programs focused on providing early interventions and high-quality early learning experiences for young children across Tennessee.
Prior to her role at the state, Lisa served as Director of Early Learning Innovation for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. During her tenure, Lisa created three early learning centers to serve 4-year-olds in under-resourced communities and led a citywide coalition to expand pre-k programs and provide wrap-around supports for families.
Over the last several years Lisa has advised multiple clients as an early childhood consultant. Her collaborative work includes the establishment of home-based child care networks in high poverty neighborhoods; expanding high-quality early literacy programs; implementing sustainable funding models for child care programs; creating developmentally-appropriate and culturally sustaining pre-k curricula; and developing policies to advance and support the healthy growth and development of young children.
Lisa began her career in education as a teacher for children ages 3 to 8 in multiple settings including public, private, and charter schools.
Lisa has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York City, and a special education degree from Vanderbilt University, where she is also currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership and Learning in Organizations.
