People + Partners

A Collaborative Force for Systems Change

E3C is powered by an extraordinary network of faculty, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders committed to building a more just and effective early childhood ecosystem.

Who We Are

E3C is a partnership of leading UC Berkeley institutions advancing the science and systems of early childhood thriving:

Leadership Team

Affiliated Faculty + Scholars

Margaret Bridges

Senior Researcher at the Institute of Human Development; early childhood development and policy research

Rebecca Cheung

Assistant Dean, Berkeley School of Education; leadership and equity expert

Lia Fernald

Professor, School of Public Health; global child development

Bruce Fuller

Professor, Berkeley School of Education; early learning and policy scholar

Stephen Hinshaw

Professor, Psychology and Public Health; psychopathology and equity

Rucker Johnson

Chancellor’s Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy; education and equity economist

Austin Land

Researcher, Berkeley School of Education; early childhood equity

Jabari Mahiri

Professor, Berkeley School of Education; youth culture and education

Dana Miller-Cotto

Assistant Professor, Berkeley School of Education; learning and cognitive development in diverse learners

Anna Powell

Policy Associate, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment; data‑driven early childhood researcher

Students + Emerging Leaders

E3C trains the next generation of early childhood leaders through immersive, interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Graduate students in education, public health, social welfare, and public policy engage directly in applied research, systems analysis, and policymaking. Learn more at Our Work > Education.

Advisors, Partners, and Funders

We are guided by families, educators, policy and philanthropic leaders, local and state agency partners, and practitioners across sectors. Their collective experiences help us remain grounded in implementation realities and community needs. We are grateful for the generous support of our funders:

Heising-Simons Foundation
Ballmer Group
Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, through the UCSF | UC Berkeley Schwab Center for Dyslexia and Cognitive Diversity