Washington, D.C. — The Center for American Progress today announced that Joan Lombardi will join the organization as a Senior Fellow. Lombardi will advise the organization on early childhood issues.
“Joan Lombardi brings to CAP more than four decades of experience working on issues related to young children, social policy, and families,” said Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy at CAP. “Educating our youngest Americans—and providing critical supports to working families—is a subject of national discussion that will only grow in importance as the nation looks toward 2016. CAP is fortunate to have Joan’s advice and guidance.”
Lombardi, an international expert on child development and social policy, served as the first deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2009 to 2011. Over the past 40 years, Lombardi has made significant contributions in the areas of child and family policy as an innovative leader and policy advisor to national and international organizations and foundations and as a public servant.
She previously served as deputy assistant secretary for policy and external affairs in the Administration for Children and Families and as the first commissioner of the Child Care Bureau during the Clinton administration. She also served as the founding chair of the Birth to Five Policy Alliance—now the Alliance for Early Success—and as the founder of Global Leaders for Young Children.
Lombardi is the author of numerous publications—including Time to Care: Redesigning Child Care to Promote Education, Support Families, and Build Communities—and co-author of Beacon of Hope: The Promise of Early Head Start for America’s Youngest Children. She serves as the president of the board of 1,000 Days and is a member of the board of trustees of Save the Children, as well as a member of Investing in Young Children Globally, a project of the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.
To schedule an interview with Joan Lombardi, contact Allison Preiss at [email protected] or 202.478.6331.