Early Education Leaders, an Institute at UMass Boston

The Institute for Early Education Leadership and Innovation announces today that 52 students have been selected as Early Childhood Fellows who will receive full scholarships to earn their bachelor’s degree in early education from UMass Boston. The Fellows are a mix of experienced early educators working in family child care, early care and education centers, out-of-school time programs, and preschool settings as well as those who are new to the field. The Fellowship is funded with a $2 million grant from the city of Boston to support the recovery and expansion of the early childhood workforce from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the Fellows have committed to work in the city of Boston as early educators for at least three years after graduating with their degree.

“The depth of experience, talent, and passion for early education in our cohort of Early Childhood Fellows is impressive,” said Marcelo Juica, PhD, Director of Programs of the Early Ed Leadership Institute and Co-Director of the Early Childhood Fellowship. “Many of our Fellows are already contributing to the field of early care and education in Boston, but this Fellowship will expand their capacity to lead while also creating a powerful pipeline of trained educators to grow the early childhood education workforce in the city.”