Jennifer M. Zosh, Ph.D., received her Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University and is a Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State University’s Brandywine campus. As the Director of the Brandywine Child Development Lab, she studies how infants and young children learn about the world around them. Most recently her work has focused on the topic of playful learning in early childhood and she has co-authored a number of journal articles, book chapters, blogs, and numerous white papers. She is also involved in the dissemination of developmental research through her roles on advisory boards for organizations (e.g., Ultimate Block Party, Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network), as a scientific consultant for public and private organizations, and as a speaker for ReadyNation’s Brain Science Speakers Bureau.

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Also presenting:

Cynthia Yao, Regional Program Manager, Office of Head Start Region; Jeffrey Arciero, Grants Officer, Office of Grants Management, Region 1 and 9; Lisa Gordon, Project Director, The Children’s Equity Project at Arizona State University; Lisa Wilson, Director of Equity & Outreach, National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning (NC ECDTL)

Shawna Pinckney is an accomplished Head Start leader, both in and out of government. She currently serves as the first Office of Head Start (OHS) Associate Deputy Director at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). In this role, she leads high-impact projects that further the mission of Head Start for children, families, educators, and grantees across the country.

Before this role, she served as the Grants Division Director at OHS. In this role, Pinckney led the strategic execution of all discretionary, competitive grant programs, as well as the OHS interim management program. Most notably, she was responsible for the implementation of the Designation Renewal System, the Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships initiative, and other Head Start/Early Head Start expansion efforts. In this role, Pinckney both leveraged deep operational expertise, but also a deep understanding of the needs of Head Start grantees working in partnership with children, families, and communities. Pinckney has held other roles at the Office of Head Start, including equipping grantees during Head Start grant transitions. A trusted team leader, Pinckney has led teams in and out of government to successful outcomes.

Prior to joining OHS Pinckney worked on a range of initiatives targeted to the Head Start and Early Head Start community, and improving the experiences of the children and families served. She’s worked locally in Fairfax County, where she served as the founding executive director of Fairfax Futures – the Fund for Early Learning, a public-private partnership to support ongoing early care and education in one of the nation’s largest counties. As a leader at the National Head Start Association (NHSA), a membership and advocacy organization, Pinckney founded HeadsUp!, the nation’s first satellite television, distance-training network for Head Start and early childhood professionals.

Pinckney graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a Senior Managers in Government program certificate from the John. F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Travis J. Bristol is an associate professor of teacher education and education policy at the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Education. His research explores the practices that support teacher and student learning and the policies that enable and constrain teacher workplace experiences and retention. Dr. Bristol has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, policy briefs, and opinion editorials. Most recently he co-edited The Handbook of Research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers, published by the American Educational Research Association. Dr. Bristol’s national awards include both dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships from the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation (2013 and 2020) and the National Academies of Science/Ford Foundation (2013 and 2019). Dr. Bristol is chair of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Board of Directors and chairs the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s educator diversity advisory group.