The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute is pleased to announce that Dona Anderson has been named the new Executive Director. Dona, who has served as the Deputy Executive Director over the past six years, has been an essential part of the leadership team at the Institute. Over that time Dona has developed a deep understanding of the Institute’s mission and has established strong collegial relationships with city and state agencies, philanthropy, and our extensive list of partners. She has provided programmatic and operations supervision, including project and operations planning, development and implementation. She has led the teams responsible for budget, administration, human resources, and operations functions. Dona has provided leadership and development for special projects and has worked closely with Sherry Cleary, the Institute’s current Executive Director in all aspects of fund development. Cleary shares, “Dona has been a gift – a true partner in this work. This is a very exciting time to serve at the helm of this amazing organization. The Institute is strong and poised to continue its mission to support the City and State in its efforts to ensure every young child has access to excellence. Dona Anderson is the very person to assume the mantle and lead CUNY’s work – she brings intense focus, intellect, passion and grace. Along with an extraordinary team of dedicated professionals, there is no limit to the possibilities!”
Prior to her work at CUNY, Dona was the Director of the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, where she led a team of researchers in exploring the disproportionate impacts of poverty and homelessness on children, students, and families in New York City and across the United States. She also supervised early childhood care and education programs, after school programs, residential summer camps, and a family support program as the Director of Programs and Development at Homes for the Homeless, a homeless services provider. Dona began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Slovakia, working as an Environmental Management Consultant and won accolades early on. She has presented at national conferences and co-authored a variety of public policy reports on the topics of child poverty, homelessness, early childhood, and trauma. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College.
Dona will formally assume her role as Executive Director of the Institute on July 18, 2022.
