<p>The creation of the FYI is a collaborative endeavor building on the successful work of UW-Whitewater as well as state, regional and national ECE and related organizations. Through the facilitation of the director, the advisory boards provide input through semi-annual meetings, survey feedback and share resources to guide the Institute and enhance the field through synergistic leadership.</p> <p> </p> <h3>FYI director</h3> <p><img src="images/academics/programs/coeps/educational%20outreach/FYI-body5.jpg" alt="Lucy Heimer awards a student an academic hood." width="100%" /></p> <p> </p> <p>The Foundational Years Institute is directed by Lucy Heimer, professor of curriculum and instruction, who has a deep passion for addressing the needs of children and family in support of equitable and caring communities.</p> <p>Her decades of experience in early childhood education and care spanning private, public and tribal contexts, classroom, ECE administration, and higher education settings support this goal. She has earned university awards for teaching and research and has extensive publications including pieces co-authored with colleagues, undergraduate, and graduate students. In her qualitative research she applies ethnographic methods to critically consider curriculum, pedagogy and policy in ECE contexts most recently in her 2020 co-authored book “Reshaping Universal Preschool.”</p> <p>Dr. Heimer’s leadership in the field has included national and international elected positions for American Educational Research Association (AERA) and Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education (RECE), community board membership and co-editor of the International Critical Childhood Policy Studies (ICCPS) journal.</p> <p> </p> <h3>Internal Advisory Board</h3> <p>Key stakeholders within the UW-Whitewater community representing related ECE interests through teaching, research, and community action comprise the Internal Advisory Board and will share the work of the units, their intersections, and challenges or opportunities that arise. This group provides foundational support to define and focus the work of the institute for the ECE field for teaching, policy, and research at UW-Whitewater.</p> <p>For more information, contact <a href="mailto:FYInstitute@uww.edu">FYInstitute@uww.edu</a>.</p> <p> </p> <h3>External Advisory Board</h3> <p>The External Advisory Board focuses on state and national issues in ECE, promotes the intersections of work across stakeholder groups, and provides feedback to support the work of the FYI.</p> <p>The External Advisory Board includes 10-15 members across interest groups, such as:</p> <ul> <li>The Department of Children and Families</li> <li>Head Start Associations and Agencies</li> <li>State and national centers and institutes affiliated with other universities</li> <li>Philanthropic organizations</li> <li>Early intervention services</li> <li>Cooperative Educational Services Agencies</li> <li>Resource and referral</li> <li>Legislative and community leaders</li> </ul> <p>For more information, contact <a href="mailto:FYInstitute@uww.edu">FYInstitute@uww.edu</a></p>