FOR OUR BABIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Researcher, WestEd
Evelina Du brings more than 20 years of experience in the education field to the team, including curriculum and assessment development, research design/implementation, and development of new resources to inform policy and practice. She received a BA in economics with an emphasis on education from UCLA, a MA in international educational administration and policy analysis from Stanford University and an EdD in educational leadership from Mills College.
Job Titles:
- Digital Media Artist, WestEd
Job Titles:
- Project Director
- Senior Program Associate
Julie is a Senior Program Associate at WestEd. On the For Our Babies team since its inception, she collaborated with Dr. Lally to develop and launch the project. Julie has been a professional in the infant/toddler field for over 27 years. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from Mills College. Julie is passionate about creating a brighter beginning for babies, their families, and caregivers.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager for the Technology Services Group in the Information Technology Department at WestEd
- Project Manager, WestEd
Kate is a Project Manager for the Technology Services Group in the Information Technology Department at WestEd. She has a passion for education and the well-being of children and enjoys working with teams to create thoughtful user-centered websites and web applications. Prior to joining WestEd in 2013, Kate worked as a developer and project manager at agencies, for non-profits, and as a consultant. She co-founded the web-based software company, inkchaser, in 1999, where she managed the creation of web-based automated print quoting technology, which she and her team received a US patent for in 2001.
Kate received a Bachelors's degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, gardening, traveling, hiking, cooking, and gaming.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives at WestEd
Peter Mangione is Senior Director of Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives at WestEd. He provides leadership in the development of comprehensive training resources for infant and toddler care providers and other early learning and care programs and services. He has worked extensively in the fields of child development, early childhood education, family support services, public policy, and research and evaluation since 1980.
Peter believes we can do better for our babies and works to advance social policies in the United States that reflect what research tells us promotes infants' development, learning, and well-being. He provides leadership and expertise to the For Our Babies project.
Job Titles:
- Video Producer, Dellaruth Video
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of WestEd 's Center for Child and Family Studies, and Creator of the for Our Babies Project Passed Away Unexpectedly and Peacefully on January 22, 2020
Known professionally as J. Ronald Lally, Ed.D., Ron was an expert on early childhood development. His groundbreaking research and career accomplishments - including founding Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families and directing WestEd's Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) since 1985 - fueled 40+ years of tireless effort to support young children, their families, and caregivers.
Ron was also a loving father and grandfather. Frustrated by US policies that fall short of what babies need, he wrote and published, For Our Babies: Ending the Invisible Neglect of America's Infants, launching the For Our Babies Campaign to raise public awareness and garner support for a better beginning for babies in the United States.
Ron's vision of high-quality infant/toddler care will continue to inspire early childhood educators and leaders around the world, and their continued efforts to support and nurture babies are a central part of his legacy. Ron's work has touched countless infants, toddlers, families, and the teachers and caregivers who care for them.
Ron Lally, Co-Director of WestEd's Center for Child and Family Studies, and creator of the For Our Babies project passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on January 22, 2020.
A computer nut since early childhood, Vanessa taught herself web development and graphic design in high school and began her career in the 90s as a front-end web developer. After expanding her skillset to include branding and digital product design, Vanessa studied English literature and graduated cum laude from California State University, Los Angeles. In her free time Vanessa enjoys road trips and air travel, housecleaning dance parties, and horsing around with her daughter Zoe, son Benjamin, and husband Keith.