In California, the community college and state university systems educate the majority of California’s early childhood professionals. With data indicating that 2 out of 3 American children under age 5 receive some form of nonparental child care—most often within the first year of life—the need for a highly trained early care and education workforce is clear.

The Simms/Mann Institute Faculty Fellowship was designed specifically for California community college and state university faculty in the fields of child development, early childhood education, psychology, and related areas of nursing. The Fellowship recognized faculty whose professional experience, leadership ability, and interest in exploring and integrating research related to early childhood development had the potential to make significant contributions to the field and the broader community.