Erin Gutiérrez, MA
Erin Gutiérrez is the Executive Director of the Family Development Center (FDC) at Governors State University (GovState). She earned her Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Governors State University and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership at GovState.
Gutiérrez joined GovState in 2006 as a Preschool Teacher in the FDC, following four years as a teacher assistant in Chicago Public Schools.
Gutiérrez's Research Focus:
- Grant development and reporting
- Sustainable funding for early childhood programs
- Campus childcare and student-parent success
Additional areas of expertise:
- Early childhood and higher education leadership
- Nature-based learning and outdoor education in early childhood
- Environmental education and sustainability in early childhood
- School gardens and food security
- Early childhood STEM education
- Head Start Grant Administration
- State and federal early childhood policy
- Teacher shortages and workforce retention
- University-community partnerships
- Program accreditation and quality improvement
- Reggio-Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education
- Head Start, Illinois Preschool for All, and Prevention Initiative administration
Relevant Work:
- Current Professional Service and Leadership
- GovState Arboretum Enhancement Project
- Birth to Five Illinois Region 56 Action Council Member
- Illinois Department of Early Childhood Early Learning Council Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Resources and Programs
- Illinois Department of Early Childhood Program Standards Alignment Workgroup Panelist
- South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium Sustainability Initiatives Committee
- Governors State University Sustainability Committee
- Illinois Department of Human Services Child Care Advisory Council Smart Start Ad Hoc Committee
- FDC Schoolyard Habitat
Erin Gutiérrez is available to talk about topics like grant development and reporting, sustainable funding for early childhood programs, and campus childcare and student-parent success.
If you would like to arrange an interview with Erin Gutiérrez, please contact Zion Banks, Director of Communications, 708.235.7685 or zbanks@govst.edu.