Dr. Kimberly Krzanowski has over 20 years of experience in early learning as a former early childhood teacher, center administrator, higher education department chair, and faculty member at various institutions. Dr. Krzanowski currently serves as the executive director of the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) at Delaware State University and is leading the charge to unapologetically design holistic and comprehensive programs and supports for the Delaware early childhood community. Formerly serving as the executive director of the Office of Early Learning at the Delaware Department of Education, Dr. Krzanowski developed innovative funding and support for the early childhood workforce while providing leadership to the state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System Delaware Stars.

Dr. Krzanowski holds a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Wilmington University, with a concentration in innovation and leadership in the context of the early childhood workforce.
Dr. Krzanowski earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware, concentrating on education, human services, and public policy, as well as a Master’s degree in Education from Wilmington University with an emphasis on teaching and learning.

Marcie Pate currently serves as the Operations Officer for the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) at Delaware State University (DSU). At the ECIC, Marcie leads a strong team of operational staff who specializes in contracts, budgeting, billing, purchasing, communications, marketing, research, data, and reporting. Marcie brings with her over 15 years of experience and expertise in early childhood education and operational systems. Marcie specializes in navigating early childhood systems and large-scale early childhood projects and budget management.

In her most recent role, Marcie worked for the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), Office of Early Learning (OEL) where she provided operational, budgetary, and contracting support to members of the team.

Prior to her role with the DDOE, Marcie worked for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Facilities Management Office where she managed project workflow and assisted with operations management.

Marcie holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Wilmington University. She earned her Associate’s degree in Business from Delaware Technical Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management with a minor in Finance from Wilmington University.

Dr. Elizabeth Kelleher has over 25 years of experience in higher education as a general education faculty member and department chairperson, developmental education program coordinator, learning community coordinator, and professional development innovator within the community college system. Dr. Kelleher currently serves as the Initiatives Officer for the Early Childhood Education Innovation Center (ECIC) at Delaware State University, focusing on leading the Initiatives Team to provide Career Advisement to the early childcare workforce, Scholarship opportunities and support for obtaining a post-secondary credential, and the Child Development Associate (CDA) program, with a continued focus on the accessibility of post-secondary education and professional development.

Dr. Kelleher holds a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware with an emphasis on college and career readiness in English Language Arts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, Secondary Education from Waynesburg University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Counseling from Wilmington University with an emphasis on how managing grief impacts the learning process.

Charley Anderson has over 20 years of experience in management, employee relations, career development and customer service. Most recently Charley served as the Lead Qualifications Specialist and Career Advisor for the Office of Early Learning (OEL) with the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE). Currently, Charley serves as the Career Advisement Coordinator for the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) at Delaware State University (DSU).

Jennifer Marsh currently serves as the Operations Coordinator at the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) at Delaware State University. Jennifer brings with her over 12 years of experience in various early learning and operations support roles as a former early childhood teacher while providing support to programs in Delaware. Prior to joining the ECIC, Jennifer came from the Early Childhood Support (ECS) team at the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) while providing contract and financial administration support to programs including Early Head Start, Part-B 619, and the Early Childhood Assistance Program. She also served as the liaison between the DDOE and the Delaware Early Childhood Council (DECC). Before joining the DDOE Jennifer served in operational support roles for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Jennifer is currently a Bachelor’s degree candidate in Business Management at Delaware State University.

Jennifer Seo is currently the Scholarship Coordinator at the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University. In this role, she oversees the scholarship coordination for those working in the field of Early Childhood Education and wants to pursue an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree. She was formerly the Deputy Director at the Mental Health Association in Delaware. In this position, she was involved with various groups that worked to improve the mental well-being of Delawareans, including the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition. She also oversaw the various programs and services the agency provided to the community, which included wellness groups throughout the state of Delaware, Suicide Prevention programming, general mental health awareness presentations, and the Mental Health Court Peer Mentor Program. Jennifer is currently a master trainer for ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). She got into both roles at the Mental Health Association in Delaware and Delaware State University thanks to great mentors and those who provided an opportunity for her to grow and succeed. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park in May of 2009.

Lay’vaon Paulley serves as the Operations Administrative Assistant at the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) at Delaware State University. In this role, Lay’vaon is dedicated to supporting the organization and day-to-day operations of the ECIC, ensuring seamless communication, coordinating administrative processes, and managing logistical needs for various projects and events. Lay’vaon also oversees the scheduling and coordination of meetings, maintains accurate records and reports, and assists in the development and implementation of operational strategies that align with the ECIC’s goals. 

With a strong background in operations, Lay’vaon brings valuable experience from previous roles, including program coordination at the National Leadership Consortium, student enrichment at Delaware Technical Community College, and conference and event management at Delaware State University. Lay’vaon has successfully managed various aspects of program operations, such as marketing and communications, technology integration, and budget oversight. Additionally, Lay’vaon has been instrumental in advancing student development initiatives and streamlining event coordination, leveraging expertise in technology and communication to drive organizational efficiency.   

Lay’vaon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management with a minor in Marketing from Delaware State University, where he developed a strong foundation in strategic planning and marketing.