Almost a year ago, I was welcomed to Erikson Institute as its new dean.
Whether you’re considering enrollment here or just browsing to learn more about our work, I’d like to extend the same warm welcome to you.

I am thrilled to be here at this remarkable school. If you are serious about giving young children the best start in life, I believe you will be, too.

As one of our students profiled elsewhere on this site commented, there is no place like Erikson. You’re immersed in a community exclusively and passionately focused on early childhood. Everyone spends most of their time thinking about how to teach, care for, and serve young children and families more effectively. Here, that means employing not just the latest methods and theoretical knowledge, but also self-knowledge, to better understand your relationships with the children and families you serve. And everyone goes out of their way to help our students and alumni succeed in class and in practice.

It’s an exciting time in the early childhood field, as we're seeing increased attention to critical issues such as school reform, universal preschool, early intervention, and infant mental health, It’s also an exciting time to be at Erikson. We have recently doubled our space and expanded our research, clinical, and outreach activities, developing additional online learning opportunities, and preparing to launch a new degree program in China.

I invite you to look around our site, learn about our programs, see our impact, and join us in our mission to improve life for children and families.

Frances O’Connell Rust, Ed.D.
Senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty