Erikson’s Mission Statement

Erikson’s Mission

Erikson Institute, a graduate school in child development, was founded in 1966 in response to the War on Poverty and the need for highly qualified early childhood professionals to staff the newly created Head Start program. Three prominent child advocates—child psychologist Maria Piers, social worker Lorraine Wallach, and educator and activist Barbara Taylor Bowman—led this effort, assisted by businessman and philanthropist Irving B. Harris, who provided critical financial and intellectual support. The founders named the Institute for lay psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, who was among the first to propose that children are not simply biological organisms but also products of society’s expectations, prejudices, allowances, and prohibitions.

Erikson Mission Statement

(Approved by the Board of Trustees, November 14, 2024)

Erikson is a leading institution of higher education that prepares professionals to address the urgent challenges facing young children, their families and communities. Our innovative programs, transformative research and impactful advocacy empower early childhood professionals to drive lasting change. The Institute strives to build an equitable future where every child thrives.