Inside Erikson | May 2024
a monthly comm(unity) newsletter
May is filled with celebrations including our 2024 Commencement which was held on May 6 at the historic Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago. This year’s commencement was special for multiple reasons as we celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of our newest degree program, Early Childhood Education with Triple Endorsement, the last cohort of our Early Childhood Education (Teacher Licensure) master’s degree and all graduates from our Social Work, Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure), Child Development and Doctoral programs. We also awarded two honorary degrees to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Dr. Michelle Sarche. Congratulations to the class of 2024 as well as all Erikson students and faculty on another successful school year.
Erikson Updates
Erikson Faculty attend the 2024 AERA Conference
An unprecedented number of Erikson faculty members attended the 2024 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, the largest gathering of educational researchers, This year’s theme was “Dismantling Racial Injustice and Constructing Educational Possibilities: A Call to Action.” Erikson faculty participated in AERA by presenting research, facilitating scholarly conversations or supporting AERA’s work as leaders within the organization. This remarkable representation from Erikson illustrates great progress toward Erikson’s goal to contribute to knowledge generation via research. Read more in our blog
Erikson supports Early Childhood Advocacy Day in Springfield, IL
The Policy and Leadership team was in Springfield on April 16 for Early Childhood Advocacy Day and to attend the Illinois Senate Early Childhood Committee hearing on affordable childcare, access and accountability. As part of their work, the department is engaged in the We, the Village and Raising Illinois coalitions that organized Advocacy Day.
Erikson student wins at Loyola’s Graduate Student Research Symposium
Last month we featured Ivette Guadarrama, a doctoral student in the Erikson/Loyola Child Development program as our JEDI advocate for exploring the unique needs of newcomer students and the pedagogical adaptations made by teachers to meet these needs. This month, we are happy to report that after being selected to present at the 17th Annual Graduate School Interdisciplinary Research Symposium, which was held on April 13, Ivette’s abstract won in the social science category. Congratulations, Ivette! Read more about her work in her abstract
Careers at Erikson
We’re hiring for a variety of roles that support our mission. Please check out new opportunities and share widely with your networks.
About Erikson
Graduate Education
Recognized for our groundbreaking work in the field of early childhood, Erikson specializes in preparing child development, education, and social work leaders to improve the lives of young children, families, and their communities. For more information on our degree and certificate programs, visit our website or email our admissions team.
Clinical and Community Services
Erikson’s Center for Children and Families offers pediatric mental health services for children birth to age 8 and their families. Services can be provided in both English and Spanish, and are available to families regardless of their ability to pay.
Policy and Leadership
Erikson’s Policy and Leadership department engages leaders in government, business, and nonprofit sectors to inform effective policies that benefit children and families. They offer unique programming that equips decision-makers and influencers with the resources, skills, and deep knowledge about early childhood development that will support their efforts to make lasting change. Learn more about our Policy and Leadership
Give to Erikson
The first 1,800 days of life set the stage for a child’s long-term physical and emotional health, socioeconomic trajectory, life expectancy, happiness, and well-being. Can we count on you to make a gift to strengthen our ability to serve children and families, as well as our students, faculty, and staff, during this time? Your support for Erikson prepares the heroes in young children’s lives—teachers, social workers, civic leaders, parents and caregivers—to get them safely through this crisis so they can soar into promising futures. Please donate
Join the Erikson family with monthly news + events updates shared by academics, community members, and families.
Create a Better Future For Children While Building Yours
Embark on your early childhood graduate program path at Erikson Institute and start changing lives.