Erikson Institute has chosen Mariana Souto-Manning, Professor of Early Childhood Education & Teacher Education, to serve as its fifth president. Souto-Manning, a leading researcher in the field of early childhood education and development, will start her new position on Sept. 1.
As Erikson’s president, Souto-Manning will lead an institution that thrives at the intersection of graduate education, research, policy, social science and community outreach.
“I am incredibly honored to serve as President of Erikson. As we reflect on and hopefully leave the COVID-19 pandemic crisis behind, we all realize the need for robust support for communities, families and young children,” said Souto-Manning. “I believe that Erikson offers a powerful model for the country, and Erikson’s commitment and vision for the future align well with my own focus on justice, equity, belonging and inclusion.”
As a member of TC’s faculty, Souto-Manning served as director of numerous College academic programs, including Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, and the doctoral program in Curriculum & Teaching. Throughout her scholarship, teaching and engagement, Souto-Manning’s award-winning work is focused on justice, equity, inclusion and belonging in early childhood teaching and teacher education.
From research that codifies high-quality teaching in diverse settings to writings that outline why certain definitions of literacy disenfranchise students of color and English language learners, Mariana’s scholarship has been consequential in making opportunities for young students more equitable and inclusive. We look forward to seeing her lead Erikson, where her critical research skills and passion as an educator will continue to make an impact as it has at TC.
“Mariana Souto-Manning’s contributions to Teachers College and the field of early childhood education are profound,” President Thomas Bailey said. “From research that codifies high-quality teaching in diverse settings to writings that outline why certain definitions of literacy disenfranchise students of color and English language learners, Mariana’s scholarship has been consequential in making opportunities for young students more equitable and inclusive. We look forward to seeing her lead Erikson, where her critical research skills and passion as an educator will continue to make an impact as it has at TC.”
A native of Brazil, where she taught preschool, Souto-Manning also partnered with the Lemann Foundation to study classroom practices in her home country. At the New York State level, she led higher education work in the N.Y.S.E.D. Early Childhood Blue Ribbon Committee — convening its inaugural meeting at Teachers College — and was a core member of the national expert committee that developed the N.Y.S.E.D. Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education Framework, adopted statewide.
“When we set out to find the next president, our mission was to find a true leader with passion in the early childhood space who understood how to train and teach the next generation. Someone able to lead Erikson into the future with a real commitment to diversity, equity and belonging,” said Eric Adelstein, Vice Chair of the Erikson Board of Trustees and the Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Mariana is not only the personification of all those values — she is a true visionary.”
Souto-Manning views the appointment as an unparalleled opportunity to draw on her academic and organizational expertise, which she accumulated in a number of leadership posts and roles at Teachers College; New York State Education Department; and the American Educational Research Association, to name a few.
“At TC, not only did I have the opportunity to develop as a scholar in the more traditional sense, but also to impact policy and practice in New York City, New York State and beyond” said Souto-Manning, who has authored ten books, more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and dozens of book chapters.
Through her extensive work, Mariana Souto-Manning represents the ethos of our faculty at Teachers College, who not only diligently serve their students, but also make significant contributions to their communities and academic discourse across the globe.
“Through her extensive work, Mariana Souto-Manning represents the ethos of our faculty at Teachers College, who not only diligently serve their students, but also make significant contributions to their communities and academic discourse across the globe,” said Stephanie J. Rowley, Provost, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
For Souto-Manning, TC played a major role in her preparation for serving at the helm of Erikson. “At TC, not only did I have the opportunity to accrue multiple administrative roles — at times simultaneously — and develop leadership experience, but I became deeply familiar with the power and possibility of faculty governance, which I believe is essential in higher education.”
In her new role, Souto-Manning is the latest to join a legacy of visionary leaders at Erikson known for stewarding the organization’s mission of building a future where all children have equitable opportunities to realize their potential.
“Mariana’s passion, knowledge and expertise position her perfectly to lead Erikson’s current strategic plan of growth and collaboration, and integration of our work across graduate education, professional education, research, clinical and community services, school partnerships, policy and leadership,” said Elenne Song, Chair of the Erikson Board of Trustees. “We are particularly excited about Mariana’s research work to better understand the inequities and injustices in early childhood teaching and teacher education.”
— Steve Giegerich