Ronald Lally, Co-Director of WestEd’s Center for Child & Family Studies, was recently honored for his leadership in the field of early care and education by the Exchange Leadership Initiative, a project of Exchange, a leading bi-monthly magazine that supports early childhood professionals worldwide. The initiative has identified Lally as a “doyen” in the field — “part of a very special group of leaders held in high regard with a true place of respect.”

The initiative was created to explore strategies for making leadership more visible in the field; growing the understanding of the qualities, training, and skills necessary for leadership; and supporting and developing leaders.

The announcement was made in the November/December 2017 issue of Exchange:

“We begin with recognition of our first group of doyens. We acknowledge the vision, determination, and generosity of spirit that are hallmarks of their leadership. We honor them for their lifetime commitment to young children and families.”

Lally is a pioneer in the field of infant/toddler development and one of the founders of ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. Early in his career, while at the University of Florida, Lally directed one of the first home visiting programs for infants in the United States. While a professor at Syracuse University, he directed the Family Development Research Program, one of the early longitudinal studies of the impact of early intervention on children (0 to 5) from low-income families.

In addition to his role as Co-Director of the Center for Child & Family Studies at WestEd, for over 30 years Lally has led WestEd’s Program for Infant/Toddler Care, a comprehensive training system that promotes responsive, caring relationships for infants and toddlers.

Lally also created For Our Babies, a national campaign that promotes healthy development in U.S. children from conception to age three, and advocates for the kinds of environments, experiences, and relationships that infants and toddlers need in order to thrive.

Source: Exchange, Volume 39, Issue 6, No 238
Read the original article: Creating a Community of Gratitude: Honoring Doyens in Our Field