Yetunde Akinola is a Research Associate with the Early Childhood Learning and Development team. She currently works on projects with both the California State Department of Education (CDE) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Prior to joining WestEd, Akinola was an early childhood teacher and consultant for YELA, a home-based company she founded. She conducted a day-to-day school operation focusing on children ages 1–5, where she applied evidence-based practices to identify and provide curricula that put each child on a path of long-term success.
Akinola is passionate about closing the academic achievement gap and bringing light to the educational disparities that exist in the Black and Brown communities. Her research interests include work surrounding home and school partnerships, culturally relevant pedagogy, warm demander instruction, early intervention strategies, equity-centered approaches, and school climate and culture.
Akinola holds a BA in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MA and PhD in developmental psychology from Howard University.