Dr. Sherlyn E. Harrison is an advisor for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. She is a dedicated educator, leader, and scholar with nearly 25 years of experience providing high quality educational programming and mental health services to children and families. She currently serves as Managing Director of Programs and Operations for the Pittsburgh Scholar House, a non-profit affiliate of the Family Scholar House dedicated to using a two-generation approach to disrupt the cycle of poverty by enabling post-secondary educational attainment and comprehensive support services to improve the quality of life for income eligible single parents and their children. Prior to that, Dr. Harrison was the Early Head Start Delivery Manager for Pittsburgh Public School’s Early Childhood Education program where for 7 years she managed a high-quality early learning program for children ages birth to three.

Centering race while elevating issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are primary to the work that Dr. Harrison has been passionate about for many years. Most recently, the Early Head Start program that she managed was awarded the PA Early Childhood Equity Champion Gold Award for engaging in innovative professional development designed to enhance culturally responsive practices and cultivate learning environments where all children, particularly children of color and their families, feel a sense of belonging.

Dr. Harrison earned her doctorate in Education in Leadership & Administration from Point Park University. Her research focused on promoting positive racial identity in young African American children, specifically exploring how parents’ effective racial socialization practices can be integrated into early childhood settings.