Dr. Nkechy Ezeh chosen for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network
Published on
Grand Rapids, Mich. - Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, associate professor of education and director of the early childhood education program at ñ, has been
selected as a fellow for the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF)
Community Leadership Network. Dr. Ezeh was chosen from more than 1,900 national candidates,
which included nearly 500 Michigan applicants.
Dr. Ezeh will spend the next three years as a part of this network, which aims to
develop leadership skills of individuals working to help vulnerable children and families
achieve optimal health and well-being, academic success, and financial security.
In addition to being selected as a WKKF fellow, Michigan State Superintendent Mike
Flanagan has appointed Dr. Ezeh to the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office
of Great Start Advisory Council. Dr. Ezeh’s two-year term on this council began September
16. The council will help the state integrate programs across agencies at the state
and local levels, understand local challenges and learn from successful local efforts.
“These opportunities are major personal and professional milestones for me and I am
thrilled to be involved with these organizations,” said Dr. Ezeh. “I look forward
to contributing to both organizations, and using the knowledge and experience gained
from these boards to benefit my work here at ñ and through the Early
Learning Neighborhood Collaboration.”
Dr. Ezeh joined ñ’s faculty in 1998. As an international scholar and
educator, Dr. Ezeh has conducted professional development and parent education workshops
in 11 countries. In 2011, she lead a collaborative process to establish the Early
Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), which plans and designs an intentional
preschool service system aimed at providing, expanding and sustaining the capacity
of high quality early care and education programs in Grand Rapids. She serves as ELNC’s
Chief Executive Officer.