Dr. Ellen Frede is a widely published researcher and former teacher with extensive experience in early childhood program implementation and administration. She joined the foundation in 2015 from Acelero Learning, where she oversaw all education and research initiatives. She also served as co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University, where she investigated the relationship of program quality to child outcomes, the longitudinal effects of preschool, and early education policy.

Ellen previously served as assistant to the commissioner for Early Childhood Education at the New Jersey Department of Education, which oversaw the implementation of high-quality preschool in more than 150 school districts, serving 50,000 children and their families. As an associate professor at the College of New Jersey for more than 16 years, she taught applied child development and early childhood teaching methods courses to prospective and practicing teachers.