Ann Hanson leads Start Early’s systemic impact strategy to improve early childhood policy and systems at the community, state and federal levels. She leads the Start Early Consulting team, dedicated to supporting public sector leaders and advocates to build strong, resilient systems in states and communities across the country.

Ann joined Start Early in 2007, and since then has worked across policy, program, and research to create innovative solutions for early childhood leaders and to help solve complex systems problems. Ann began her career in education policy and evaluation, consulting on evaluations and start-up of education interventions.

Ann holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ann calls Chicago her home base, where she lives with her husband and too many books.