As Chief Programs & Impact Officer, Sonja leads the Center’s program strategy to strengthen quality and expand the impact of early childhood and youth development programming. A champion for equity, Sonja views access to high‑quality early learning for our nation’s most vulnerable children as a matter of social justice.
With more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Sonja has held leadership roles spanning program quality, community partnerships, family engagement, and systems‑building. Prior to joining the Center, she served as Executive Director of Early Learning and Child Development at One Hope United. Her career also includes national-level roles such as Technical Advisor for Early Childhood Equity Improvement at the YMCA of the USA and Quality Assessment Coordinator at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.
Sonja holds a PhD in Education from Capella University, a master’s degree in Early Childhood Administration from National Louis University, and postgraduate certification in Online Instruction from Roosevelt University.
