Chrystine Mitchell (PhD) is the Director of ECE Operations at ChildCare Education Institute. Prior to joining CCEI, she was in higher education for over 12 years, most recently functioning as an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education and the Director of ECE Programs at Alvernia University. Her research and scholarship includes literacy pedagogy, culturally sustaining pedagogy, digital technologies and ECE partnerships, and her most recent publication was about reimagining men in ECE. Dr. Mitchell also has previous experience working as an elementary school teacher, a director of a child care center, a professional development specialist, a Reading Coach, and an administrator in the public school system. She has a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Children’s Literature, a post-bacc Elementary Education Certification, a Master’s degree in Educational Administration, and a Ph.D. in Literacy Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.