Mary Carmen Edwards, MEd, is a research assistant with the Equity Research Action Coalition (the Coalition) within the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) working to empower students and those who support them through practices of equity and inclusion.

As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with Edwards to learn more about her work at FPG. Here’s what she had to say.

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Tell us a bit about your professional journey―and what brought you to FPG?

Though my bachelor’s degree from Carolina was in economics and global studies, I always enjoyed working with children as a nanny and babysitter. My first job out of undergrad was working at UNC Public Policy as their student services and external affairs manager. This position allowed me to familiarize myself with academia and work with students—though older students than I was used to. I then started working as a preschool teacher when I left Public Policy and transitioned to working in early intervention services supporting children with autism. I witnessed many disparities while working in early intervention, such as the lack of access to services and exclusive practices that are built into the systems. When the center I was working at temporarily closed during the pandemic, I decided it was a great time to get my graduate degree. I earned my master’s in education policy and analysis at the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a concentration in early childhood education. While there, I worked for the Ecological Approach for Social Emotional Learning (EASEL) Lab. I knew I wanted to return to North Carolina after graduation and work in the communities that I grew up in. I was fortunate enough to find an open position as a research assistant at FPG with the Equity Research Action Coalition, a team and organization that aligned with my personal values of advocating for inclusion. I joined FPG in 2022 and have had the privilege to work on a variety of projects related to disability inclusion and racial equity.

What do you do at FPG—describe your job, walk us through a typical day, and tell us about the projects you're currently working on. 

I am primarily working on two projects for FPG right now. I am acting as a program manager for the Coalition to put together a summit highlighting the intersection of early childhood education and maternal child health. This event will be held in June and have folks from across NC in attendance (more information will be shared as we get closer to the event). As part of this role, I’m also working to make the Coalition’s work more accessible to policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and researchers across the state.

My second project is LEAPS – Learning Experiences for All in Preschool. I am collecting data for this project via direct assessments with preschool students and inCLASS observations. The project focuses on “how child, family, and school factors foster behavioral and physiological regulation in 4-year-olds, promoting school readiness and kindergarten success.”

I spend about three mornings a week in preschool classrooms across the Triangle observing students or administering assessments then the latter half of the day bouncing between virtual meetings and trying to stay on top of project tasks.

My Fridays are a little different—I spend Friday mornings as the enrichment teacher at a preschool in Chapel Hill in a combined 3- and 4-year-old classroom. I loved teaching before heading off to graduate school in 2021 and missed having direct service opportunities when I switched to the research and policy side of education. Being in the classroom and working directly with students, even just once a week, helps ground me in my work. It reminds me why I want to work in the field of early childhood education and keeps children and educators at the forefront of all my decisions. For example, when thinking about conducting a classroom observation, I always want to think about how my decisions impact the learning environment, the teacher, and the student—even if it might not be the most convenient for the project, the children are the priority.

What do you like most about your job?

I feel incredibly lucky to have a job that aligns with my personal values as not everyone has that privilege. I also work on a team that is supportive professionally and personally. My team values life outside of work as much as it values our dedication to our jobs. My supervisors, Iheoma Iruka, PhD, and Sharron Hunter-Rainey, PhD, act as mentors and encourage me to join projects that algin with my research interests. We are always searching for ways to improve our practice and work.

What do you find most challenging?

There are simply not enough hours in the week to do all the work that needs to be done to support children and families! I face new challenges with every project I join and look forward to learning how to adapt to each new challenge. Though I have a degree in education policy, I need real life experience to understand HOW to connect research, policy, and practice to make a real-world impact. The challenge of this hands-on experience is the best way to learn how to do it. It’s also a good reminder that I need to step out of my own academic bubble and ground myself in what happens outside of a university setting.

How does your work further the mission of FPG?

Every project I am on is actively working to support children and families by promoting equitable and inclusive practices. The Coalition’s values strongly align with FPG’s mission, vision, and values. We learn more about children and how to support them through each project. We are not siloed to work on one thing with one team, we are encouraged to connect, learn, and grow and create true impact with our fellow FPG colleagues.

What do you hope to have accomplished five years from now?

Five years from now, I hope funding is more accessible and I’m able to continue to work on projects dedicated to disability inclusion in early care and education. I hope to be able to act as more of an advocate and go-between for policymakers and researchers—something I’m just starting to investigate now.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about your work/working at FPG?

FPG has been a great place to work and grow. I appreciate learning from my colleagues and being in an environment that values collaboration, growth, and inclusion.