Colleen Murphy is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive community systems strategy for Start Early, including providing subject matter expertise and support to empower local systems leaders in building better communities, developing and coordinating local outreach strategies, and supporting the development of a systems measurement framework.

Having spent over 25 years in early childhood programs and systems at local, state and national levels, Colleen has provided technical assistance to communities and states in topics such as systems building and the collection, use, analysis and visualization of data. Most recently, she served as the early childhood program director at the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality.

Colleen holds her doctorate in infant and early childhood development, as well as her master’s degree in organizational behavior and management. She currently serves on the Early Relational Health Advisory Team, which advances early relational health across child health, early childhood systems and communities.

Colleen lives in Wausau, WI with her husband, Steven. She has three daughters—Brittany, Madison and Aliza—and is proud grandmother to Kilian James.