Start Date: January 2023

Mary Mathew is building Book Harvest’s advocacy and policy portfolio, actively connecting the organization to national, state, and local early childhood policy and advocacy initiatives. Her experience building collaborations with key stakeholders across systems of influence is creating opportunities for new and enhanced relationships for Book Harvest with policy makers, legislators, funders, community providers, and families. Mary leads and participates in convenings that address early childhood and early literacy issues, and she authors papers, commentaries, and other resources that focus on equitable access to materials and supports for all children and families.

Mary’s experience in early childhood work spans more than 20 years. Her work as Collaboration and Policy Leader at the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation and as Director of Program Planning and Partner Engagement at East Durham Children’s Initiative (now DCI) includes relationships and impact that form a foundation for substantial knowledge, connections, and influence. She has conducted research on public health issues, and her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Mary is a member of many statewide coalitions including EveryChild NC and the North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan Third Grade Reading Proficiency Workgroup. She is also a participant in the Public School Forum’s prestigious Education Policy Fellowship Program.

Raised in Ontario, Mary received a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Arts and Science from McMaster University. She was awarded a Master of Science in Public Health focused on Maternal and Child Health from UNC-Chapel Hill.