Ed Zigler, Ph.D.
Occupation/Employment
Sterling Professor of Psychology, Emeritus; Yale University, Director, Emeritus, of the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University; Co-Director, Zigler Center Head Start Unit
Affiliations
ZERO TO THREE Board Member Emeritus
Contributions to the Field
Dr. Zigler continues his lifetime interest in the motivational determinants of children's performance and the influence of life circumstances on children's behavior and development. This work includes the effects of socialization settings, child care, schools, intervention programs, and family factors. A major branch of Zigler's studies and writings concerns the development of social action programs to meet the needs of children and their families.
In 1970, Dr. Zigler was named by President Nixon to become the first Director of the Office of Child Development and Chief of the U.S. Children’s Bureau. He was responsible for administering the nation’s Head Start program and led efforts to conceptualize and mount other innovative programs such as Home Start, Education for Parenthood, the Child Development Associate and the Child and Family Resource Program.
More recently, he helped bring to fruition the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Early Head Start program and the large network of Schools for the 21st Century.
Recent Awards/Honors/Recognition/Books Published
Dr. Zigler is the author or editor of 38 books and has written over 800 scholarly articles. He is a member of the editorial boards of over 10 professional journals. He has received the Heinz Family Foundation Award in Public Policy; the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education; the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Award, and many others.
