Each year, we help thousands of early childhood professionals meet their career goals.
Honoring Lifelong Baby Champions
Our Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made substantive contributions of national or international significance to improving the lives of infants, toddlers and their families.
Award recipients are individuals whose research, practice, teaching or advocacy has had a demonstrable impact on very young children and those who care for them.
2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Dr. Lombardi has been a trailblazer in child development and social policy for more than 50 years. She was key in shaping the foundation of early childhood programs in the United States that have inspired changes worldwide. She served as the first director of the Child Care Bureau under President Clinton and was part of the team that created Early Head Start in 1994 in addition to serving under President Obama as the first deputy assistant secretary for Early Childhood Development.
Dr. Lombardi has collaborated with UNICEF, the World Bank and was a founder of the Birth to Five Policy Alliance and Global Leaders for Young Children in addition to many other international organizations.
Lifetime Achievement Award Past Recipients
Dr. Karol Wilson
2024
Dr.Ross Thompson
2023
Dr. Charles Zeanah
2022
Dr. Dolores (Dodie) Norton
2021
Dr. Edward Tronick
2017
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton
2016
Dr. Edward Zigler
2016
