Meet Our Team

BBF employees form a statewide network of early childhood professionals, working both in communities and on the state level. We use a collaborative model to work toward meeting the diverse needs of Vermont’s young children and families.

 

Morgan Crossman

Executive Director

As the Executive Director of BBF and Vermont’s Early Childhood Data and Policy Center, Dr. Crossman is responsible for leading the vision and strategic plan of Vermont’s early childhood system and serving as the primary advisor to the Governor and Legislature on the well-being of children from prenatal to age 8 and their families, using evidence and data to inform policy and service provision.

A native Vermonter from Rutland, Dr. Morgan Crossman is the Executive Director of Building Bright Futures (BBF) and Vermont’s Early Childhood Resource, Data, and Policy Center. Morgan holds a PhD in Social Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, specializing in Child, Youth, and Family Policy as well as Disability Policy, and a master’s degree in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. Prior to joining BBF, she was appointed to the Harvard-wide Pediatric Health Services Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. There she led many research studies focused on service integration and improving care transitions for children with special health care needs and their families as they navigate multiple complex service systems over the life course. During this time, she also taught two graduate classes as Boston University’s School of Public Health as an adjunct faculty member: “Children with Special Health Care Needs” and “Preventing Mental Health Disorders: A Life Course Approach.”

She served previously as the Clinical Research Program Manager for the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital within the Division of Developmental Medicine. In this role, she submitted multimillion-dollar federally funded grants and coordinated the implementation of multi-site national research projects focused on families of children, youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental and related disabilities, such as Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). She was also trained to conduct clinical assessments of children using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.

To this work she brings a strong background in the quantitative and qualitative research methods necessary to critically examine issues for Vermont’s youngest and most vulnerable children and families. Morgan has specific expertise in child development, maternal and child health and well-being, early intervention, and early childhood education for children with disabilities and special health care needs. Her work emphasizes the importance of early childhood development through the life course theory, which is a layered conceptual framework that can be used to understand factors that contribute to optimal health and well-being. This approach examines how patterns or trajectories develop over a lifetime, across generations and within many contexts, suggesting that exposures and contexts during early childhood influence later health and well-being. Stemming from this lens, Morgan views families as the most critical context for child development. Morgan’s career has always been informed by a social justice framework with a focus on the promotion of equitable outcomes for families and children.

As Executive Director of Building Bright Futures, Morgan partners with stakeholders in early care, education, health, and mental health sectors to advance the goals and strategies of Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan to impact conditions for Vermont’s children birth to age 8. She is also responsible for advising the Governor and Legislature on matters of early childhood in Vermont using a data-driven approach.

Morgan also manages the comprehensive infrastructure of BBF’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council and 12 Regional Councils and works with individuals, organizations, and agencies to develop best approaches for an integrated system that advances data-driven progress for all Vermont’s young children and their families. In addition to her work at the systems level, Morgan directs Vermont’s Center for Research, Data and Policy, a powerful tool for BBF and its stakeholder network as they seek to understand the challenges and successes of children and families in the state and craft strategies that turn the curve on some of the biggest hurdles facing Vermont families. Through collaborations with partners across the state of Vermont, Morgan seeks to build the capacity of BBF to serve as the state’s neutral convener of key stakeholders, resources, and the most up-to-date, high-quality, accurate data to inform key policy recommendations that will ultimately improve the system of services for children and families.

Morgan resides in Hinesburg, Vermont, with her husband Chris and daughter Amelie.

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Beth Truzansky

Deputy Director

As Deputy Director, Beth manages the comprehensive infrastructure of the State Advisory Council, seven Vermont Early Childhood Action Plan Committees, and 12 Regional Councils and works with individuals, organizations, and agencies to develop the best approaches for an integrated system that advances data-driven progress for all of Vermont’s young children and their families. Beth works to carry out the vision outlined in Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan to improve outcomes for children and families. Beth joined the BBF team in 2014, and since then, she has served as the Interim Executive Director, VECAP Director, and Chittenden Regional Coordinator. Previously she worked for the City of Burlington managing the city’s community engagement, AmeriCorps, and cultural competency programs. Beth’s skills are in strategic systems change, organization development, creating more equitable systems, engaged decision-making, and facilitation. She lives in Burlington, Vermont, with her partner, Tracy, and their two daughters.

Ali Dieng

Regional Manager for Central Vermont, Chittenden, and Franklin and Grand Isle

Ali Dieng is a passionate and dedicated community leader who supports BBF’s Chittenden, Central Vermont and Franklin and Grand Isle regions. Ali joined the BBF team from the education sector, where he engaged parents, educators, and community partners by running Parent University and served in various roles for the Burlington School District over 13 years. Ali is committed to building more equitable and accessible systems and brings his expertise engaging diverse perspectives, especially those from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Ali also brings an understanding of the early childhood, after-school, and social service systems and a desire to cultivate connections across the three regions he serves in Northern Vermont. Ali is a 2016 graduate of the Snelling Center for Government’s Early Childhood Leadership Institute. His education background is in international law, which he studied at the University of Mauritania in Africa. In addition to his work with BBF, Ali loves being involved in the community in various capacities. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunities (CVOEO) and is in his second term as a Burlington City Counselor. He resides in Burlington with his wife, Angela, and their two daughters.

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Allison Oskar

Finance Manager

Allison brings joy and enthusiasm to her role as Finance Manager for Building Bright Futures. Her professional journey has encompassed finance, analytical, and accounting roles at The UVM Medical Center, NRG Systems, and Shelburne Farms, where she’s combined her passion for spreadsheets with her love of mission-driven work. She is proud to provide fiscal and organizational management to support BBF’s mission and vision across the State. A longtime resident of Burlington, Allison loves gardening, her cats, local foods, spending time with her friends, and celebrating the beauty of Vermont.

Anna Brouillette

Policy and Program Director

As Policy and Program Director, Anna Brouillette supports BBF’s efforts to utilize evidence and leverage partnerships to improve well-being for Vermont’s children and families. Anna joined the BBF team after holding a number of roles in the early childhood policy field, most recently with the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, where she analyzed and supported states’ progress towards implementing effective policies for young children and their families. Anna holds an MEd from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she studied education policy and management and served as a Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative Fellow. Prior to graduate school, she worked with Let’s Grow Kids as a Policy and Research Analyst. Anna brings a background in early childhood systems analysis, data and statistical analysis, and Vermont’s policy landscape to the team. Anna is an avid reader, a native Vermonter, and enjoys spending summers at her family’s camp in the Northeast Kingdom.

Courtney Hillhouse

Regional Manager for Southeast Vermont, Northern Windsor and Orange, and Springfield Area

Courtney serves as the Regional Manager for Southeast Vermont, the Springfield Area, and Northern Windsor & Orange counties. Courtney has a passion for creating social change and improving the lives of children and families and the early childhood workforce. She brings diverse skills in community outreach, public health, prevention, marketing, and community problem-solving to this role, which builds on her work most recently as a Community Outreach Specialist in community health with Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center. Her passion is in providing equitable access to services, particularly building quality child care with a universal foundation of social and emotional support. Courtney devotes time volunteering as a member of the Windsor Rotary Club and enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking, and finding other adventures throughout New England’s stunning landscape. Courtney holds a MA and a BA in Communications and Media Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Cavendish, Vermont, with her two sons and two cats.

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Darla Senecal

Regional Manager for Bennington, Rutland, and Addison

Darla serves as the Regional Manger for Bennington, Addison, and Rutland counties. She works to support collaboration among families, educators, community partners, and others dedicated to creating the best outcomes for children and families. Darla has spent much of her career working in community service, first as a volunteer, then as a Recreation Director for 17 years, and most recently as a newly elected Selectboard member in the Town of Bristol, Vermont. Working on projects that bring communities together is when Darla finds herself most energized. Darla can often be found working in her gardens, regularly accompanied by her cat Angus.

Learn more about

Bennington

Rutland

Addison

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Dora Levinson

Research and Data Director

Dora serves as the Research and Data Director for Building Bright Futures and Vermont’s Early Childhood Data and Policy Center (Vermontkidsdata.org). In both roles, she works with the most high-quality, up-to-date data and evidence to inform policy and practice. She continues to find inspiration in seeing the impact that effective policies and community collaboration have in shaping the lives of children and families. Dora lives in Dummerston, Vermont, with her partner, toddler, and dogs and enjoys hiking, cuddling, cooking, and building community.

Katie Mobbs

Office Manager

As the Office Manager for BBF, Katie wears many hats, and her tasks range from accounts payable and receivable to event planning to human resources to maintaining day-to-day operations for BBF. Katie has over 20 years of experience in this field; before coming to work for BBF, she worked for the Visiting Nurse Association for many years. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her family exploring the woods of the Northeast Kingdom.

Linda Michniewicz

Regional Manager for Caledonia and Southern Essex, Lamoille Valley, and Orleans and Northern Essex

Linda is the Building Bright Futures Regional Manager for Lamoille, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. She has devoted her career to early childhood education, starting as a preschool teacher, Head Start director, and most recently, the Early Childhood Program Coordinator for the Caledonia North Supervisory Union. Linda serves on the boards of directors of Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, the Lake Region Union High School, and elementary and middle school boards. She is also a Justice of the Peace and is on the Board of Civil Authority for the Town of Westmore, where she resides. She enjoys living in the NEK and taking advantage of all the great outdoor natural resources it has to offer!

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Nicole D’Agostino

Data and Policy Manager

Nicole D’Agostino serves as the Data and Policy Manager at Building Bright Futures and Vermont’s Early Childhood Data and Policy Center (Vermontkidsdata.org). In both roles, she works with the most high-quality, up-to-date data and evidence to inform policy and practice. Nicole brings over 10 years of experience in data analytics and management, including with the State of Vermont, MIT, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She earned her master’s degree in Public Policy from Brandeis University in 2020, with a focus on economic and racial equity. In addition to her work at BBF, Nicole serves on Middlesex’s Planning Commission and deeply enjoys work involving community development. She resides with her husband, Josh, and their two daughters in Middlesex, Vermont, where she enjoys playing sports outdoors and reading.

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