Cleary named to national post

The University Child Development Center provides child day care and early childhood education… The University Child Development Center provides child day care and early childhood education for the children of Pitt students, staff and faculty.

Sherry Cleary, director of UCDC and assistant professor in Pitt’s School of Education, came to Pittsburgh because a job opportunity with the UCDC nine years ago from Poughkeepsie, NY.

“I am very impressed with the way Pitt runs this program,” Cleary said. “The University subsides the cost of child care so people can afford to use this program.”

According to Cleary, more than 10 percent of parents’ income is spent on childcare, which is sometimes more than a mortgage on a house.

Though there is now a waiting list to get into the program, many people have greatly benefited from the curriculum offered at the UCDC, Cleary said.

Through the UCDC, Cleary offers intensive 600-hour training programs at the center for students and adults interested in pursuing a career in early childhood education.

“The University of Pittsburgh is a model for the nation providing education for all children at Pitt,” Cleary said. “It empowers people to do their very best work and I consider myself very fortunate to be working here.”

According to Cleary, who has been a member of the UCDC for 16 years, Pitt and parent fees fund the UCDC.

“It’s a great job with amazing opportunities. They truly focus on quality child care,” Cleary added. “Pitt is doing a great job in trying to reach out to as many families as possible.”

In July, Cleary was named the president of the National Coalition for Campus Children’s Centers, an international organization that promotes service, teaching and research in programs for young children on college and university campuses.

“Our goal is to try to increase our membership, improve member services, and provide campuses with technical assistance, along with informing public policies about early childhood education services,” Cleary said.

During her 18-month term as president, Cleary will be working for national policy changes relating to early childhood education and help oversee the NCCC’s annual conferences, its publications and its support to about 400 colleges and universities across the country, according to Sharon Blake, senior news representative for Pitt’s office of news and information.

Throughout Cleary’s term as president at the NCCC, she will continue to work at the UCDC.

“There are very few countries that do not fund early childhood education for young children,” Cleary said. “Unfortunately [the US] is one of them.”

Cleary is also a member of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum dealing with matters that involve young children, parenting, balancing work and family, curriculum, teacher development, research, administration and program development.

“The Children’s Museum work is very stimulating,” Cleary said. “It’s a very dynamic way of educating children and a wonderful extension of my work.”