Ernestine Benedict

As the Chief Communications Officer, Ernestine Benedict brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications strategy across multiple industries, including nonprofit, government, arts and culture, and technology. Before joining ZERO TO THREE, she served as the Chief Communications Officer for the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Previously, Ms. Benedict served as Chief of Communications for the District of Columbia Public Schools
(DCPS). Prior to her role at DCPS, Ms. Benedict served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Reading Is Fundamental, where she created and launched Leading to Reading, an award-winning, bilingual website supporting early literacy learning for young children. Ms. Benedict began her career in the Silicon Valley, where she held product management and product marketing positions at AOL, Netscape Communications and Broadband Office. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies degree in Finance from Temple University. Ms. Benedict is an active board member of the National Habeas Institute, which educates about habeas law and seeks to identify and correct gaps in the American legal system committees, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Psychological Association’s Board of Educational Affairs, and the Brady Education Foundation. In addition to being on the National Advisory Committee for the U.S. Census Bureau and a Census Advisor for the National Urban League, Dr. Iruka is the recipient of the 2022 American Psychological Association Mid-Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Benefit Children, Youth, and Families.