Katy Chapman 

Kathryn (Katy) Chapman, Ph.D. joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 2022 as a Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Studies and affiliate of the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies. Her research interests focus on the intersection of policy, leadership, and financial investments to address inequities across early childhood systems.

Immediately preceding her position at the University of Florida, Dr. Chapman was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Kentucky College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership Studies. In that position, she was actively involved in research projects that developed her interest in the following areas: the early childhood workforce, support systems for vulnerable populations of children from birth through the early grades, educational leadership preparation in early childhood education and care, and continuity of care at times of external shocks for young children and their families.

Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Dr. Chapman was a Kindergarten and Preschool teacher in Virginia, Wisconsin, and Arizona, and worked as a Confidential Assistant in the Office of the Secretary at the United States Department of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Evaluation from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University.

Early Childhood, Early Childhood Studies, Early Intervention, Finance, History of Education, Leadership Development, Mixed Methods, Policy Development, Professional Development in Early Childhood, Qualitative Research

• Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Evaluation, 2019 Arizona State University
• M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2013 University of Wisconsin - Madison
• B.A. in Early Childhood Education, 2005 Arizona State University

• Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Florida, 2023-present
• Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Florida, 2022-2023
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Educational Leadership Studies, University of Kentucky College of Education, 2019-2022

• Associate Editor, Early Childhood Education Journal, 2026-present
• Co-Program Chair, Early Education and Child Development Special Interest Group, American Educational Research Association, 2026-2029
• Mentor, University Council for Educational Administration Research Development Program, 2026-present