Susan Friedman is NAEYC's Senior Director of Publishing and Professional Learning. In this role she leads the content development work of NAEYC's books and periodicals publishing, digital content, and professional learning teams. Early childhood educators rely on NAEYC's content including books, and award winning periodicals Young Children, and Teaching Young Children, to stay up to date on research and best practices they can apply directly to their classrooms. In addition to her roles at NAEYC, she brings extensive prior experience in content programming, editorial oversight and production with many years of experience creating content on developmentally appropriate uses of media, play, and other topics for educators and families. Susan has presented at numerous educational conferences including the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Professional Learning Institute and Annual Conference, SXSW EDU, and at the Early Childhood Cohort for the AASA (The School Superintendents Association. She began her career as a preschool teacher at City & Country School in New York City. Susan holds degrees from Vassar College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Alissa Mwenelupembe has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 18 years as a teacher, coach, director and college instructor. She is currently working as the Director of Early Learning at St. Vincent Early Learning Center in Evansville, Indiana and also serves on the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Alissa holds a BA from the University of Southern Indiana, a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Ball State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Early Childhood Education, also at Ball State University. As a Black woman working in Early Childhood Education and navigating higher education spheres, Alissa is well versed in the issues of equity and diversity. Her research interests center around social emotional development of children of color, primarily those living in families and communities that are not a racial match. Alissa has presented both locally and nationally at early childhood conferences including the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Professional Learning Institute and Annual Conference, the Maryland Head Start Association Conference, the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children's Annual Conference and more.