Ken Murphy
Chief Communications Officer
Council for Professional Recognition
kennethm@cdacouncil.org
202-772-5513
As part of its Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree, Ashford University is now offering courses that allow students to meet the 120-hour early childhood educationcompetencies to obtain a Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™.
Ashford University is a strategic partner of the Council for Professional Recognition, which administers the CDA program. The program is designed to assess and credential early childhood educators.
“The Council is pleased to work with Ashford University and we’re super excited that students can now start working towards obtaining their CDA through their coursework,” said Council CEO Valora Washington. “Ashford has outstanding programs and we’re honored to be in partnership with the university.”
In addition to the Associate of Arts degree, Ashford offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education.
“Ashford University is so pleased to partner with the Council for Professional Recognition to support our students in obtaining a CDA. Our students will most certainly benefit from this opportunity moving forward,” said Dr. Tony Farrell, executive dean for the College of Education.
“Ashford University is so pleased to partner with the Council for Professional Recognition to support our students in obtaining a CDA. Our students will most certainly benefit from this opportunity moving forward,” said Dr. Tony Farrell, executive dean for the College of Education.
Ashford University is an online for-profit university headquartered in San Diego, CA. It is the largest educational holding of Zovio.
The university offers more than 85 degree programs online.The university consists of four colleges: the Forbes School of Business & Technology®; the College of Education; the College of Health, Human Services, & Science; and the College of Liberal Arts. Ashford is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
The Council promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children ages zero to 5 years old. The Council recognizes and credentials professionals who work in all types of early care and education settings – Head Start, Pre-K, infant-toddler, family child care and home visitor programs.
As a non-profit agency, the Council sets policies and procedures for assessment and credentialing, and publishes industry-leading training books and workbooks. Among them: The Council’s CDA Competency Standards and Essentials textbook and workbook (2nd edition) in English and Spanish. The books can be ordered at www.cdacouncil.org/. Certain degree programs might not be available in all states.
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Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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