Providence, RI. - Elizabeth Burke Bryant has been appointed professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice at the Brown University School of Public Health, effective July 1, 2023.
With over 30 years of experience as a child advocate, Burke Bryant has dedicated her career to advancing equitable policies and programs that improve the well-being of children, youth and families. She served as the executive director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, a leading children's policy and research organization, from its establishment in 1994 until November 2022.
During her tenure at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Burke Bryant’s leadership transformed the organization into the state's premier child advocacy institution, renowned nationally for its efforts to enhance the health, education, early childhood development, economic security, and safety of Rhode Island's children. Under her guidance, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT prioritized equity and focused on closing disparities based on race, ethnicity and income. The organization's annual Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook became a crucial resource for developing equitable policies and data-driven advocacy across the state.
Her remarkable accomplishments include spearheading the establishment of a nationally recognized Pre-K program in Rhode Island, advocating for full-day kindergarten, contributing to the achievement of near-universal children's health insurance coverage, contributing to a significant reduction in childhood lead poisoning, and successfully reversing a law that treated 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system.
In her new role at Brown University, Burke Bryant will share her wealth of knowledge and experience by teaching a policy and advocacy course within the School of Public Health. Simultaneously, she will continue her influential policy and advocacy work at both the national and state levels through the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute.
"I am very excited to be joining Brown’s School of Public Health,” says Burke Bryant. “The goal of the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute has never been more important—working with community, state and national partners to eliminate health inequities in pregnancy and childhood for Rhode Island families with an initial focus on family mental health and related issues.”
