Ellicia Lanier

Ellicia Lanier is the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence of the Clark-Fox Policy Institute. Lanier is the founding Executive Director of Urban Sprouts Child Development Center and serves on the steering committee of the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance to reimagine St. Louis’ early childcare system.

Lanier is also a leader in social-emotional development education, serving as an Adjunct Instructor at St. Louis Community College and extending early childhood education courses to the St. Louis community, in partnership with the Boeing Company. She is a skilled community convener, partnering with Youth in Need to secure a generous Head Start grant to serve low- to moderate-income families. She also co-founded Ready by Five, which successfully campaigned for a ballot initiative to raise over $2 million annually for early childhood funding in the City of St. Louis.

With over 20 years of experience in early childhood policy and practice, Lanier’s leadership as Scholar-in-Residence will elevate the importance of a thriving, high-quality early childhood education system for St. Louis.