Diane Harkins, PhD, is a Senior Program Associate at WestEd with more than 25 years of experience in the design and delivery of professional development services for early childhood educators and other helping professionals. Diane works with the California Inclusion and Behavior Consultation (CIBC) Network, bridging support for the inclusion of children with special needs and challenging behavior in early care and education (ECE) programs. She also works with WestEd’s Center for Child and Family Studies developing resources that support ECE professional development.
Prior to joining WestEd, Diane directed the Center for Excellence in Child Development at the University of California, Davis. With a focus on adult learning and early childhood issues, she developed and directed a statewide training program for family child care providers. In addition, she consulted with child protection centers in Central America and other organizations addressing the needs of young children.
Diane holds a BS in Child Development from the California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, an MSW in Social Welfare from University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Education from University of California, Davis.