Marica Cox Mitchell is the Chief Program Officer at the Bainum Family Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s early childhood strategy, advancing innovative solutions to build a child care system that enables children and families nationwide to thrive.

A recognized expert in early childhood education, Cox Mitchell previously served as Deputy Executive Director of Early Learning Systems at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In this role, she oversaw public policy and advocacy, early learning and higher education accreditation, and the Power to the Profession initiative.

Her career also includes a significant tenure at the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and early experience as a teacher in diverse early learning environments, working with children from birth to age 8.