Richard M. Clifford

Richard M. Clifford, PhD, is a senior scientist emeritus at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author and editor of numerous publications on early education including works on early learning environments, public finance, and public policies affecting young children and their families. His research has had far reaching impact on both policy and practice in the United States and other countries. He is a past president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Dr. Clifford served as the first Director of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Child Development while on leave from UNC–CH. He led the creation of the new division and was pivotal in the development and implementation of the NC Smart Start initiative. Later he helped design and implement the NC More at Four prekindergarten program.