Dr. Rebecca Halperin Successfully Defends Dissertation

Please join committee Co-Chairs Drs. Pamela Epley and Samantha Melvin, committee member Dr. Eilene Edejer, and the entire Erikson community in congratulating Dr. Rebecca Halperin on the successful defense of her doctoral dissertation entitled, “Understanding Early Childhood Community Collaborations (ECCCs) in Relation to Systems Change.”

Dr. Halperin presented her work on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Erikson Institute. Her dissertation defense was well attended by faculty, staff, current and former doctoral students, family, and friends. Her study utilized a basic qualitative approach to understand the roles ECCCs have in impacting the early childhood system, their successes, and the challenges they encounter to enacting positive change for children and families within Illinois.

Results indicate the important role ECCCs have in bringing people together to close systems gaps, address needed resources and change perspectives about early childhood. ECCCs demonstrate success in shifting systems conditions and experience barriers related to limited funding and recognizing existing ways that inequitable systems are perpetuated.

Grounded in the Six Conditions of Systems Change (Kania et al., 2018) theoretical framework, Dr. Halperin’s study is the first to intentionally connect systems change, Collective Impact, and early childhood collaborations, resulting in a significant contribution to the field. Her findings also add to the scant literature on ECCCs and provide tangible tools to enhance their work and additional ways to demonstrate their impact. Congratulations Dr. Halperin!