Eric Bucher

Eric Bucher, EdD
Research Assistant Professor 
Children's Equity Project, Arizona State University

Eric Bucher, Ed.D., is a research assistant professor of early childhood policy at the CEP and specializes in Head Start and child care policy, practice, and research. His focus is on dismantling inequitable systems and building new anti-racist, anti-bias systems that advance support for young children, families, and the early childhood workforce. 

Dr. Bucher's 17 years of early childhood experience includes directly teaching children (birth to age 8), developing content for preschool programs at a science museum, designing professional development, managing local/national early childhood grants, leading in state and government agencies including Head Start/Early Head Start, and serving as a content expert for the Arizona Infant and Toddler Developmental Guidelines and Arizona Early Learning Standards.

Dr. Bucher currently serves on the First Things First Phoenix North Regional Partnership Council, the Arizona Special Education Advisory Panel, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs.

Dr. Bucher is a first-generation college graduate with a Doctorate of Education in Leadership & Innovation from Arizona State University. His research focused on early childhood professional development; infant-toddler Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM); and the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. Dr. Bucher is the co-author of "Beyond Bouncing the Ball: Toddlers and Teachers Investigate Physics", "Infant and Toddler STEAM: Supporting Interdisciplinary Experiences with Our Youngest Learners", and "The Power in Our Collective Voices: Building Your Skills as an Early Childhood Advocate" published in NAEYC's peer-reviewed journal Young Children.