Julie Houchins, Senior Director of Early Education for United Way of Southern Nevada has been in the Early Childhood field for over 30 years supporting non-profit, for-profit and local school districts from North Dakota to Nevada.  She has been with United Way of Southern Nevada since 2016 supporting their early education efforts throughout Southern Nevada.  Julie has collaborated with NDE to manage the Nevada Ready! State PreK programs within private early learning centers/schools throughout the Valley.  She is a member of NevAEYC and supports the SNC NevAEYC as Public Policy Committee Chair, she was a member of the ECAC Board from 2020 to 2024.  She is very passionate about providing high quality education to our youngest learners and is a strong advocate Universal PreK.