Allison Muhlendorf

Allison de la Torre Muhlendorf brings 20 years of experience in early childhood education policy to Longleaf Strategies and NIEER. As Executive Director of the Alabama School Readiness Alliance from 2012 - 2023, Allison led the campaign that helped grow state investments in Alabama’s high-quality First Class Pre-K program from $19 million to $182 million. As a result, the percentage of children enrolled grew from six to nearly half of Alabama's four-year-olds. Allison was also instrumental in securing state investments in child care quality.

Allison has advanced state policy initiatives to support children and families in more than 25 states in roles with The Pew Charitable Trusts, Pre-K Now, the Oregon State Senate, the Children's Institute, and Longleaf Strategies. Allison began her career teaching in a preschool classroom.

Allison holds a master’s degree in education policy from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in politics from Willamette University. Allison is the recipient of the Non Nobis Solum award from Willamette University and has been honored by the Alabama Media Group's Women Who Shape the State. Allison is featured as an expert in the documentary Starting at Zero: Reimagining Education in America.

M.A., Education Policy, University of Maryland

B.A., Politics and Spanish, Willamette University