Marilyn Chu is an associate professor of early childhood education at Woodring College of Education, Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. Her teaching, writing, and consultation work focuses on infant/toddler development, partnering with families, and mentoring, coaching and leadership development in early childhood education. Her previous work directing family literacy and campus childcare programs, professional development with bilingual Head Start teachers and early primary school paraeducators has emphasized partnerships to develop culturally and linguistically relevant education programs for adults and children.