About Us

Brittany Birken serves as a director and principal adviser on the Atlanta Fed’s Community and Economic development team. In this role, Birken specializes in the identification of structural barriers and solutions to career advancement for low-income working families. Prior to joining the Atlanta Fed, she was a faculty member at the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center, which develops programs focused on creating educational systems that support student achievement of critical milestones that predict success. She has also served as the director of Florida’s Office of Early Learning and as chief executive of the Florida Children’s Council, the umbrella organization for children’s services councils statewide.

Birken has worked with business leaders and policymakers to develop strategies that support pathways to economic security and improved outcomes for low-income working families with young children. Additionally, she has helped shape community and state policy efforts that support the current workforce and develop a sustainable educational infrastructure for talent development. Birken is a gubernatorial-appointed board member and chair of the strategic performance and policy council for CareerSource Florida, is a member of Leadership Florida, and Florida Trend named her one of the 2021 Florida 500 Most Influential Leaders. She holds a PhD from Florida State University.