Emily Laidlaw serves as the Deputy Director for Early Education at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) where she oversees the department’s efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early education. Emily has worked for nearly 20 years in education policy, advocacy, and government affairs, and she previously served as Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Director of Policy and Education Advisor. She has also held roles in the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and the Michigan House of Representatives.