Jackie Cowell (click for Bio)

Executive Director

Jackie Cowell is Executive Director of Early Learning NH, a statewide, nonprofit committed to “ensuring that all New Hampshire children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

She also serves as Executive Director for the NH Coalition of Business and Education, a non-partisan organization composed of business, education, philanthropic and public policy leaders.  Early Learning NH is the fiscal sponsor of the Coalition.

Under her leadership, Early Learning NH received the prestigious Mary Stuart Gile Award from DHHS in recognition for its “commitment to the development of the next generation of early childhood professionals” and was awarded the advocacy grant at the 2021 Gala, "Celebrating the Women and Girls of the Pandemic" from the New Hampshire Womens Foundation. Under three Governors and over 15 years, Early Learning NH was named the coordinating body and served as the fiscal sponsor for the establishment and implementation of New Hampshire's first Governor's Council for Early Childhood, which became the well-regarded Spark NH, a uniquely-effective public/private partnership. 

Jackie is a recipient of the Exemplary Leadership and Community Partnership Award from the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families and, in 2024, was named one of Business NH Magazine's 40 Most Influential Leaders in New Hampshire.

After graduating from the University of Virginia, Jackie taught high school math in the Peace Corps in Mali. She then worked for five years for Save the Children in Sudan. Moving to New Hampshire in 1990, Jackie managed two child care programs, White Birch Center in Henniker and the Seacoast Community School in Portsmouth. She has served as adjunct faculty at the NH Technical Institute, Public Policy Chair of NHAEYC, and the Chair of the legislatively-enacted NH Child Care Advisory Council.

She lives in Newbury with her husband, Dague, and their beloved dog, Bruno, and grandcat, Kevin.  They are both so proud of their daughter, son, and son-in-law, who each served in the Peace Corps and are all doing great things in the world today!  They are just over the moon about having two exceptionally-wonderful grandchildren!