Biography
Junlei Li is an academic specialising in early childhood education and human development. He serves as Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education and co-chair of the Human Development and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His research focuses on supporting frontline workers who care for children, including through the Simple Interactions approach that emphasises everyday relational moments.
Li was born in Shanghai, China, and moved to the United States at the age of 16. He earned a PhD in psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003. He previously held the position of co-director and Rita M. McGinley Professor at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College, where his work drew on the legacy of Fred Rogers.
Li appeared as himself in the 2018 documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?, credited as co-director of the Fred Rogers Center. He has also contributed as a human connection expert to the television series Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show (2021).
