Dr. Lynette M. Fraga, the CEO of Reach Out & Read, is a mission-driven executive with over 30 years’ experience working at the intersection of nonprofit leadership and change management; racial, social, and economic justice; identity and inclusion; and human-centered designed solutions. Prior to Reach Out and Read, Dr. Fraga was the Founder and CEO of Fiercely Forward, LLC, a strategic consulting and executive coaching practice that helped leaders from every seat navigate the complexities of social, organizational, personal, and professional change through big and small transitions and crises.
For 10 years, Dr. Fraga served as CEO of Child Care Aware of America, an influential national advocacy nonprofit and network of 400 state and local nonprofits that deliver child care services and other family supports. She has worked in a range of community-based and national nonprofits, including 11 years at ZERO TO THREE, whose mission is to ensure all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. Dr. Fraga served in multiple leadership roles for the organization, including Chief Program Officer. She has also worked in the fields of higher education, family partnership, child welfare and family violence prevention/support, juvenile justice, military child care, and social entrepreneurship.
In addition to her experience in the C-suite, Dr. Fraga has served on a multitude of committees and advisory groups focused on the earliest years of life, health and wellness, climate, and other critical issues impacting communities and families. She has also served on the Boards of Directors of several nonprofits, including current service on the boards of Generations United, Let’s Grow Kids, and The Campagna Center.
Dr. Fraga graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and Rehabilitation and a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her doctorate from Kansas State University in Family Life Education and Consultation.