Amy Kershaw

Amy Kershaw is the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Commissioner Kershaw is committed to collaborating with the diverse early education and care sector to promote a strong, equitable economy for the Commonwealth and access to high-quality learning experiences for children and their families. Kershaw began her state service at EEC, just 25 days after the new Department was created, serving as a Deputy Commissioner and then Acting Commissioner between 2005 and 2009.

Prior to returning to EEC, Kershaw served as Commissioner of the  
State’s Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), which provides food and economic assistance to one in seven residents of the Commonwealth through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other federal and state programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Kershaw co-chaired the Massachusetts COVID-19 Food Security Task Force. At DTA, Kershaw led the Department’s workforce development strategy, aligning cross-sector initiatives to address cliff effects and promote family economic mobility.

Kershaw also held various policy leadership roles at the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the State’s child welfare agency, between 2009 and 2016, where she was responsible for system change efforts to promote family and child safety and well-being.

Kershaw is passionate about public service and throughout her time in State government has been focused on creating more human-centered, dignified and modern experiences for those seeking and receiving services.

Commissioner Kershaw has a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. She currently lives in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts with her two sons.