Aaron Merchen

Aaron Merchen is director of policy and programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Education and Workforce. Merchen works on the Chamber Foundation's early childhood education portfolio leading efforts to educate policy makers, state and local chambers and early education advocates on business’ role in early education to promote investments in the workforce of today and tomorrow.

Before joining the Chamber Foundation, Merchen worked at the National Association for the Education of Young Children as assistant director of federal policy. There he led the association’s engagement with Congress and efforts to elevate the voices and needs of the early childhood workforce.

Earlier in his career, Merchen was a senior policy associate at RESULTS Educational Fund where he collaborated with a diverse group of organizations to promote an integrated, comprehensive global agenda for children within the U.S. government and researched innovative funding mechanisms for early interventions in low-income nations.

Merchen holds degrees from South Dakota State University and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife and son.