Andrea Long often describes her work through a simple mantra: “Look what I get to do,” rather than “Here’s what I have to do.” That perspective has guided nearly three decades of work focused on improving the conditions that shape the well-being of children, families, and communities.

A Licensed Professional Counselor since 1996, Andrea serves as Chief Program and Strategy Officer at The Up Center, where she helps design and guide programs supporting mental health, early childhood and home visiting, foster care, and other critical safety-net services. Her work centers on translating the science of human development into systems of care that are trauma-informed, relationship-centered, and grounded in equity, with the understanding that early experiences shape lifelong outcomes.

Andrea also spent nearly a decade as a college professor, bringing psychology and neuroscience to life for students by connecting the science of human behavior to real-world practice.

She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Lincoln University and two master’s degrees from Columbia University: one in Educational Psychology and one in Counseling Psychology. She frequently speaks on trauma-informed leadership, resilience, and building organizational cultures that support both providers and the families they serve.

Andrea also serves on the board of Butterfly Village, Inc., helping expand STEM opportunities for girls of color—because the opportunities created for girls today can reshape possibilities for generations to come. For Andrea, that is work worth doing, and the reason she still begins each day thinking, “Look what I get to do.”