As vice president of research and evaluation at NIET, Dr. Tanée Hudgens is responsible for establishing, managing, and overseeing research and evaluation initiatives within the organization. In this role, Tanée directs NIET's research agenda, leads the production of evidentiary support for all initiatives, plays a key role in managing grant partnerships, and supports all aspects of the NIET research activities. Responsibilities include writing reports, papers, briefs, and articles as well as coordinating surveys and providing research expertise across the organization.

Tanée also served as a senior research associate for NIET. Prior to joining NIET, she evaluated the quality of instruction and care provided to preschoolers, as well as the recruitment, retention and development of the early childhood care and education workforce across Los Angeles, California.

Tanée earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Spelman College and a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, with a concentration in quantitative psychology, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.