Bharti Wahi named assistant commissioner for Early Childhood Administration
Bharti Wahi has spent her career working to improve systems for children and families. Now, she brings that experience to her role as assistant commissioner for the Early Childhood Administration at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Appointed by Commissioner Tikki Brown in March, Wahi had served as the agency’s chief transformation officer since the agency launched in July 2024.
Leading early childhood work across Minnesota
As assistant commissioner, Wahi leads efforts to better align and strengthen early childhood programs across the state. Her work focuses on making sure families can more easily access the services they need and that Minnesota’s youngest learners have a strong start. That includes programs like child care resources and referrals, early childhood screenings and interventions, child care assistance and early learning scholarships.
“We know that high-quality early learning and child care make a real difference in how children grow, learn and succeed,” Wahi said. “And when children succeed, families are stronger, communities are stronger, and so is Minnesota.”
She is especially focused on reconnecting with the people at the center of the system, including families, child care and early learning providers and the agency’s Early Childhood Administration staff.
“I’m excited to hear from families about what they need for their children to thrive, and how we can better meet those needs,” Wahi said. “And I’m looking forward to working with providers and the business community to make sure the systems around them truly support that.”
She also emphasizes the importance of amplifying stories that reinforce the importance of high-quality early learning and child care, especially at a time when their value is sometimes questioned.
“Educating and caring for little ones is a profoundly honorable thing to do,” she said. “It’s important in this moment to remind people of that.”
A career focused on children and families
Wahi joined state government four years ago as the deputy assistant commissioner of Children and Family Services at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She later served as the Interim Assistant Commissioner for the Child Safety and Permanency Administration when DCYF launched in July 2024. She was appointed to lead the Transformation Office in January 2025, focusing on bringing programs and services together in new ways.
Leading the Early Childhood Administration is a return to work that has shaped much of Wahi’s career. She brings more than 25 years of experience working on issues affecting children, youth and families. Her work has spanned direct service, policy, advocacy and philanthropy, with a consistent focus on building more equitable and inclusive systems.
“It does feel like coming back home,” she said.
Before entering public service, Wahi served as executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund–Minnesota, where she worked alongside community partners to advocate for policies that support children and families. Throughout her career, she has focused on moving systems beyond basic safety nets toward approaches that help children, families and communities thrive.
Earlier in her career, she ran two early learning centers, along with programs for children and youth, while with Literacy Minnesota, and she oversaw early childhood and education funding at Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Grounded in purpose and looking ahead
Outside of work, Wahi says her favorite and most important roles are closer to home – daughter of immigrant parents, mother of two and auntie to many children and young people.
With an administration transition ahead in 2027, Wahi is focused on moving key work forward in ways that will last — building on the strong foundation already in place and ensuring progress in early learning and child care continues beyond any one leader, team or administration. That mindset reflects how she views public service more broadly.
“This isn’t about us. It’s about the people we serve and the Minnesotans who are investing their tax dollars to make Minnesota a great place,” she said. “We’re just stewards of this important work.”