Keynote Speaker

Dr. Rosemarie Allen

Dr. Rosemarie Allen has served as a leader in early childhood education for nearly years. Her life’s work is centered on ensuring children have access to high-quality early childhood programs that are developmentally and culturally appropriate.  She is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver.  Her classes are focused on ensuring teachers are aware of how issues of equity, privilege, and power impact teaching practices.  Rosemarie has served in directorship roles with the Colorado Department of Human Services, most recently in the Division of Youth Corrections (DYC).   As Director of Programs at DYC, she was responsible for the education, health, and mental health of all adjudicated youth in the State.  She was also responsible for the professional development of all Division staff members in order to ensure state-wide culture change.  From 2007-2012 Rosemarie served as the Director of the Division of Child Care.  In that role, she oversaw the State’s child care licensing program, the federal child care assistance program, the redesign of the State’s quality rating and improvement system, the implementation of the State’s professional development plan, and assisted in the creation of Colorado’s early learning guidelines.  She recently served on President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, Early Childhood Task Force.  Dr. Allen also launched the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence that will serve as the lead agency for ensuring equity in educational practices throughout the nation.

Rosemarie is a respected keynote speaker, presenting on Culturally Responsive Practices, Cultural Competence, Micro-Aggressions, Racial Disproportionality, Privilege, Power, and Intersectionality, etc.  She also has the distinct honor of being appointed as a “Global Leader” to represent the United States at World Conferences across the globe. Rosemarie earned her B. A. from California State University, Master’s of Education from Lesley University and Doctorate in Equity and Leadership in Education at the University of Colorado, Denver.