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Dr. Rosemarie Allen

Welcome. Not just to the School of Education (SOE) at Metropolitan State University of Denver, but to a community that believes deeply in the power of education to change lives, systems and futures. Our longstanding commitment to Teach. Lead. Transform. is at the heart of who we are. We exemplify our commitment through bold innovation, reimagining how we prepare educators and leaders, partner with communities and respond to the developing needs of children and families. In the School of Education, we listen deeply, respond intentionally, and create new possibilities where barriers once existed.

We are preparing educators who do more than deliver content. We are preparing educators who see children and appreciate every child’s brilliance, culture, language and lived experiences. We are preparing leaders who are willing to ask hard questions, challenge inequities, disrupt when necessary and build classrooms and systems where all learners are honored, embraced, belong and thrive.

In our classrooms, you will be challenged. You will be stretched. You will be encouraged not only to learn but also to reflect on who you are, what you believe, your cultural lens, social location and how you show up as a teacher and leader. Teaching is more than a profession; it is a calling. It is heart work. It is justice work. Leadership is the courage to act on those beliefs, to stand in truth, to center others and to create the conditions where all children and every community can thrive. That work starts here in the School of Education at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver.

The School of Education is intentionally designed for your success. Our Associate and Assistant Deans, Directors, Staff, and Faculty understand this work because they have lived it. They are scholars, practitioners, advocates and supporters who are deeply connected to schools and communities. They will walk with you on your educational journey, encouraging and supporting you. They will prepare you, not only for the realities and possibilities of today’s classrooms, but for the leadership those spaces demand. You will be prepared to lead with intent and advocate without fear. You’ll be prepared to boldly step into roles to influence practice, shape systems and make lasting impacts.

We do not do this work alone. Our partnerships across Colorado are rooted in relationships with schools, families, communities, government agencies, philanthropy and the legislature. They are not separate from our work; they are at the center of it. That is how substantive change happens.

Our commitment is clear; we are trauma-informed and equity-driven. We ensure the SOE is a place where everyone is appreciated and encouraged. We expand and reimagine what is possible for our students, for the profession and for the communities we serve. This work is critical. If you are here, it means you are ready to step into that work, and we are here to help. Please contact me, our staff, an advisor or a professor. We are ready to help you plan your future.

Dr. Rosemarie Allen
Dean, School of Education
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Dr. Rosemarie Allen has served the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver community since 2004. She is a nationally respected leader, educator and advocate whose life’s work is dedicated to dismantling systemic inequities and ensuring every child, regardless of race, background or ability, can thrive.

Dr. Allen’s career spans more than four decades, including leadership roles in government, education and nonprofit sectors. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking work on racial disparities in school discipline and for culturally responsive teaching and equity-focused policy reform, which has influenced practices at local, state and national levels.

A dynamic speaker and sought-after consultant, Dr. Allen has delivered keynote addresses, testified before policymakers, and trained thousands of educators, leaders, and advocates. Her work has been featured in major media outlets, and she serves on national boards and commissions dedicated to advancing equity in education.

Dr. Allen’s approach is deeply rooted in scholarship and lived experience. She is known for challenging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths, while inspiring them to take actionable steps toward lasting change. She has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education, 47 state departments of education, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Teachstone, Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) programs and numerous police departments and school districts.

She is a recipient of the T. Berry Brazelton Friends of Children Award, an honor she shares with First Ladies Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter and Laura Bush. Her additional honors include the Rachel B. Noel Exceptional Leaders Award, the MLK Peace Award and the Rosa Parks Diversity Award. Dr. Allen earned her B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, her M.Ed. from Lesley University and her Ed.D. in Equity and Leadership in Education from the University of Colorado Denver.