Brenda Dann-Messier
Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier was nominated by President Obama to be the Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education on July 14, 2009. On October 5, 2009 she was confirmed by the United States Senate and began her official duties on October 13, 2009.
Prior to coming to the United States Department of Education Dr. Dann-Messier served for a decade as the President of Dorcas Place a community-based adult education agency based in Providence, Rhode Island. While working to expand educational and career opportunities for low-income, low-literacy adults, Brenda has been commended by the R.I. Department of Education for her commitment to the low-skilled learner.
Under her leadership, Dorcas Place Adult & Family Learning Center has built its capacity to address the persistent demand for adult education in Rhode Island. Since opening nearly 30 years ago in Providence, Dorcas Place has expanded from helping four single mothers earn the GEDs to serving more than 1,000 adults statewide. Programs include day and evening ABE/ASE/ESOL classes, civics and financial literacy education, and college preparatory, family literacy, workforce education and job training programs linked with employers and industry sectors. The agency also has a statewide Clothing Collaborative program that provides professional attire free of charge to low-income adults.
Dorcas Place has created innovative programs to meet the changing needs of the diverse community it serves. In 2008, it opened the RI Welcome Back Center, one of only seven programs in the nation to help foreign-trained health professionals enter the health care workforce in RI. Recognizing the need to provide intensive academic and personal support to help low-income adult learners succeed in college, Dorcas Place also recently opened the Developmental Education Institute for reading and math, in collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island. In 2008, the agency was one of only 10 in the nation to receive a five-year, federal Full Service Community Schools grant to establish school-based family literacy and support services at five inner city elementary schools in Providence.
Dr. Dann-Messier has been a tireless advocate for the adult learner, serving on numerous state and local boards. She was member of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education and chaired its Academic and Student Affairs Subcommittee. Brenda frequently presenter at national and international conferences and forums, including the National Commission On Adult Basic Education, Council for Opportunity in Education, National Center for Family Literacy, and the European Access Network.