Lisa Roy

Background

About Lisa Roy

I come from a long line of educators. In fact, my great grandfather, Professor John W. Bruner, was the superintendent of colored schools for Frederick, Maryland. I was asked as a young girl whether I would be a teacher or a nurse - an expectation for that era. I declined both but was drawn to the education for very different opportunities than my ancestors.After attempting a doctorate in policy, I took a break to reassess my interests. Low and behold, I completed a doctorate in Leadership for Educational Equity, with an emphasis on Executive Leadership from the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD). I have an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education with a focus on school counseling, also from UCD. I currently work as a cabinet member for Governor Polis as his Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. I was Program Director at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska and Executive Director of Early Education for Denver Public Schools. I worked as a consultant for Grantmakers for Education as the organization's equity impact group lead and as the Executive Director of the Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation (TBMF) from 2010 until 2014, focusing on improving educational opportunities and increasing access and options in the areas of health care and human services for under-served and/or under-represented populations. I even worked in Washington, D.C. for the Center for the Study of Social Policy as a Senior Associate, supporting the Child Healthy and Prepared to Succeed in School (CHAPSS) agenda for the Annie E. Casey Making Connections sites. My other previous positions in philanthropy included the Early Childhood Program Officer for The Piton Foundation and Program Officer for the Daniels Fund focused on Early Childhood, K-12 Education, and Youth Development, along with all of Daniel’s funding areas with Native American tribes in the state of Utah. My direct service experience was as a Head Start Administrator for the City and County of Denver, as Director of early childhood programs for the Clayton Foundation (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) and Catholic Charities (Operation Jumpstart). Finally, I have served on many boards including the Emily Griffith Foundation, Denver Early Childhood Council, Afterschool Alliance, KIPP Colorado, Mental Health Center of Denver, Tony Grampsas Youth Crime Prevention and Intervention, and Denver Welfare Reform. Hopefully I am making my ancestors proud.