BRENDA DANN-MESSIER, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR VOCATIONAL AND ADULT EDUCATION, ADDRESSES COABE IN CHICAGO

Brenda Dann-Messier has an extensive background in the field of adult education. Most recently Dann-Messier served as president of Dorcas Place, an Adult and Family Learning Center in Providence, R.I. Prior to her work at Dorcas Place, Dann-Messier worked at the Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University. Dann-Messier also served in the Clinton administration as the regional representative for Region I in Boston under then-Secretary of Education Richard Riley. Prior to her work at the Department of Education, Dann-Messier directed two TRIO programs, the Rhode Island Educational Opportunity Center (1987-1993) and the Educational Talent Search Program (1991-1993) of the Community College of Rhode Island. Dann-Messier previously served as a member of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education and chaired the Academic and Student Affairs subcommittee for the board. She received her B.A. and her M.Ed. from Rhode Island College and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University.

Cheryl Keenan, National Director of Adult Education and Literacy, Addresses COABE Open Forum