President Obama has nominated Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier to be the new Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. NCFL applauds this nomination and looks forward to great progress under Dr. Dann-Messier’s leadership.

Dr. Dann-Messier is an esteemed leader in family literacy. She formally joined NCFL’s work in 2003 when she received a three-year grant from NCFL to direct and implement a Toyota Family Literacy program. Since that time, Dr. Dann-Messier has informed NCFL’s overall body of work and participated in the organization’s conference on an annual basis as a trusted partner and advisor.

About Dr. Dann-Messier:
Dr. Dann-Messier is currently the President of Dorcas Place, an Adult and Family Learning Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Prior to coming to Dorcas Place she worked at the Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University. She also previously served the Department of Education as Secretary Richard Riley’s Regional Representative for Region I in Boston, Massachusetts. Before going to work for the Clinton Administration, Brenda 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. Dr. Dann-Messier is a member of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education and chairs the Academic and Student Affairs subcommittee for the board. She received her BA and her M.Ed from Rhode Island College and her ED.D. in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University.