Alum Roberto Montoya Answers ‘Ancestral Call’ as First-Ever Chief Educational Equity Officer for the Colorado Department of Education
Alum Roberto Montoya, PhD, began teaching the social foundations of race and racism as an adjunct professor at CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development in 2012. He received his doctor of philosophy, education and human development, in May 2021. His dedication to fostering educational equity began while working in recruiting for Colorado Mesa University and enrollment at Regis University, and on multiple research projects and grants for public K-12 schools including Cherry Creek School District, Boulder Valley School District, and Denver Public Schools. He has also worked in the private sector, developing equity and advocacy initiatives. Montoya served as manager of diversity and engagement for the City and County of Denver at the Denver International Airport and most recently as west regional manager for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) for Race Forward, the country’s largest racial justice organization. In August 2021, Montoya was appointed to the newly created position of chief educational equity officer for the Colorado Department of Higher Education.