The Bell Policy Center is pleased to announce our 2024-25 Bell Economic Mobility Fellows — Dr. Rosemarie Allen and Dr. Dorothy Shapland Rodriguez, both of whom work in early childhood education studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver).

They will examine the efficacy of federal stimulus money and other funds in encouraging people to become early childhood teachers. They will also look at whether people of color were able to access the funding, become early childhood teachers, and/or whether they stayed in the profession. 

Dr. Allen is a Professor at MSU Denver and has served as an educational leader for over four decades. Her life’s work is centered on ensuring ALL children have access to high quality early childhood programs that are developmentally appropriate and culturally sustaining. Her classes are focused on ensuring teachers are aware of how issues of equity, power, and justice impact teaching practices. She also serves as the President and CEO for the Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence, which is the lead agency for ensuring equity in organizations throughout the nation and internationally. 

Dr. Shapland Rodriguez is an Associate Professor at MSU Denver and created the Master of Education program aimed at developing leaders in the areas of Trauma Informed Practices, Equity, and Inclusion. She has developed Inclusive Education curriculum for the University Early Childhood Education program, as well as professional development and leadership curriculum for CommissionED, preschool curriculum for Scholars Unlimited, and social emotional learning curriculum for Colorado’s Project Learning Tree Environmental Education program.

The Bell Economic Mobility Fellowship was established through a generous grant from a longtime donor. The fellowship supports research that explores new perspectives on economic mobility in Colorado and advances actionable, equitable solutions. The projects were chosen this month and will conclude in November, 2024.

“We are excited to have researchers the caliber of Dr. Allen and Dr. Shapland Rodriguez examining a topic that’s of vital interest to Colorado parents and policymakers,” said Chris deGruy Kennedy, Bell President and CEO. “We’re looking forward to seeing and sharing their findings.” 

The research and projects the fellows will produce are anchored in the Bell’s economic mobility policy priorities, which are:

• Public Funding for Economic Mobility: Ensure public funding for key levers of economic mobility in Colorado.
• Strengthening the Care Economy: Elevate and strengthen the caring workforce (workers and caregivers providing child care, or direct care for older adults and people with disabilities) and the families they serve.
• Closing Equity Gaps: Address structural barriers in economic mobility systems, particularly housing, asset-building, credit, and financial services, postsecondary education and workforce development, and aging.
• Telling the Economic Story: Tell Colorado’s economic story through the lenses of tax fairness, racial equity, and economic mobility.

The project will have three main components. They are:

• A research project culminating in a major report or series
• Shared learning and community
• A series of events and communications to disseminate key findings.

The Bell Policy Center is a 501(c)(3) based in Colorado that engages in research and advocacy intended to advance economic mobility for every Coloradan.