Name: Robin Brandehoff, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Clinical Professor of Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education
Organization: University of Colorado Denver
Keywords: mentorship, grow your own programs, theatre of the oppressed
Bio: Robin Brandehoff obtained her doctoral degree in Education and Human Development with an emphasis in Urban Ecologies from CU Denver where she is now an Assistant Clinical Professor in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education. She is an educator and theatre arts practitioner driven to work alongside students and teachers in communities facing conflict and marginalization using drama to educate, play, and liberate. Her research examines the oppressions and traumas of marginalized Communities of Color through mentorship, performance, and counter-stories to support and educate Latinx gang-affiliated youth and the educational leaders and mentors that work with them. Hailing from Hawai'i and California, Robin is a first-generation high school and college graduate who emphasizes the importance of individualized advising and mentorship for all students—particularly first-generation Students of Color. She has been an educator for over twelve years, working in alternative education as an English, ELD, and Leadership teacher, as well as a site & grant coordinator, and administrator. During her doctoral studies, Robin held the role of program director and researcher for Pathways2Teaching (www.pathways2teaching.com) allowing her to explore what it truly means to teach for social justice and equity as she worked alongside high school students, teachers, doctoral students, and university faculty in the Denver Metropolitan area and additional affiliate sites. This work led to her invitation to become a member of the national Grow Your Own Collective (www.gyocollective.org), which she now co-leads. In this role, Robin has worked and presented with various GYO programs and leaders from around the country to create a sustainable model for recruiting & retaining diverse, community-grounded Teachers of Color. Robin has also been a board member of the international Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, Inc. (www.ptoweb.org) for over three years. This organization supports individuals and groups whose work challenges oppressive systems by promoting critical thinking and social justice through liberatory theatre and popular education in marginalized communities.For more information, please contact Robin Brandehoff at robin.brandehoff@ucdenver.edu or visit her
website: www.robinbrandehoff.com
Why they are involved in GYOC: Robin Brandehoff’s interest in the GYOC began with her
involvement in Pathways2Teaching, but has expanded to examine the best practices of teacher
preparation programs to provide the best possible training for emerging educators by centering
the needs of communities of color and addressing the barriers that our young teachers face when
entering the classroom.
Title: Assistant Clinical Professor of Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education
Organization: University of Colorado Denver
Keywords: mentorship, grow your own programs, theatre of the oppressed
Bio: Robin Brandehoff obtained her doctoral degree in Education and Human Development with an emphasis in Urban Ecologies from CU Denver where she is now an Assistant Clinical Professor in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education. She is an educator and theatre arts practitioner driven to work alongside students and teachers in communities facing conflict and marginalization using drama to educate, play, and liberate. Her research examines the oppressions and traumas of marginalized Communities of Color through mentorship, performance, and counter-stories to support and educate Latinx gang-affiliated youth and the educational leaders and mentors that work with them. Hailing from Hawai'i and California, Robin is a first-generation high school and college graduate who emphasizes the importance of individualized advising and mentorship for all students—particularly first-generation Students of Color. She has been an educator for over twelve years, working in alternative education as an English, ELD, and Leadership teacher, as well as a site & grant coordinator, and administrator. During her doctoral studies, Robin held the role of program director and researcher for Pathways2Teaching (www.pathways2teaching.com) allowing her to explore what it truly means to teach for social justice and equity as she worked alongside high school students, teachers, doctoral students, and university faculty in the Denver Metropolitan area and additional affiliate sites. This work led to her invitation to become a member of the national Grow Your Own Collective (www.gyocollective.org), which she now co-leads. In this role, Robin has worked and presented with various GYO programs and leaders from around the country to create a sustainable model for recruiting & retaining diverse, community-grounded Teachers of Color. Robin has also been a board member of the international Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, Inc. (www.ptoweb.org) for over three years. This organization supports individuals and groups whose work challenges oppressive systems by promoting critical thinking and social justice through liberatory theatre and popular education in marginalized communities.For more information, please contact Robin Brandehoff at robin.brandehoff@ucdenver.edu or visit her
website: www.robinbrandehoff.com
Why they are involved in GYOC: Robin Brandehoff’s interest in the GYOC began with her
involvement in Pathways2Teaching, but has expanded to examine the best practices of teacher
preparation programs to provide the best possible training for emerging educators by centering
the needs of communities of color and addressing the barriers that our young teachers face when
entering the classroom.