Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier

Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier is a Senior Advisor for Education Strategy Group (ESG). She worked at ESG from 2015-2017 as a Senior Advisor and Coach for the NSFY Initiative and returned to ESG in 2019 as Senior Advisor.

In 2017 Brenda was appointed Rhode Island’s Postsecondary Commissioner and worked as Commissioner until May 2019.

Brenda worked for the Obama administration from 2009-2014 as the Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical and Adult Education and from 2013-2014 was also the Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

Prior her time at the U.S. Department of Education, Brenda was the President of Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center for a decade and directed two TRIO programs at the Community College of RI.

Brenda is a Board member of the National Skills Coalition, RI’s Commerce Corporation and the Re-Entry Campus Program. She holds an Ed. D from Johnson and Wales University and a M.Ed. and BA from Rhode Island College.