Ritu Chopra
Executive Director
Dr. Ritu Chopra, Ph. D. is the Executive Director of The PAR²A Center and is an Assistant Research Professor at the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) of the University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Chopra has been responsible for grant administration, training, research, and fiscal management at the Center for the last 14 years. She is currently the Principal Investigator and Lead Project Director on six projects funded by various funding agencies: U.S. Department of Education (Office of Innovation and Improvement and Office of Special Education Programs); Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE); and, the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). In addition, Dr. Chopra worked for over 10 years in the capacity of a teacher, trainer, researcher and administrator in various educational institutions in her native country, India. She completed her Ph.D. in the Educational Leadership and Innovation program at the University of Colorado Denver in 2002 with recognition as an outstanding graduate. Dr. Chopra’s research has focused on the roles of teachers and paraeducators, professional development and the supervision of paraeducators and collaboration among paraeducators, teachers, parents, and leadership in inclusive schools. She has published a book, several articles and instructional materials in the U.S. as well as in India.
Phone: 303-315-6361
Email: Ritu.Chopra@ucdenver.edu
Elena Sandoval-Lucero
Director
Elena Sandoval-Lucero, Ph.D is an Assistant Research Professor and Director of the PAR²A Center housed at the University of Colorado Denver, School of Education and Human Development. In this capacity, she holds overall responsibility for managing all paraeducator to teacher career ladder grant projects. In addition, she provides training to audiences in K-12 and higher education, disseminates products developed by the PAR²A Center, writes grant proposals, conducts research and works to increase the external visibility of the center.
Dr. Sandoval-Lucero has over twenty years experience working in enrollment management in higher education. Her professional experience in higher education includes recruitment, admissions, academic advising, career services, financial aid, continuing education, grant management and teaching. Many of her recruitment efforts have been focused on paraeducators. Dr. Sandoval-Lucero's research interests include the areas of post-secondary access, equity and success, effective supervision, teacher recruitment, non-traditional students in higher education and career development. Her dissertation explored the role of self-efficacy in paraeducators' career development.
Phone: 303-315-6362
Email: Elena.Sandoval-Lucero@ucdenver.edu
Geri DiPalma
Project Coordinator
Geraldine I. DiPalma (Geri) is currently the project coordinator for the Comprehensive Training Opportunities for Paraprofessionals Early Intervention Services (CO-TOP*EIS) project and the Hybrid CO-TOP*EIS project at The PAR²A Center, University of Colorado Denver. She is a current Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Denver with a concentration on special education and family involvement. Her professional career brings over 25 years of experience working with special education students on all levels from infant to high school. She completed a Ski*Hi home-based education program working with parents, paraprofessionals, and special education teachers. Working on federal grants for over five years enhanced Geri’s skills in evaluating programs, attending and participating in conferences, as well as work with institutions of higher education. She possesses the proficiencies required to coordinate and organize programs to form collaborative coalitions throughout Colorado. Her degrees in Communications, Deaf Studies, and Infant Home-Based Programs are valuable assets in her work.
Phone : 303.315.6366
Email:Geri.DiPalma@ucdenver.edu
Veronica Marquez-Hepworth
Project Coordinator
Veronica Marquez-Hepworth is the Training and Career Ladder Projects Coordinator at the PAR²A Center. She holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences from the University of Colorado at Denver. Veronica has worked as a special education paraprofessional with Denver Public Schools and was a program coordinator with the College Assistant Migrant Program at Metro State College of Denver. She has also worked at the Community College of Denver for TRIO Scholars which is one of eight federally programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide academic support for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities. The program is designed to help students overcome academic, social and cultural barriers to higher education. Besides her research on paraprofessional issues, Veronica has done extensive work on access to health care for children from immigrant families in Colorado. Veronica is responsible for providing the following support services to the participants in our current projects: enrolling; advising; overseeing tuition payments; and, navigating the systems in school districts as well colleges attended by the participants. Veronica also coordinates the PAR²A Center Coalition which includes representatives from community colleges and school districts and acts as a conduit between all organizations represented in the coalition
Phone: 303-315-6360
Email: Veronica.Hepworth@ucdenver.edu
Erin Linenberger
Administrative Support Assistant
Erin Linenberger came to the PAR²A Center after graduating from the Broomfield High School transition program. Erin has been an integral part of the team at the PAR²A Center for the last seven years. She supports the professional staff in a variety of capacities. In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, quilting, and spending time with friends and family. Erin also dedicates her time as a volunteer at a nursing home.
Email: Erin.Linenberger@ucdenver.edu
Nancy K. French
Founder of the PAR²A Center
Dr. Nancy French, Ph.D. founded the PAR²A Center in 1994. She retired from her positions as the Executive Director of the center and Research Professor at the School of Education and Human Development of the University of Colorado Denver in December 2006. After her retirement, Dr. French has continued to maintain ties and remain involved in many activities of the center. Dr. French has more than 30 years of experience in education. She has been studying the employment and supervision of paraprofessionals in education for nearly 20 years. She has researched the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals and has used her research findings to develop a statewide training system for paraeducators in Colorado. She has published over 50 articles and chapters – many of which are about paraprofessionals. She consults with school districts to set up systems that maintain high standards for paraprofessional-professional teams.
