Darlene Sampson

Darlene Sampson, Ph.D., is an equity specialist coordinator in the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center and a clinical field faculty in the Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her professional goal is to infuse culturally responsive consciousness, pedagogy, equity infusion and systemic change.

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Sampson worked as the director of culturally responsive education at Denver Public Schools. She has been a social worker, program manager, consultant, and educator for more than 30 years for a number of organizations, including City and County of Denver Great Kids Head Start, Children’s Hospital, Mental Health Corporation of Denver, Adams County Social Services and Denver Children’s Home. Sampson’s research and published work has been focused in the areas of academic achievement specifically relating to children of color; parent involvement programming; culturally responsive social work and mental health; and culturally responsive curriculum and teaching.

Sampson received her doctorate in educational leadership and innovation from University of Colorado Denver, a master’s in social work from University of Denver and a bachelor’s in rehabilitation and psychology from University of Northern Colorado. She is a licensed clinical social worker and holds a professional special services license from Colorado Department of Education.