Dr. Kimberle Jackson-Butler
Executive Director

Dr. Kimberle is a native of Denver and grew up in the North Cherry Creek area. She attended public schools and graduated from Manual High School. She attended the University of Colorado and graduated with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in family counseling from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. 

Dr. Kimberle received her doctorate from Johns Hopkins University School of Education in Neuroscience Education while working full-time as a school administrator. Her work centers on improving how the brain processes information through research on self-efficacy and neuroscience practices. The body of her research builds on the foundation of the cognitive sciences, action research, neuroplasticity, and the social contexts in which belief changes and interventions improve life-long learning skills. 

As an educator, Dr. Kimberle has worked in independent schools for over 20 years as a school administrator and counselor. Before her administrative roles, she worked as a family and child therapist in her private practice. 

Dr. Kimberle has also served as a board and chair member in various Washington state community-based organizations established to support disenfranchised communities impacted by the lack of affordable housing and educational opportunities. These organizations include Catholic Communities Services, Washington Housing Equity Alliance, Law CASA, United Way, and Life Wire. As a founding member of the Washington Housing Equity Alliance, Kimberle developed a strategic plan that advanced and supported low-income African American families in King County through her research expertise in educational outcomes, affordable housing, and wrap-around services in newly developed mixed-use projects. 

Dr. Kimberle is an adjunct faculty member for the University of Denver, the University of Colorado/Denver, and Johns Hopkins School of Education. She is also involved with the Denver Foundation, Education Committee, GW Patriot Mentoring Pairs, and Manual High School Sorority Mentoring. 

 Dr. Kimberle has completed a certificate in the Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI) Program through ULI (Urban Land Institute) of Denver, Harvard School of Education in Early Education Leadership certificate, Mind, Brain, and Learning certificate through Harvard University, and is part of the alumni of Project Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) and Leadership Tomorrow in Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Kimberle is the founder and principal of RE+Cognition, LLC. An educational consulting company focused on applying relevant research from the neurosciences to help organizations and educational institutions develop a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment.

 

Sammiah Ebadi
Part-Time Intern

Sammiah Ebadi is a Class of 2022 Law School… Yes We Can! Fellow.

Sammiah is a current undergraduate student at CU Denver, majoring in Political Science. She moved to Colorado with her family in 2015 from California and has been here since. She has been a part of different organizations throughout her educational career, such as the National Honors Society in 2019, and received the KIPP Forward Award in 2022. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and playing with her puppy during her free time.

Sammiah has volunteer experience with the Denver Public Library, reading to younger children, being involved with the Teen Advisory Board, where she helped organize event speakers, and spent time at her local Food Bank, distributing food to families. She is very enthusiastic and loves teamwork.