Meet the Office of Professional Development's Staff

Kathleen Stiles - Executive Director
kathleen.stiles@ccd.edu
(303)333-6019

Kathleen has a Masters of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado at Denver and a BA in psychology from Skidmore College.  She has completed an Executive Seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  Currently, she holds a Level V Early Childhood Professional Credential.

Kathleen has worked in the field of early care and education for the past 33 years.  Some of her work included the following:  directing child care centers; teaching at various colleges; coordinating resource and referral programs; working for Governor Romer for eight years as his policy advisor on early childhood issues; and establishing voluntary credentials for those who care for and educate our young children.

Kathleen "comes alive" at Arlo Guthrie concerts, spending time with her two grandchildren, creating pots on a wheel, meditating, working on behalf of young children, traveling to warm climates and listening to the music of Jimmy LaFave.

Sudy Opsahl - Associate Director
sudy.opsahl@ccd.edu
(303)333-6017

Sudy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado.  She has worked in a variety of early care and education settings for the last 25 years although her passion is for school age programs.  She is a technical assistant and program accreditation evaluator with the National School Age Care Alliance.  She has taught kindergarten, first and fifth grade.  Sudy currently holds a Level IV Early Childhood Professional Credential.

Performing with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra, taking trips all over the world and crafting keep Sudy busy outside of work.

Jennifer O'Brien - Data Specialist
jennifer.o'brien@ccd.edu
(303)333-6018

Jennifer has a Masters in Social Work Degree from Colorado State University and a BA in Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado.  She has worked in a variety of social service settings but finds work with children the most rewarding.  In the last few years, Jennifer has focused on data collection and the role it plays in advancing the field of early care and education.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and friends, mountain biking and reading.

Phyllis Dobson - Online Learning Project Director
phyllis.dobson@ccd.edu
(303)316-4538

Phyllis has a Masters of Education Degree in Instructional Technology and a BA in Secondary Education.  She has taught numerous computer courses both online and on campus and has been a leader in faculty professional development.  Phyllis became the Project Director of the online Early Childhood program and has guided the expansion of the program from five sections to well over twenty course sections.

Phyllis enjoys cooking, baking, being outdoors, sunning on an ocean beach, bike riding and being with her family.

Katrina Boykin - Credential Coordinator
katrina.boykin@ccd.edu
(303)333-6021

Katrina has a Masters of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado at Denver and a BA in Early Childhood Education from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.  She holds a Level V Early Childhood Professional Credential and an Infant Toddler Endorsement.

Katrina provides ongoing early childhood professional development guidance to early childhood educators through meetings, presentations, trainings and visits to college classrooms.  She helps educators navigate collegiate coursework in order to advance from one level to another within the Smart Start Colorado Office of Professional Development’s early childhood credential career lattice.

Katrina is a long term member and volunteer of a mothers’ organization named Jack and Jill of America Inc. and is also very involved in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority here in Denver. Katrina is a native of Denver and enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.

Holly Wilcher - Early Childhood Mental Health Educator
holly.wilcher@ccd.edu
(303)355-5205

Holly received her BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her Master of Science degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. For the last 5 years she has served within the quality assurance area of early care and education professional development. Holly's research interests include early childhood mental health, resilience, adult learning theory, leadership and personality development. Holly teaches online early childhood courses and plans to continue advancing the education of child care professionals in this capacity.

Outside of work, Holly enjoys volunteering with local canine rescue groups, reading, playing guitar, being outdoors, and spending time with family, friends, husband Seth and bulldog, Virginia.