Bird Talk episode 31- janet damon
Bird Talk episode 31- janet damon

BirdTalk, the alumni podcast produced by the MSU Denver Alumni Association, has released a new episode featuring Janet Damon (’00) — an MSU Denver History alumna, celebrated Denver Public Schools educator, 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year, and the upcoming MSU Denver December 2025 Commencement Speaker.

Hosted by Jamie Hurst, the episode explores Damon’s remarkable 25-year career as a teacher, librarian, community organizer, and advocate for student well-being. With insight and compassion, she reflects on the family legacy that shaped her — from a father who grew up during Jim Crow to a mother who fought for her right to attend school in Korea — and how those experiences inspired her commitment to literacy, healing-centered education, and equitable access for all students.

“My parents taught me that education is both a privilege and a responsibility,” Damon says in the episode. “My work is about ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and capable of achieving their fullest potential.”

Throughout the conversation, Damon describes her approach to teaching at Delta High School, an alternative pathway program where students facing housing insecurity, family loss, or financial hardship find stability, community, and academic support. She also shares her work founding Afros and Books, a collective for librarians of color, and Mix Mama, a community for mothers, educators, and artists raising compassionate global citizens.

Listeners will hear Damon discuss everything from the science of reading and the power of storytelling to the role nature, mindfulness, and mental health play in student success. Her reflections underscore her belief that education must address the whole person — intellectually, emotionally, and socially — to unlock human potential.

This episode arrives ahead of Damon’s return to campus as the December 2025 Commencement Speaker, where she will address graduates at the Colorado Convention Center. Her story offers encouragement and inspiration to Roadrunners of all ages, emphasizing resilience, curiosity, and the transformative impact an educator can have on a community.

The episode is now available on all major podcast platforms and here.

BirdTalk is MSU Denver’s official alumni podcast, sharing the stories of Roadrunners making their mark across industries and communities. For more information or to listen to the episode, visit: msudenver.edu/alumni/birdtalk.