Assistant Secretary for the Office Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) Brenda Dann-Messier will deliver remarks to the Colorado Department of Education's Adult Education and Family Literacy Conference on Thursday in Westminster, Colo. Dann-Messier will discuss adult education’s role in preparing the future workforce by supporting adult education students’ transition to postsecondary programs and careers. As assistant secretary for OVAE, Dann-Messier leads the Education Department's efforts in adult, career and technical education, as well as community colleges and correctional education. She oversees 11 grant programs in those areas, totaling more than $1.6 billion annually.