E-Mail: dorothyrupert@earthlink.net
Term: 7/12/2002 - 12/31/2005

Dorothy Rupert is a former state congresswoman and senator who cares passionately about human rights, health care, families and public schools. But those who know Rupert also say one of her greatest impacts has been on individuals — especially young people — and inspiring them to do their best.

Rupert represented District 14 in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1987 until 1994, when she was appointed to the Senate. In 2001, term limits forced her to leave office. Prior to her political career, she was a teacher and counselor at Fairview High School for 17 years and worked in the Boulder High School's counseling department 1980-1987. Former students say she took interest in each student and knew them all by name.

As a legislator, Rupert always had four to five interns even though she wasn't supposed to have more than two. One of them was Christine Hurley, 27, who met Rupert while riding the bus. By the end of the ride, Rupert offered her an internship.

Rupert has returned to teaching. She is an instructor at University of Colorado at Boulder and is the coordinator of the Youth Council for Public Policy.

Her class "Civic Engagement: Using Democracy as a Tool for Social Change," offered to both university and high school students, focuses on examining issues facing them, such as what's going on with higher education, she says. She hopes to continue the class in the fall with a look at how democracy works in the local city and county governments.