University of Denver - Center for African American Policy

SENATOR PETER C. GROFF

The Honorable Peter C. Groff is the founder and executive director of the University of Denver Center for African American Policy. Developed and implemented by Mr. Groff, the Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to work for and achieve a positive change in the present and future lives of African Americans through academics, the arena of public discourse, community and public service. In addition to his role as Executive Director, Mr. Groff is a Senior Lecturer in the University of Denver’s Public Policy Program and the editor of the Center’s websites, blackpolicy.org. Senator Groff is the co-host of a weekly radio show on XM Satellite Radio’s political channel POTUS ’08 and the co-author of “Standing in Gap: Leadership for 21st Century.” He is also the editor in chief of the bi-weekly Groff/Ellison Political Report on blackpolicy.org.

Senator Groff, who has been called the “Conscience of the Senate,” currently serves as President of the Colorado Senate and is the first African American in Colorado to hold that post and only the third in the nation’s history to hold the post of state Senate President. Mr. Groff became Colorado’s sixth African American State Senator when he was appointed to the Colorado State Senate in February of 2003 and was elected to a full term on November 2, 2004. In January of 2005 he was elected the body’s first African American President Pro Tem. He represents Senate District 33 in the City and County of Denver. Senator Groff was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2000 and was reelected in 2002. During his legislative career, Senator Groff has passed landmark legislation prohibiting racial profiling, requiring booster seats for young children, creating visionary education reform measures, securing tens of millions of dollars to combat health disparities and crafting Referendum C, which generated billions of dollars for critical state needs and infrastructure.

For his dedication of time and energy, Senator Groff has been recognized with various and sundry honors and awards, including being picked as a “person to watch in 2008” by BlackAmericaWeb.com .

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Senator Groff was raised in Denver, Colorado. He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Redlands (CA), and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver, College of Law. He is married to the Rev. Regina C. Groff. Rev. Groff is the Pastor of the historic Campbell Chapel AME Church in Denver, Colorado and will receive her Ph.D. in education from the University of Denver in spring of 2008. Both are parents to Malachi Charles and Moriah Cherie.

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Revised: November 2007