Latest News

Dr. Pittman presented at the 38th Annual Colorado Council for the Social Studies Conference. Along with his colleague, Dr. Jessica Jackson, he presented Place-Based & Community-Centered Approaches: Rethinking Professional Development and Continuing Education through the History Matters Project.

Dr. Pittman recently presented a workshop at the 2026 Teachers of Color and Allies (TOCA) Summit. The TOCA Summit brings together education students, local educators of color, and allies to provide collegial support, networking and mentoring opportunities, and insights into best practices in education. The workshop, led by Vincent Basile, PhD, was titled Understanding the Marginalization, Violence, and Barricades Men of Color Encounter in the Teaching Profession: Toward an Alternative Positive Professional Identity.

Dr. Pittman was recently appointed to two statewide education commissions. The first is the History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government in Education Commission, which plays a vital role in shaping how social studies and civics are taught in Colorado by making recommendations to the State Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). They work cooperatively with local school boards to assist in developing and promoting programs that engage students towards social studies standards. The second is the Black Historical and Cultural Studies Advisory Committee, which recommends Black History standards and related materials to the State Board of Education and the CDE.

On 4 Feb, 2026, Dr. Pittman presented Black History Beyond February: Black Pioneers of Fort Collins at Rotary Club of Fort Collins, detailing the origins and importance of Black History Month and highlighting the lives of five formerly enslaved African Americans buried in Fort Collins’ Grandview Cemetery, connecting their stories to the meaning of Juneteenth.

Dr. Pittman presented at the 2025 annual NCSS Conference. Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies is the largest professional association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. Learn more.

Dr. Pittman and colleagues were awarded this generous funding for the History Matters project. Learn more about this funding here,and learn more about History Matters here.