Stephanie Villafuerte, Esq., Executive Director

Stephanie Villafuerte is the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality legal services for abused and neglected children. 

Prior to working with the Children’s Law Center, Ms. Villafuerte served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. for four years. She served as a senior advisor on public safety and human service policy issues, with an emphasis on juvenile law and child welfare issues. In that role, she worked with key constituency groups and members of the Colorado state legislature. She also oversaw a number of special projects including the Colorado Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission, the DNA Task Force and the Governor’s Child Welfare Action Committee. 

Prior to her work in the state capitol, Ms. Villafuerte worked as a criminal prosecutor for fifteen years with child abuse and domestic violence victims. She worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Colorado and as a Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Denver District Attorney’s office. As a Chief Deputy District Attorney, she managed the Family Violence Unit and built a reputation for herself as a prosecutorial advocate for abused woman and children.

Ms. Villafuerte speaks statewide and nationally on child abuse and child welfare issues.

In 2005, the Colorado District Attorney's Council named Ms. Villafuerte "Prosecutor of the Year" for her many contributions to the field. She was also recognized in 2011 by the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association as “Outstanding Lawyer of the Year.” 

Ms. Villafuerte received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver in 1987 and her Juris Doctorate degree from UCLA in 1991.