Senior Manager of Strategic Projects, Recovery, & Resiliency
Jeffco Public Schools Department of School Safety
Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Madalena DeAndrea is an active shooting survivor, resiliency advocate and the oldest daughter of retired Deputy Chief AJ DeAndrea. The backdrop of Madalena’s childhood was her father’s historic law enforcement career which included serving in a leadership role in three school shootings that changed the fabric of American society and police response to active shootings around the world.
Following her undergraduate studies, Madalena worked for a non-profit in Los Angeles. She went out for a night of dancing with her friends at Borderline Bar and Grill and the unthinkable happened - a gunman came in and started shooting. Using the skill sets and mindsets she learned growing up, Madalena was able to find safety in the attic above the bar where she stayed for the remainder of the tragedy as 12 people were killed.
Determined not to let evil win, she committed herself to being a force for good. Now, Madalena serves as the Senior Manager of Strategic Projects, Recovery and Resiliency for Jeffco Public Schools. She travels the country sharing her story, empowering individuals and communities with the tools and mindsets needed to build resilience in the face of life’s uncertainties.
Dark Nights of the Soul: When Terror Hits Home
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM MT