RBC I I am thrilled to be joining you as a member of the community and new President of Colorado Northwestern Community College. As many of you have seen in recent articles and from my bio, I have been a higher education professional for over 32 years, serving as a faculty member staff and administrator. Of that time, over 20 years have been in community colleges. I am a first-generation college student raised by parents with values they learned from their upbringing in rural communities.
Prior to my move to Rangely, I had the opportunity to meet, virtually, many members of local community leadership, listening to ideas that they have for the college, sharing personal stories and identifying things we have in common. I moved to Rangely on June 15, 2021, a month prior to the start of my contract, in order to settle into the community and continue relationship building in and outside the college. My youngest son, Christopher helped me move in and get settled. He and I stopped in to meet and visit with several local business owners and staff. I have attended several events including the second annual Freedom March and the Chamber’s Surf and Turf Dinner in Rangely along with Whittle the Wood and the Young Life Car show in Craig. Recently, I held a ladies leadership dinner at my home, attended a welcome dinner sponsored by women in Rio Blanco County, and I am looking forward to holding a women’s leadership event in Craig in the near future.
The CNCC leadership team is now turning its focus to the start of the new academic year. We are looking forward to welcoming new and returning students and welcoming back our faculty this Fall. In preparation for their arrival, we are completing roofing and siding projects on our buildings, security system upgrades and orientation and advising of incoming student. The college welcomed over 50 new students and parents at the Experience CNCC Day held on July 16, 2021. Participants had the opportunity to join our faculty for a scuba diving excursion, a trip to the Rangely airport, petroglyph hike and other options. We will be holding our Craig Experience CNCC Day on Aug. 6 and are hoping to have a similar outcome.
Convocation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. This annual meeting serves as CNCC’s official start of the new academic year. At this meeting all CNCC employees from both campuses come together to welcome new employees and hear the priorities for the new year. These priorities will be derived from our strategic plan, mission statement and core values and the statement of purpose for American Community College, which is to provide access, to respond to community needs and to ensure equity.
In mid fall, members of the community will be invited to attend quarterly college meetings where more extensive updates will be provided, which includes these priorities and our progress on achieving goals identified for each priority. Please look for this information in the next CNCC Corner. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer and I look forward to seeing you while I am out and about.
Special to the Herald Times
