The Colorado Community College System is proud to welcome its first Leadership Academy cohort. The academy is an eleven-month professional development program for interested employees, including faculty, classified staff, and administrators from all CCCS colleges, the system office, and CCCOnline. The Academy was designed with an emphasis on developing the leader from within.

“Cultivating campus and system-level leaders is one of the most important elements of fulfilling our mission to students and communities across Colorado,” said Joe Garcia, chancellor of the Colorado Community College System. “The CCCS Leadership Academy Program provides an opportunity to engage in deep self-reflection and a critical understanding of leadership competencies and professional talents that are important for our aspiring college and system leaders. I am grateful to those that applied and send my sincerest congratulations to our first-year cohort.”

The Academy includes a class retreat and consists of half and full-day sessions of learning modules, discussions, and practical applications of leadership and personal development principles with an emphasis on self-awareness.  In addition, participants will work with a mentor to achieve an individualized leadership development plan.

Special thank you to the planning committee.
Thank you to CCCS’s Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs for their time and talent on this project. Planning committee members include: Dr. Josh Baker, Pikes Peak Community College; Linda Comeaux, Red Rocks Community College; Todd Ecklund, Pueblo Community College; Ruthanne K. Orihuela, Community College of Denver; and Keith Peterson, Colorado Northwestern Community College. Special thank you to the planning chair, Dr. Sarah Heath, Colorado Community College System.

CCCS Leadership Academy cohort includes:

Monica Fuglei Arapahoe Community College
Monica Fuglei
Arapahoe Community College

Courtney Kuntz
Arapahoe Community College

Reyna Anaya
Community College of Aurora

John Bottelberghe
Community College of Aurora

Bridgitt Mitchell
Colorado Community College System, CCCOnline

Andrea Birkby
Colorado Community College System, CCCOnline

Caleb Pellouchoud
Colorado Community College System

Tashana Taylor
Colorado Community College System

Tina Garcia
Community College of Denver

Fida Obeidi
Community College of Denver

Sasha Nelson
Colorado Northwestern Community College

Nicholas Swails
Colorado Northwestern Community College

David Lucci
Front Range Community College

Kyla Antony
Front Range Community College

Rosalind Smith
Lamar Community College

Aubrie Cleavinger
Lamar Community College

DeAnna Castaneda
Morgan Community College

Connie Mitchell
Morgan Community College

Jamie Giacomini
Northeastern Junior College

Marylu Smith-Dischner
Northeastern Junior College

Emily Little
Otero Junior College

Christopher Smith
Otero Junior College

Vernon James
Pueblo Community College

Kari Lee
Pueblo Community College

Tiko Hardy
Pikes Peak Community College

Gary Walker
Pikes Peak Community College

Armando Burciaga
Red Rocks Community College

Kirk Fallon
Red Rocks Community College

Angelo Cuccia
Trinidad State Junior College

Yvette Atencio
Trinidad State Junior College