Court at Reid Arena to be named in honor of Senior Vice President, longtime Dean of Students, and former Interim President Mike Edmonds
Colorado College today announced that Inasmuch Foundation has committed a $3 million gift to CC in honor of retiring Senior Vice President Mike Edmonds. Funds will support student success and well-being.
The gift commemorates Edmonds’ three decades of service to the college and the indelible impact he has made on students and the CC community. Edmonds announced earlier this year that he will retire in May 2023.
In connection with the gift, the basketball and volleyball court within Reid Arena will be named in Edmonds’ honor.
“This gift is in recognition of a leader who, more than anything else, was focused on the success of the student at CC,” said Robert J. Ross, Chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “Never has there been a time when student success, health, and wellness have been so intrinsically linked. We hope this gift will help to put inspired students out into the world to solve some of society’s most pressing issues. Naming the basketball court in Mike’s honor is a special way to recognize his legacy and commitment to student-centered leadership.”
Throughout his tenure at CC, Edmonds changed the landscape of the college and illustrated the power of inclusive leadership. From July 2020 through June 2021, Edmonds served as interim co-president of the college with Robert G. Moore; he was the first Black leader to serve as president in the college’s history.
“Concern and care for the CC student has been my guiding principle since my arrival at CC,” Edmonds said. “This incredible gift from Inasmuch Foundation continues my commitment to and faith in the CC student long after my departure. Inasmuch Foundation has touched my soul and core with this gift.”
Edmonds, who currently serves as senior vice president, has been integral to advancing the college’s institutional initiatives including its commitment to antiracism, creating greater access for students, and the partnership with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He served and mentored countless students, including many student athletes, through his years leading Student Life, and has fostered and cultivated countless relationships with community partners in Colorado Springs and beyond.
“As a leader, teacher, collaborator, and most importantly mentor and friend to thousands of CC students, Mike’s impact has inspired generations. This gift supports our steadfast focus on student success, mental health, and well-being,” said CC President L. Song Richardson. “We are so grateful to Inasmuch Foundation for their foresight and commitment to what our CC students need.”
Edmonds has a strong presence in Oklahoma City, where Inasmuch Foundation is based, serving as Memorial Board Trustee of the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum.
Reid Arena is named after the late J. Juan Reid ’32, who served the college for nearly half a century in multiple roles including coach, dean of men, and director of alumni affairs. The naming of the court within Reid Arena in honor of Edmonds connects two remarkable legacies of service to the college and its students.
A court dedication will take place Friday evening, Feb. 17, at the double-header men’s and women’s basketball games vs. the University of St. Thomas. An athletics alumni reunion and additional festivities will be held throughout the weekend. Details will be shared soon.
Inasmuch Foundation is one of the college’s most significant benefactors, and the connections between Inasmuch Foundation and the college are significant and longstanding. Edith Kinney Gaylord, founder of Inasmuch Foundation, was a charter trustee of the college and was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 1992. In addition, the foundation’s chairman and CEO, Robert J. Ross, currently serves as a Colorado College trustee. Jill Tiefenthaler P’21, P’24, former president of the college, serves on the Inasmuch Foundation Board of Directors, and Barbara Yalich ’53, former vice president of development and alumni affairs at Colorado College, provided decades of service as an Inasmuch Foundation Advisory Board member. Learn more about Inasmuch Foundation.
In recognition of Edmonds’ retirement, the college has also established the Mike Edmonds Legacy Fund made possible with the support of lead donors. The fund will provide resources for future generations of students of all backgrounds and expand access to all CC has to offer. Learn more about the Mike Edmonds Legacy Fund.
