The Colorado College Board of Trustees gathered on campus for our annual fall meeting, Nov. 5-7. In my first meeting as Chair, I was really inspired by the strong engagement and thoughtful collaboration among Trustees, including several new members who joined us on July 1. Their perspectives and experience have already contributed to a dynamic, student-centered environment that will serve CC well in the years ahead.

At this meeting, I introduced the Board’s 2025-26 goals and priorities, which center on supporting President Manya Whitaker’s leadership; strengthening the institution’s long-term health; deepening our practice of shared governance; and expanding alumni engagement with the creation of a new Advancement and Alumni Engagement Committee of the Board. These priorities will help ensure that the Board’s work aligns with the College’s mission and evolving needs. I will discuss these in more detail at the Board of Trustees Virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. MT; be sure to register in advance.

We were pleased to welcome our 2025-26 Student Trustee, Landon Hartman ’26, to his first Board meeting. Trustees also had the chance to connect over lunch with faculty and members of the President’s Council and CC Student Government Association, gleaning valuable insights about the CC experience in and beyond the classroom.

Ryan Hammes, Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services, led an in-depth discussion with the Board about risk management in higher education. We examined factors affecting institutional resilience—including enrollment, alumni engagement trends, and the changing federal landscape—and how CC can proactively navigate these challenges. We also heard an update on the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, as we strengthen its sustainability and impact as a cultural and educational resource for campus, the Colorado Springs community, and the Southwest region.

As always, a highlight of our fall meeting was attending Keller Family Venture Grants presentations, where students shared their independent research and creative projects. Their work exemplifies the intellectual drive and sense of purpose that define a CC education.

On Saturday, the CC community proudly inaugurated Dr. Whitaker as Colorado College’s 15th president. The occasion ushers in a new chapter of leadership for CC, grounded in collaboration, inclusive excellence, and the enduring purpose of the liberal arts. The theme of Inauguration, “Lifting as We Climb,” so perfectly captures President Whitaker’s commitment to creating the conditions in which everyone at CC can thrive.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my gratitude to all who helped make our meetings and Inauguration weekend so meaningful. We look forward to returning to campus in February to continue our work in partnership with President Whitaker and the entire CC community.

With appreciation,

Colorado College Board of Trustees Chair

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Dear Community,

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Dwanna McKay, Associate Professor and Chair of Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Studies, on Tuesday, Nov.11. She was a proud citizen of The Muscogee Nation. Dr. McKay’s life and work centered Indigenous traditions and wisdom. She was a fierce social justice advocate for all marginalized peoples. With passion and care, she challenged us to actively work to change societal and institutional inequities. She was powerful, brilliant, and compassionate. Throughout her life, she was dedicated to the people and communities she loved, recognized through honors like being named Elder of the Year at the 10th Annual Garden of the Gods Rock Ledge Ranch Powwow in 2019.

As a beloved mentor, Dr. McKay encouraged and empowered generations of students. They found her courses meaningful and challenging, as together they explored critical race theory, settler-colonialism, social inequality, and Indigenous identity. She supported her students both in and outside the classroom, always ensuring they had the resources they needed to thrive, not just academic ones. She frequently made them meals, made certain they had access to computers and books, and most importantly, she made them feel seen and heard. Since coming to Colorado College in 2016, Dwanna immersed herself in campus life. She was essential in the creation of the Indigenous Studies minor, she prioritized Indigenous voices and wisdom at CC, and she encouraged the CC community to develop a deeper understanding of the significance of our land acknowledgement and the continued presence of Indigenous communities here. Everything she did—her teaching, research, and service—was rooted in activism, liberation, and transformation. She lived those values every day through her leadership in faculty governance, her mentorship of students, and her advocacy for Indigenous communities on campus and beyond.

Dr. McKay was a widely published and well-respected scholar and expert in her field, known for her conception of “legitimized racism.” She was selected as Chair of the Sociology of Indigenous Peoples and Native Nations Section, “the first Section in the 115 years of the American Sociological Association that provides an official space for scholarship on Indigenous sociology.” Her intellect and ability to navigate complexity went beyond her four degrees: a PhD, Sociology and Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies (University of Massachusetts-Amherst); an MS in Sociology (Oklahoma State University-Stillwater); an MBA in Management Science (East Tennessee State University); and a BA in Political Science (University of Central Oklahoma), as she recognized learning as being rooted in community and lived experience. She served her tribe in her appointment as Secretary of Education for The Muscogee Nation, she was a member of the Native American Advisory Committee for the Office of the Governor of Kansas and was the former vice-chair for the Mvskoke Women’s Leadership Institute. Dwanna was also a loyal ally and friend. She never hesitated to take time to be present with us and listen to our stories. She encouraged us to speak our own truths with integrity and moments of laughter, choosing to share herself with us unapologetically, for which we will forever be grateful.

Services will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, at Integrity Funeral Home Chapel, 410 E. Trudgeon St., Henryetta, OK 74437 (viewing from 9:00-11:00 am; service at 1:00 pm). An announcement about a Celebration of Life to be held at CC is forthcoming. Flowers can be sent to Integrity on November 20. Cards of condolence can be sent to:

Ms. Dena Costello
Dr. Michael Brutz
2685 Dragonfly Court
Castle Rock, CO 80109

To honor the spirit of Dr. McKay’s efforts to support students beyond their academic needs, a fund will be established in the future to continue to fulfill this continued work. Additional information will be made available for those interested in contributing to honoring Dr. McKay’s memory at a later date.

In this time of grief and remembering Dwanna, let us wish her daughter Dena Costello, son-in-law Dr. Michael Brutz, her beloved dog, Oliver, and her friends and students peace and comfort.

With Compassion,

Debbie Howell, Elder-In-Residence
Kate Holbrook, Chaplain

Former CC President Kathryn Mohrman and former Co-Interim President Mike Edmonds look on as current President Manya Whitaker is bestowed with the “Chain of Office,” a traditional symbol of the President’s authority and the responsibility of their office by Board of Trustees Chair Kyle Samuel ’92. Photo by Jamie Cotten / Colorado College

By Alexa Gromko

In a moment of profound pride and celebration, Colorado College marked an historic milestone with the inauguration of Dr. Manya Whitaker as its 15th president—and the second Black woman to hold the position in the institution’s 151-year history. The ceremony, filled with joyful and inspiring music—including her father, Morris Whitaker, who sang Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would’ve Made It,” as a tribute to Whitaker’s supporters, reflected both the significance of the occasion and the vibrant spirit Whitaker brings to her leadership.

As Charter Trustees, faculty, staff, former president Kathryn Mohrman, and visitors filed into Richard Celeste Theatre, the Tiger Jazz Ensemble performed “Celebration,” by Kool & The Gang and “Lovely Day,” by Bill Withers, setting the tone for a morning defined by optimism and unity. The all-female a capella group, Ellement, added poignancy singing “Rise Up” by Andra Day. The ceremony’s theme, “Lifting as We Climb,” borrowed from the motto of the National Association of Colored Women, underscored Whitaker’s commitment to collective progress—uplifting others while advancing together as a community.

READ THE FULL STORY »

Join President Whitaker and Officers of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 2-3 p.m., for a virtual town hall following the Board of Trustees meeting. This is your opportunity to hear directly from college leadership about recent board discussions, institutional priorities, and strategic initiatives shaping our future.

The session will provide insights into key decisions and topics addressed during the board meeting, offering transparency into the governance processes that guide our college. President Whitaker and Officers of the Board will share updates on important matters affecting our campus community.

All members of the College community are invited to participate. The town hall will be recorded and shared with the campus community the week after the event.

Register today!

As the campus slows down for Fall Break (Nov. 24–28), several offices and facilities will have adjusted hours or temporary closures.

Student Support Services

Fitness and Recreation

For full details on campus operations and resources during Fall Break, contact specific offices directly before the break begins.

Did you miss the Block Talks at Inauguration last Saturday, Nov. 8? We will be sharing some of the wonderful talks over the next few weeks. 

This week, don’t miss The Power of Conversation by Dr. Elizabeth Coggins, Associate Professor of Political Science. Coggins came to CC in 2014 after a year as a post-doctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in U.S. Politics & Methodology. Coggins studies U.S. politics, public opinion, ideological identification, race, and political psychology. Her co-authored book, “The Dynamics of Public Opinion,” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2021. She teaches Introduction to U.S. Politics and Government, Race & Politics, Ideology in the United States, Public Policymaking, Political Science Research Methods, and Congress.

If you’d like to view all of the Block Talks before they appear in Around the Block, you can find them on the Presidential Inauguration website.

Photo provided by the FAC

In recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, join FAC museum collections staff in the Agents of Care gallery for a special program on the care of indigenous jewelry on Friday, Nov. 21, 1-2 p.m. Learn about the special protective enclosures used to keep jewelry safe, how these works are cleaned and restored, and projects the museum is undertaking to increase access to, and care of, this incredible collection.

Cutler Hall in autumn. Photo by Patty O’Halloran

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

If you did not complete the All-College Course Evaluation in your current class during the fourth week, please remember to login to Banner to complete the evaluation form, which will be accessible to you only until the second Monday of next block when course grades are submitted. Course evaluations are always anonymous, and they are used by faculty when they revise courses in future years.  Evaluations are also seen by committees and the Dean of the Faculty when faculty members are being reviewed for tenure and promotion.

Faculty value student responses and appreciate your participation in this important process.

Happy Block Break!

Sincerely,

Dean of the College and Chief Operating Officer

Don’t forget to join your colleagues for the Block 3 In the Loop all-staff meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8:30 a.m. in Celeste Theater. The program will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Stay afterward for a light breakfast and conversation in Cornerstone Main Space.

Topics will include:

See you then,

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903