The Colorado College Board of Trustees visited campus June 10-12 for our annual summer retreat. These meetings provide an important opportunity for Trustees, as fiduciaries of the College, to assess CC’s position, review emerging challenges and opportunities, and ensure we are stewarding resources in ways that will strengthen the institution for generations to come. 

Today’s higher education landscape presents significant challenges, including demographic shifts, enrollment pressures, changing public perceptions, and increased competition for students. Throughout our retreat, Trustees focused on how CC can continue to build institutional strength and resilience while remaining firmly grounded in our mission, values, and distinctive educational model. 

A central theme of our discussions was President Whitaker’s vision for Colorado College and her strategic priorities of claiming our space in higher education, strengthening the institution, and reaffirming the enduring value of a liberal arts education. We explored what it will take to continue distinguishing our College through the Block Plan, immersive learning, academic excellence, and a student-centered educational experience while making decisions that position CC for long-term success. 

During a session focused on institutional strength, including the College’s financial position and long-term sustainability, Trustees discussed the alignment of resources with strategic priorities. We reviewed the College’s recent credit rating, which affirmed CC’s stable financial position and provides flexibility to invest thoughtfully in our future while many institutions face increasing constraints. 

Several discussions reinforced these themes: 

The Board also welcomed the opportunity to meet with faculty and Associate Vice Presidents, putting faces to the names of those who bring our academic mission to life and steward important work across the College. These conversations are an important component of shared governance and help ensure that Board deliberations are informed by the perspectives and expertise of those closest to the College’s academic mission. 

During our business meeting, we confirmed the following six faculty members who have earned full professorship effective July 1: 

We are proud to recognize these outstanding scholars, teachers, and mentors whose work strengthens Colorado College’s tradition of academic excellence. 

The Board also approved two new Student Trustees for 2026-27, Yumna Ali ’27 and Amy Yang ’27, and elected Susie Burghart ’77 as Trustee Emerita. 

We celebrated the contributions of four outgoing Trustees whose service concludes on July 1: 

Finally, we welcomed Orren Fox ’20 as a new Charter Trustee. We look forward to the perspectives, experience, and leadership he will bring to the Board and the College in the years ahead. 

As we look to the future, I remain confident in Colorado College’s trajectory. The challenges facing higher education are real, but so are the opportunities. Thanks to the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families—and the leadership of President Whitaker and her team—CC is well positioned not only to navigate this period of change, but to thrive because of the deliberate choices we are making today. 

Thank you for all you do to advance the mission of Colorado College. 

Sincerely, 

Chair, Board of Trustees

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

Jaccob Slavin ’17 celebrating the Stanley Cup win.

Former Colorado College and current Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin ’17 made history Sunday night when the Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-0, in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Slavin, who collected the primary assist on Carolina’s first goal in the series-clinching victory, is just the fifth former Tiger to win a Stanley Cup, joining Bill ‘Red’ Hay ’58 (1961), Doug Lidster ’83 (1994 and ’99), Jaden Schwartz ’14 (2019) and Curtis McElhinney ’05 (2020 and ’21).

READ THE FULL STORY »

Lydia Vassallo ’27 and Hyungyu Kim ’27 at a pop up sale for WITHUS outside Worner Campus Center on May 9, 2025. Photo provided by Kim.

By Julia Fennell ’21

Colorado College students make a difference in the world, often starting in their local communities—and their collaborative spirit changed the work of Hyungyu Kim ’27 from the moment he stepped on campus.

During his gap year between high school and CC, Kim founded a clothing brand to raise money for charitable causes. Kim, who was interested in graphic design, grew up in a low-income household and wanted to give back to others the way people had helped his family. Inspired by conversations with his friend Noble Haskell, an athlete who experienced quadriplegia after a car accident, Kim realized he could use his art to help people.

READ THE FULL STORY »

By Julia Fennell ’21

Chloe Agenor ’27 is headed to Germany and Kevin Menendez Mejia ’28 is Africa-bound, thanks to the Gilman Program.

Since 2001, the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has provided merit-based scholarships to over 45,000 U.S. undergraduate students, to participate in global internships and study abroad programs.

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Mary Reinbold ’25 exploring Portage Glacier, Alaska, in summer 2020. Photo provided by Reinbold.

By Julia Fennell ’21

For Mary Reinbold ’25, earning a Princeton in Asia (PiA) Fellowship to teach in Japan before starting medical school marks a return to her early influences.

Growing up in Alaska, Reinbold received an unconventional education in the Anchorage School District Japanese Immersion Program, where she spent half her days learning core subjects—like math and history—entirely in Japanese.

READ THE FULL STORY »

Photo provided by the FAC

Join the Fine Arts Center Museum team on select Wednesday mornings in July to watch—and even help with—our annual sculpture cleanings in the Courtyard and Sculpture Garden. Learn about the featured works and artists before getting a behind-the-scenes look at how the museum cares for its outdoor collection.

RoCCy high-fiving a stilt walker as CC participated in the Pikes Peak Pride Parade on Sunday, June 14. Photos by Mark Reis / Colorado College

As a follow up to the recent all-campus message sharing news of Emily’s forthcoming departure, I am writing an update on the Dean of the Faculty role and our plans for academic leadership in the year ahead. 

Transitions at this level require thoughtful consideration, so I will not immediately open a search for a Dean of the Faculty. While we work together to determine next steps for the permanent role, I intend to hire an Interim Dean of the Faculty for the academic year 2026-27. The continuity of work Emily has been leading matters enormously right now, and I look forward to working alongside the interim dean and many of you to ensure continued momentum.

Why Interim and Why Now 

We are navigating a genuinely consequential moment. Baker Tilly’s institutional review, which I will share more about in an all-campus message next week, has given us a clearer picture of where we need to be more deliberate in how we support faculty, how we assess academic programs, and how we align our resources with our priorities. At the same time, the external pressures on liberal arts higher education continue to demand that we make innovative decisions rather than historic ones. 

In that context, moving directly into a permanent search without pausing to reflect on what we truly need in this role—and what you need from whoever holds it—would be the wrong move. Throughout this academic year, I will assess the future shape of this position as we work through the institutional review recommendations, respond to the realities of our sector, and align our spending with long-term sustainability. A search for a permanent appointment will follow, grounded in that work rather than preceding it. 

Your Voice in Shaping This Role 

Hiring for the permanent role is not a decision I intend to make without you. 

The person in this role shapes how faculty are recruited, supported, developed, and heard—and that means you should have a meaningful voice in defining what we need next. I am committed to creating genuine opportunities for that conversation. 

I will hold faculty office hours specifically to hear your perspectives on this position, including what has worked, what hasn’t, and what you believe the successful candidate needs to do well in the years ahead. I will also raise these questions at Faculty Insight Forums throughout the year. If you would find it useful to have me present for a conversation about academic leadership and what we’re building, please reach out, and we will make it happen. 

This is not a listening exercise that precedes a decision I’ve already made. This is the work of leadership itself, and I want to do it with you. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly with questions. 

Warmly, 

President

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

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