Besnette Hauser: Inspired. Grateful. Fulfilled.
Valley Voices
Courtesy photo
It seems like yesterday. A cold, wintery week in December 2013 greeted me in Glenwood Springs to begin my new position as president of Colorado Mountain College.
As with any new job, I was a little nervous about how to approach those first days and months. One thing I knew for certain: CMC is a truly special and vital institution, interwoven within its beloved rural resort communities.
As I wind down my tenure nearly 11 years later, this impression has only deepened. As higher education faces headwinds, CMC is stronger, increasingly relevant and more innovative than ever.
Why? Because of the mountain towns that play host to our 11 campuses sprinkled across western Colorado. And the individuals who enroll, believe and invest in CMC.
In the time I’ve been lucky enough to be part of CMC, we’ve focused on recruiting and supporting talented faculty and staff who unconditionally believe in each other and in the college’s impactful purpose, mission, limitless potential to serve others, and immeasurable contributions to the economic, social, cultural and environmental vitality of our region.
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In turn, every student who walks through our doors has the care and support needed to achieve their dreams. While I’ve come to know many of them over the past decade, a few examples stand out.
Summit County’s Javier Pineda became high school class president and an Eagle Scout, but having spent his early years in Mexico, he wasn’t sure about college due to his immigration status. Since graduating from CMC three years ago with a bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies, he cofounded a local nonprofit helping ensure more equitable access to the great outdoors.
George Crowley successfully earned his adult high school diploma at CMC’s Leadville campus just before his 70th birthday. Growing up in the segregated South, he watched bright yellow buses pass the cotton fields where he worked to support his family, wishing he was among the kids attending school. It was a lifetime goal to complete high school and he finally did.
And, Onyx Degataga, who enrolled in several degrees and specialized certificates including CMC’s Rocky Mountain Land Management Internship Program. Onyx also thought CMC should play host to a coveted TEDx event, applied for a license and, thanks to this vision, our Spring Valley campus recently hosted one of these premier events.
It has taken a village to celebrate the largest graduating class in CMC’s history this spring. To grow into over 1,000 housing units for students and employees across our high-cost region. To craft legislative policy and ballot measures that protect and strengthen rural communities. To better reflect our region by being named a Hispanic Serving Institution. To welcome new communities into CMC’s taxing district. To join the estimated 400 category-busting Dual Mission colleges and universities across our country. To be voted Top Adventure College by Elevation Outdoors Magazine, twice! To earn a top Green College award by the U.S. Department of Education, and Healthy Minds and Hunger Free designations by the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
What an honor to share in so many successes with a remarkable team; national award-winning board of trustees; forward-thinking foundation board members and president’s advisory council members; visionary founders, generous donors and selfless volunteers; legislators and members of Congress who have fought hard for CMC at the state and nation’s capitols; and community members and businesses who champion and push CMC to achieve new levels of excellence.
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These are just a few reasons I will always be a proud CMC Eagle. And so confident about the college’s future under the incoming leadership of Dr. Matt Gianneschi.
Most of all, I’m awed by the brave learners from all walks of life who have aspired to improve their lives by studying in fields ranging from law enforcement to ski area operations, teaching to environmental science, nursing to hospitality management, and from photography to business. Most go on to apply their CMC degrees and skills locally, which has strengthened our region for nearly 60 years.
Thank you. For a most inspiring, memorable, and fulfilled journey.
