Public invited to attend forums to meet semi-finalists for community college president
The national search for a president for Community College of Aurora (CCA) began in February and a search
committee composed of college employees, local business leaders and other educational leaders from across the
state has been working to screen and conduct preliminary interviews of applicants in order to identify those most
suited to be considered for the role of president.
The search is necessary to replace the former president, Dr. Linda Bowman, who retired in 2011 after having served
at CCA since 2000. Dr. Geri Anderson, Colorado Community College System (CCCS) vice president for student and
academic affairs and Colorado Community College System (CCCS) provost, is serving as the CCA interim president
during the search process.
CCCS recently announced that the search committee has named five semi-finalists for consideration to become the
permanent president for CCA.
The five semi-finalists are:
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Dr. Christine Chairsell, currently the district vice president for academic and student affairs at Portland
Community College in Portland, Ore.;
Dr. Martyn Clay, currently the provost for academic and student affairs at Eastern New Mexico University –
Roswell in Roswell, N.M.;
Dr. Diane Hegeman, currently the vice president of instruction at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton;
Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, currently vice president of academic affairs at Northeast Lakeview College in Universal
City, Texas;
Mr. Alton Scales, currently the Summit Campus chief executive officer at Colorado Mountain College in
Breckenridge and Dillon.
The presidential candidates will visit CCA’s Lowry and CentreTech campuses on April 4, 5 and 6 to participate in
public forums. All sessions will help the college’s constituents learn about the candidates, their backgrounds and
experiences, leadership style, and philosophy on a variety of issues.
The public forums are scheduled as follows:
At the Bergren Room at Lowry Campus
Alton Scales: April 4, 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
Diane Hegeman: April 4, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
Beth Lewis: April 5, 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.
Marty Clay: April 5, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Christine Chairsell: April 5, 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
At the Fine Arts Building, Forum at the CentreTech Campus
Alton Scales: April 5, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Diane Hegeman: April 5, 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
Beth Lewis: April 5, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
Marty Clay: April 6, 1 to 1:45 p.m.
Christine Chairsell: April 6, 2 to 2:45 p.m.
If you are unable to attend the public forums, there will also be a public reception held at the Student Centre Rotunda
– CentreTech Campus on April 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All candidates will be present and guests will have an
opportunity to visit with them on a one-on-one basis. Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
All of those who attend the forums and the reception will be asked to complete a feedback form providing their
thoughts and input regarding the candidates. Every feedback form submitted will be read by the members of the
search committee and Dr. Nancy McCallin, CCCS president, prior to the final selection of a new president. The
feedback from the college constituents is highly encouraged and regarded in the decision-making process.
The address for CCA Lowry Campus is 710 Alton Way, Denver, CO 80230 and the address for CCA CentreTech
Campus is 16000 E. CentreTech Parkway, Aurora, CO 80011.
Located in Aurora, Colorado’s third-largest city, CCA serves more than 425,000 residents in a 350-square-mile
service area that spans portions of three counties (Arapahoe, Adams and Denver). The service area includes Aurora,
eastern Denver, some southern suburban communities, and part of the eastern plains. CCA’s two campuses,
CentreTech and Lowry, are home to more than 14,000 students annually. Both facilities are equipped with the latest
technologies, allowing students to study new and traditional programs.
The Colorado Community College System comprises the state's largest system of higher education, serving more
than 162,000 students annually. CCCS oversees career and academic programs in the 13 state community colleges
and career and technical programs in more than 160 school districts and seven other post-secondary institutions.