Innovations and Challenges: Colorado and Beyond

Mordecai Ian Brownlee

WCET Executive Council, President, Community College of Aurora

@ItsDrMordecaiLinkedIn Profile

Dr. Mordecai I. Brownlee is an inclusive educator who proudly serves as the sixth president of the Community College of Aurora. Within the first two years of his presidency, President Brownlee has already brought about significant change and improved the student success agenda at the Community College of Aurora. These successes include CCA embarking upon its first capital project in 24 years, record-breaking capital and scholarship fundraising, hiring CCA’s largest and most diverse faculty ranks in the college’s history, and improved student completions by more than 20%. 

Dr. Mordecai publishes frequently, including serving as a columnist for EdSurge. He also teaches at Lamar University and the University of Charleston. In 2023, Dr. Mordecai was named 40 Under 40 by the prestigious Denver Business Journal and Community Leader of the Year by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce recipient. Recently, Dr. Mordecai was featured as a “champion” of the U.S. Department of Education Unlocking Career Success Initiative. 

Marielena (Marie) DeSanctis

President, Community College of Denver

Marielena DeSanctis commenced her tenure as president of the Community College of Denver on January 15, 2021. An educator and administrator for over 20 years, she has served in many roles in the K-12 and higher education sectors and also brings with her nearly six years of experience as an engineer in private industry. Marielena currently serves as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Board on Higher Education and the Workforce; a member of Jobs for the Future Policy Trust Council; on the Workforce Development Committee of Downtown Denver Partnership; and as a board member of the Colorado Education Initiative. She is a graduate of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, and Leadership Florida. She received the 2016 Hispanic Woman of Distinction among other honors.

Rhonda Epper

President, Trinidad State College

Rhonda M. Epper, Ph.D., is the president of Trinidad State College, based in Southern Colorado with campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa. Previously, she was the provost/vice president for academic affairs at Community College of Denver. Rhonda has held roles at the Colorado Department of Higher Education, WICHE, the Colorado Community College System, and the California State University, office of the Chancellor. She has been a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Presidential Fellows program and the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, as well as recipient of the WCET Jonson lifetime achievement award.

Stephanie Fujii

President, Arapahoe Community College

Stephanie Fujii serves as the president of Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. She is a passionate, outcomes-oriented, community college leader with over 30 years higher education experience in student services, instruction, and workforce/career and technical education. Prior to moving to administration, Stephanie was tenured faculty, division chair, and faculty senate president. Her past administrative experience includes service as a system/district level director leading and facilitating instructional support services and programs between ten colleges, a college instructional workforce dean, and a vice president of academic affairs.

Landon Pirius

Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Colorado Community College System

Landon K. Pirius is the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). At CCCS, Landon provides strategic leadership for all aspects of academic affairs, student affairs, online education, workforce development, and institutional research. Prior to his current position, he was the vice president for academic and student affairs at North Hennepin Community College. Landon also served in a variety of leadership roles at Inver Hills Community College, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Walden University, and as an adjunct faculty member.