News and Stories from Â鶹ÊÓƵ /newsevents/newsroom/2025/colorado-college-named-main-venue-for-2025-dod-warrior-games.html https://cctigers.com/news/2025/4/21/athletics-colorado-college-named-main-venue-for-2025-dod-warrior-games.aspx Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:45:00 MDT redirected to https://cctigers.com/news/2025/4/21/athletics-colorado-college-named-main-venue-for-2025-dod-warrior-games.aspx /newsevents/newsroom/_images/warriorgames_sq.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/sasha-akinchina-25-awarded-el-pomar-fellowship.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/sasha-akinchina-25-awarded-el-pomar-fellowship.html Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:48:00 MDT Name: Sasha Akinchina Grad Year: 2025 Award: El Pomar Fellowship   “Making resources accessible and approachable is a cornerstone of my work and values. I am so grateful to earn a spot in the El Pomar Fellowship, where I can give back to my state of Colorado, explore my passions, and grow as a leader,” says Akinchina. “The fellowship’s emphasis on leadership will help me continue learning how I can best position myself in the community to give back and lead with purpose. I have always wanted to work for a foundation and gain experience in the philanthropic sector, so I am looking forward to making an impact and working towards a shared mission of promoting the well-being of the people of Colorado.” Akinchina would like to thank Roy Jo Sartin, Professor Kat Miller-Stevens, Leah Brown, and Emma Fairburn for their support during her time at CC and throughout the fellowship application and interview process. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Sasha-Akinchina-Photo.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/andrew-han-25-earns-watson-fellowship.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/andrew-han-25-earns-watson-fellowship.html Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:43:00 MDT Name: Andrew Han Grad Year: 2025 Award: Watson Fellowship Project: "The Bicycle as a Tool for Community Empowerment": The bicycle's introduction two centuries ago ushered in a new form of social and economic mobility. Exploring global bicycle infrastructure and advocacy – from rural communities to congested urban streets – this project asks how these simple machines uplift communities, improve the environment, and address social inequity. “My Watson project emerged from my lifelong love of bicycles but was deeply informed by my experiences working at the Bike & Ski Co-op here on campus and community organizations like PikeRide, Concrete Couch, and Kids on Bikes. Throughout my Watson year, I will connect with bike advocates and organizations in The Netherlands, Sierra Leone, and Bolivia (and perhaps a couple more countries) to empower communities through fixing, distributing, and riding bikes,” says Han. “I feel incredibly grateful for every mentor, advisor, professor, classmate, and friend that has shaped my time at CC. I am now equally excited and nervous for this next life-changing experience.” Han would especially like to thank Rachael Abler, Associate Director of Outdoor Education, for her help during his time at CC and throughout the Watson application process. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Andrew-Han.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/art-major-wins-edith-kirsch-prize.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/04/16/art-major-wins-edith-kirsch-prize-to-perform-research-in-southern-mexico-and-central-america/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:02:00 MDT https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/04/16/art-major-wins-edith-kirsch-prize-to-perform-research-in-southern-mexico-and-central-america/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/11.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/dan-schmidt-25-earns-watson-fellowship.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/dan-schmidt-25-earns-watson-fellowship.html Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:50:00 MDT Name: Dan Schmidt Grad Year: 2025 Award: Watson Fellowship Project: "The Ecology of Social Technology": Digital timelines are accelerating while nature continues in steady cycles. This disconnect shapes how humans relate to themselves, each other, and the world. This project will explore new social technologies that are addressing this disconnect, and working to improve our social fabric. It will show how social technologies—from social media platforms to cocreating music with nightingales, from animal communication systems to government initiatives—can better reflect and respect the natural rhythms that sustain life on Earth. “When I was deciding to attend CC, a conversation with CC’s 2017 Watson Fellow, Theo Hooker, planted the seed for doing a Watson. Ever since that call, becoming a Watson Fellow has been one of my biggest dreams,” says Schmidt. “The Watson Fellowship feels like the natural next step in a half-my-life-long exploration of how digital and physical worlds weave together. Through traveling to Argentina, Germany, Greece, the UK, and Japan I will make short films about the people, ways of being, and innovative approaches to social technologies I encounter. They will be viewable on my website. This project holds deep significance for me because it unites my studies in computer science, my passion for filmmaking, and my belief in digital technology as a bridge to connection grounded in natural rhythms.” Schmidt would like to thank Myra Jackson, Cory B. Scott, Roy Jo Sartin, and Re Evitt for all their help during his time at CC and throughout the Watson application process. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Dan-Schmidt---Watson.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/henry-moraja-25-awarded-cbyx-placement.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/henry-moraja-25-awarded-cbyx-placement.html Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:45:00 MDT Name: Henry Moraja Grad Year: 2025  Award: Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) “CBYX is a program funded by the German government where 65 Americans spend 11 months in Germany, first doing two months of intensive language courses, then a semester of university classes in their career field, then five months of an internship. I want to be an academic librarian so I will be taking courses about library science and doing an internship in a library or an archive,” says Moraja. “I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to spend a year immersed in my passion for German and library science. I look forward to getting to know new regions of Germany, expanding my knowledge of librarianship, and making connections with other participants and students.”  Moraja would like to thank his advisers in the German Studies department, Christiane Steckenbiller (Associate Professor, Chair) and Chet Lisiecki (Assistant Professor), for supporting him through the application process and inspiring him to continue learning German. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Henry-Moraja.jpeg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/molecular-biology-alum-leverages-cc-science-education-at-biotech-startup.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/04/08/molecular-biology-alum-leverages-cc-science-education-at-biotech-startup/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:13:00 MDT https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/04/08/molecular-biology-alum-leverages-cc-science-education-at-biotech-startup/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Screenshot-2025-04-08-at-2.17.09PM.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cultural-immersion-beyond-the-classroom-cc-study-abroad-in-panama.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cultural-immersion-beyond-the-classroom-cc-study-abroad-in-panama.html Tue, 08 Apr 2025 08:05:00 MDT In an era where cultural understanding has never been more crucial, educational institutions are increasingly turning to immersive experiences to bridge gaps and foster authentic connections. CC's Puente Del Mundo: The Musical Crossroads of Panamá block in Panamá exemplifies this approach, offering students a rich tapestry of musical traditions, cultural intersections, and personal growth opportunities that conventional classroom learning simply cannot replicate. This program takes students on a journey through the nation's diverse soundscapes – from Panamanian jazz and salsa in the capital city to the Afro-Antillean rhythms of Caribbean beaches and the traditional típico music of the Azuero peninsula. I interviewed Mariana Martin ’25, who had nothing but good reflections about the block. “I would say it superseded all expectations,” she says. “And it became much more of a cultural experience than a musical one.” Her encounter with local musicians and community members created precious moments of authentic connections that transcended stereotypical representations. For Martin, one particularly profound experience came during a drumming circle in Portobelo, a town on Panama's Atlantic coast. “We learned the rhythms and stories behind them,” she shares, describing how the group participated in three different drumming styles under the guidance of local musicians, highlighting the community aspect of musical expression that's often lost in formal academic settings. By engaging with diverse communities across Panama – from Indigenous Ngobe Buglé groups to descendants of African immigrants and Andalusian settlers – students gain a nuanced understanding that no textbook could provide. Importantly, Dr. Liliana Carrizo, CC Assistant Professor of Music who leads the program, made deliberate choices to enhance cultural immersion. Martin notes that students stayed in a neighborhood where the professor grew up, rather than in touristy areas, making it “easier for us to be immersed.” This decision reflects a commitment to authenticity that focuses on particular stories rather than attempting to represent entire cultures. The program's emphasis on sonic and culinary tapestries created multiple avenues for cultural understanding. Martin recalls how, during a performance on Panama's Pacific coast, locals shared food with the visiting students – a gesture that symbolized the reciprocal nature of cultural exchange. “They were equally as excited to see us as we were to meet them,” she observes. The most valuable takeaways from the program weren't listed in the syllabus. Martin advises future participants to embrace flexibility. “The hardest thing is to be inflexible... be open. Allow what comes to you to come to you.” She describes how even seemingly failed plans – like an unsuccessful attempt to visit an island – led to unexpected joys, like connecting with an Uber driver who shared local music. Additionally, as the sole native Spanish speaker in the group, Martin found that her language skills added “another layer” to the experience, facilitating “moments of connection” and cultural insights that were extremely valuable to her. One distinctive feature of the program was its balance of structure and creative freedom. Students pursued individual projects based on their interests – from documenting the group's experience through photography to creating botany-oriented studies or producing original music inspired by Panama's traditions. And Martin emphasized how these projects reflected “how much care everyone had dedicated to their art… love and care and passion.” The Panamanian artists they encountered were “equally as excited to bring us into their world as we were entering it,” creating a mutual respect that transcended typical educational hierarchies. For Martin, this authentic immersion rekindled her love for music-making. “I played instruments for a long time but had fallen out of love with playing and producing my own,” she explains. Experiencing Latin American music, particularly its emphasis on percussion, inspired her to return to music-making. “I went to the music store and rented out a trumpet. I never thought I'd pick it up again”. Another powerful moment occurred for her during the closing day of the Panama Jazz Festival. In an open field, Martin found herself captivated by how “everyone was feeling the music, in a way I hadn't experienced before.” As educational institutions continue to develop study abroad programs, the Panama example offers valuable insights. By prioritizing authentic community engagement, embracing diverse cultural expressions, and encouraging creative exploration, such programs can avoid the pitfalls of superficial cultural tourism. It prepares students not just to appreciate diverse music traditions but to engage thoughtfully with cultural differences in an increasingly interconnected world. And, for students like Mariana Martin, the experience transformed not only her academic understanding but her personal relationship with music and culture. As she concludes, the program fosters “a deeper appreciation for music” and inspires a renewed connection to creating her own work. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/The-Valley-of-Endemico-Lab.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cc-mourns-passing-of-the-father-of-the-block-plan.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/04/04/cc-mourns-passing-of-the-father-of-the-block-plan/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:15:00 MDT https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/04/04/cc-mourns-passing-of-the-father-of-the-block-plan/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Brooks,-Glenn-ca-1978.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/campus/2025/gov-jared-polis-meets-with-cc-journalism-students-for-reporting-on-wildfires-class.html /newsevents/newsroom/campus/2025/gov-jared-polis-meets-with-cc-journalism-students-for-reporting-on-wildfires-class.html Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:01:00 MDT Students in a Block 7 journalism class met with Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in his office at the State Capitol in Denver on April 2.  “It’s interesting that it’s that specific,” Polis said about the class, which is called Reporting on Wildfires. For roughly half an hour, the governor took questions from students ranging from his views on more people moving into the wildland urban interface — “live where you want to live, it’s your choice ... there's different risks living in different areas” — to the way Colorado fights fires with new aircraft, including some he said that can reach “anywhere in the state within 45 minutes.”  This is the second year of Reporting on Wildfires, which offers journalism students an opportunity to better understand wildfire ecology, particularly if they plan to practice journalism in the West.  “We’ve had multiple students graduate from CC who have gone into journalism and almost immediately had to cover a wildfire,” Corey Hutchins, who is teaching the class, said last year. “Our course will not only prepare them for that unfortunate reality, but also offer a better understanding for why it’s happening.” Since then, at least one student who finished last year’s class has experienced just that. Charley Sutherland, who took Reporting on Wildfires in Block 1 last year and graduated with a journalism minor, is now a reporter for the Jackson Hole News & Guide in Wyoming.  In his first couple of weeks on the job, he helped cover the Fish Creek Fire, which ultimately merged with the Pack Trail Fire and burned a large swath of forest near Jackson Hole.  “I visited the blaze on Togwotee Pass one day and, even though I was still unfamiliar with the area, I felt comfortable asking questions of the public information officer and safety officials who showed a photographer and I around,” he said. “Fires are complicated and great reporters are able to parse through the jargon and deliver clear information to readers. Those are skills I’m still working on but Reporting on Wildfires certainly gave me a head start.”  Teton County, where Sutherland reports, is 97% public, mostly forested land, and much of the private land is at risk for wildfire. “That is to say, wildfire and reporting on it never really stops,” Sutherland said. “I value the time I spent engaging with wildfire as a topic in a way that I wouldn’t have under other circumstances. I learned about evacuation protocols, fire trucks, fireproofing techniques, forest health, and all sorts of other things through both my own and my classmates’ reporting.”   Â鶹ÊÓƵ alum Jesse Paul, who is now a reporter, editor, and cofounder of The Colorado Sun, has estimated writing more than 150 wildfire and climate stories over his journalism career since graduating in 2014.   “There’s a lot of science behind wildfire, and having that knowledge before they show up at the fire line will be invaluable for these students,” said Paul, who helped with last year’s class and organized this week’s tour of the State Capitol and meeting with the governor.   “We need a generation of journalists trained to cover and understand wildland blazes — people who know the difference between a back burn and a running crown fire,” he added. “With climate change driving more and larger wildfires in Colorado, this course couldn’t be more timely.”  Nineteen students are in the current Reporting on Wildfires class where they will write for the Burning Questions newsletter on Substack.  In week one, students met with Michael Kodas, the author of the book “Megafire,” who is a senior editor of Inside Climate News, and met with photojournalists Helen Richardson of The Denver Post and Kent Porter of The Press Democrat in California.  In week two, students traveled to Fort Collins to meet with Colorado State University wildfire science researchers Mike Wilkins, Julie Fowler, and Jacob VanderRoest about some of their work, which students will write about for Burning Questions.  In week three, the students will go through training at Colorado Firecamp near Salida to become certified as wildland firefighters. The instructors said they plan to tailor some of the course toward public communication.  The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Journalism Institute's Reporting on Wildfire class originated from a National Science Foundation grant that former environmental science professor Rebecca Barnes and collaborators won in 2021 for a project called “Role of Soil Microbiome Resilience in Ecosystem Recovery Following Severe Wildfire.” The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Journalism Institute is a collaborator on the grant.  “It was a no-brainer,” Hutchins told The Catalyst student newspaper that year about the inter-department partnership. “This is the kind of collaboration across disciplines at Â鶹ÊÓƵ that I think is really important and will have serious impacts for students in the sciences and journalism classes.” /newsevents/newsroom/_images/IMG_9511.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/award-winning-journalist-and-filmmaker-to-speak-at-commencement.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/award-winning-journalist-and-filmmaker-to-speak-at-commencement.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:21:00 MDT CC is pleased to announce that acclaimed independent filmmaker and journalist Mike Shum ’07 will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 18, at Ed Robson Arena. A distinguished storyteller known for his powerful documentaries and in-depth journalism, Shum has reported from around the world, covering critical social and political issues. His work has been featured in major media outlets including PBS, The New York Times, and National Geographic, earning him recognition for his compelling and thought-provoking narratives. “As for serving as CC’s Commencement Speaker, I’m honored and a bit stunned,” says Shum. “It’s an odd feeling returning to Â鶹ÊÓƵ in this way. I remember my own Commencement speaker in 2007. I remember thinking what it would be like to leave the college and set off on a journey—live a life with adventures, experience, wins, losses, and heartbreak. I feel the full ‘circle-ness’ of this moment. And I hope I can send these students off with some inspiration, some energy, maybe even hope.” A Sociology major with minors in both Film Studies and African Studies, Shum has built a career bridging investigative journalism and cinematic storytelling. His work often highlights underrepresented voices and sheds light on complex global challenges. As an independent filmmaker, his projects have taken him from conflict zones to communities facing profound change, always with a focus on human resilience and the power of narrative. Shum has covered stories ranging from the rise of the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a survivor of an ISIS massacre in Iraq, which garnered him his first News & Documentary Emmy nomination for Outstanding Interview. Shum’s work has been recognized with nominations and awards from the NAACP, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Nieman Foundation’s Worth Bingham Prize. As a producer and director of photography for the film Hondros, Shum paid tribute to the life and work of war photographer Chris Hondros. Netflix distributed the film following its premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. Shum’s collaborations with Al Jazeera’s Witness and PBS’s Frontline have examined a broad range of critical issues including conflict, climate change, and political polarization. “We are thrilled to welcome Mike Shum back to Â鶹ÊÓƵ to inspire our graduating class,” says Interim President Manya Whitaker. “As an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist, his work—ranging from in-depth reporting on global conflicts to illuminating overlooked human stories—demonstrates the power of a liberal arts education in action. His dedication to humanity, storytelling, and global engagement reflects CC’s commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and social impact to effect meaningful change in the world.” Shum’s contributions to the betterment of society and the advancement of CC’s core values earned him the Spirit of Adventure Award from the Alumni Association Council during Homecoming last fall. Shum is presently serving as a Nieman Journalism Fellow at Harvard University where he is exploring the future of journalism and examining how storytelling can forge public trust and accountability through documentary film. For now, he is thinking about what kind of message to share with CC’s graduates. “I want to talk about the value of fear and making mistakes,” Shum says. “Meaning and art seem to be things that I’m becoming grown to talking about more. It’s something I’ve been exploring at Harvard.” “It makes me think about what I would tell my younger self,” he continues. “It’s okay if you’re afraid. Those moments when you feel you need to be brave, be brave. But also, I find myself in a place where I’m still a student, not that different from when I was sitting, waiting for my own Commencement to end. That on its own is a funny concept—commencement—beginning. I remember also thinking that I couldn’t wait for that beginning to end.” The 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place at 8:30 a.m. on May 18, and will be available for live streaming for those unable to attend in person. More details about the ceremony and related events can be found on CC's Commencement webpage. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/04.2024-MShum-Headshot.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cc-awarded-research-college-designation.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cc-awarded-research-college-designation.html Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:55:00 MST The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE) have recognized Â鶹ÊÓƵ with a Research College and University (RCU) Designation. The organizations have released the 2025 Research Activity Designations, unveiling an updated methodology that better reflects the diverse and expansive research landscape in U.S. higher education. The RCU designation is a newly established classification that highlights research contributions from institutions that have historically not been recognized for their research activity. Unlike the traditional R1 and R2 classifications, RCU status acknowledges colleges and universities that invest significantly in research, even if they do not offer many or any doctoral degrees. To qualify, institutions must spend more than $2.5 million annually on research. CC is one of 36 undergraduate liberal arts colleges that have been awarded this designation. CC’s talented faculty are teacher-scholars who are active in their research and creative endeavors, holding federal awards of $3.3 million for 21 projects. “Â鶹ÊÓƵ is honored to be recognized in the Carnegie Classification as a Research College," says Vice President and Dean of Faculty Emily Chan. “This designation affirms our commitment to the teacher-scholar model, where faculty excellence in research and scholarship directly enriches student learning. Grounded in our core value of the liberal arts, we champion interdisciplinary inquiry, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. Research in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities is crucial to addressing the grand challenges facing our nation and the world. This recognition underscores our dedication to integrating research, teaching, and mentorship, ensuring transformative academic experiences that prepare students for impactful careers and citizenship.” These updates are just the first part of a series of significant changes to the Carnegie Classifications designed to better reflect the multidimensional nature of higher education in the United States. The full 2025 Carnegie Classifications, including the Institutional Classification and Student Access and Earnings Classification, will be released in April 2025. “It’s so gratifying to see the strong research culture at the College recognized in this way,” says Tess Powers, Director of Sponsored Research and Research Compliance Officer at CC. “I’ve been working with CC faculty to help them win external research grants for more than 15 years, and in that time, I've seen again and again how passionate they are about their scholarly and creative work. This work is central to their teacher-scholar identities, and I see them light up as they make plans for sharing it with their students. When our faculty have the resources to dig deeply into important issues, it enriches the entire Â鶹ÊÓƵ community.” The 2025 Research Activity Designations were determined using the following data sources: Research expenditures as reported by institutions through the National Science Foundation HERD Survey for FY2021, FY2022, and FY2023, reflecting total research expenditures. Research doctorates as reported by institutions through the IPEDS Completions Survey for the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 academic years. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. Established in 1973 by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, the classification supports research and policy analysis and has been updated periodically to reflect changes in the higher education landscape. Past updates occurred in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2021, with the next scheduled update in April 2025 and subsequent updates occurring every three years. For more information about the 2025 Research Activity Designations, visit The Carnegie Foundation webpage. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Research-Epstein-Barr.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/journey-to-the-campus-compact-student-leadership-award-emrhys-jenkins-26.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/26/journey-to-the-campus-compact-student-leadership-award-emrhys-jenkins-26/ Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:23:00 MST https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/26/journey-to-the-campus-compact-student-leadership-award-emrhys-jenkins-26/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Screenshot-2025-02-26-at-6.43.16AM.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cc-recognized-as-a-top-producer-of-fulbright-students-for-the-fourth-time.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/25/colorado-college-recognized-as-a-top-producer-of-fulbright-students-for-the-fourth-time/ Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:28:00 MST https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/25/colorado-college-recognized-as-a-top-producer-of-fulbright-students-for-the-fourth-time/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/500x500-Fulbright-TPI-Student-24-25.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/2025-state-of-the-rockies-poll-conserve-dont-drill.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/2025-state-of-the-rockies-poll-conserve-dont-drill.html Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:42:00 MST The 15th annual Â鶹ÊÓƵ State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll shows voters in eight Mountain West states overwhelmingly support land conservation over energy production, despite a new presidential administration promising expanded oil and gas development. The 2025 bipartisan poll, which surveyed the views of 400 registered voters from January 3-17 in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada, shows the highest margins in the poll’s 15-year history to prioritize conservation. “The consensus favoring public lands conservation remains consistent and strong in the West,” said Katrina Miller-Stevens, Former Director of the State of the Rockies Project and an Associate Professor of Economics at CC. “Westerners do not want to see a rollback of national monument protections and there is no mandate for oil and gas development. Voters from all political ideologies are united in support of public land conservation in the West.” Western voters continue to express concern about issues related to land, water, and wildlife. Strong majorities of those polled – including self-identified MAGA voters – support policies that focus on the protection and conservation of public lands and oppose policies that would open public lands up to drilling, mining, or other development. Overall, 72 percent of westerners prefer their elected officials place more emphasis on protecting clean water sources, air quality, and wildlife habitat while providing opportunities to visit and recreate on public lands. By contrast, only 24 percent prefer maximizing the amount of public lands available for responsible oil and gas production. Among MAGA voters, 51 percent favor protecting public lands while 44 percent favor oil and gas production.  The first Trump administration reduced the size of national monuments, an unpopular decision in the West at the time. Reducing or removing monument protections is even more unpopular now, with 89 percent of voters opposing the idea, compared to 80 percent when the question was asked in 2017. Similarly, proposals to give state governments control over national public lands are more unpopular now, with 65 percent of westerners in opposition, compared to 2017 when 56 percent were opposed. The poll is broken down by state, political party, generation, and ethnicity. For a comprehensive look at all of the data, check out the full 2025 Conservation in the West Poll. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/RS74563_20220527_pikes-peak_tava_mountain_3054-web.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/anthropology-alum-published-in-science.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/14/anthropology-alum-published-in-science/ Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:26:00 MST https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/14/anthropology-alum-published-in-science/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Leichliter.jpeg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/from-miami-to-the-world-stage-ccs-model-un-is-shaping-future-diplomats.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/14/from-miami-to-the-world-stage-ccs-model-un-is-shaping-future-diplomats/ Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:20:00 MST https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/02/14/from-miami-to-the-world-stage-ccs-model-un-is-shaping-future-diplomats/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Screenshot-2025-02-12-at-9.27.40AM-2.png /newsevents/newsroom/2025/johanna-blickenstaff-joins-cc-as-vp-for-strategic-communications-marketing.html /newsevents/newsroom/2025/johanna-blickenstaff-joins-cc-as-vp-for-strategic-communications-marketing.html Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:48:00 MST Â鶹ÊÓƵ is pleased to announce that Johanna Blickenstaff is the new Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing. Blickenstaff comes to CC from the University of Denver, where she held progressive leadership positions for over three years. Blickenstaff started her role on October 21 and jumped into executing a number of new measures. In addition to leading the Office of Communications and Marketing, Blickenstaff is developing a research-based, multichannel messaging, marketing, and brand management plan for CC. She oversees the college’s branding work with the marketing agency Truth & Consequences, collaborates with Advancement and Enrollment on targeted engagement efforts, and guides a cohesive, integrated vision for messaging and storytelling that enhances the CC brand.  “I am joining this community at an exciting time as we commemorate Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s 150th anniversary and envision new ways to support and prepare the leaders of tomorrow,” said Blickenstaff. “I believe the liberal arts are best experienced in an immersive, hands-on environment — and that is what CC, and the Block Plan, delivers. I am eager to share its value with new audiences and re-engage alumni as we tell the powerful stories that set this college apart.”  Most recently, Blickenstaff was Associate Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Strategic Positioning at DU, overseeing reputation and revenue-generation efforts and leading large-scale communications and marketing initiatives aligned with DU’s values and priorities.   Blickenstaff also spent 13 years in brand and digital marketing roles at her alma mater, the University of Idaho. She led the creation and release of multiple university-wide brand campaigns, developed audience segmentation strategies and standards, and worked extensively in enrollment marketing to drive engagement with prospective students and families.  “I know the college will benefit from Johanna’s strategic expertise, depth of experience in higher education, and collaborative leadership style,” said Interim President Manya Whitaker. “I want to thank the members of our search committee, who were dedicated to this process for many months, as well as to the search firm WittKieffer for helping us identify the leadership qualities and skillset we were seeking in this role, and for bringing forward a strong candidate pool — of which Johanna rose to the top.” Blickenstaff holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Idaho. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Johanna-Blickenstaff.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/film-by-cc-alum-featured-at-sundance-film-festival.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/01/27/film-by-cc-alum-featured-at-sundance-film-festival/ Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:46:00 MST https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/01/27/film-by-cc-alum-featured-at-sundance-film-festival/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Guy-Mossman_Credit-Jose-Element.jpg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/all-american-tiger-hoops-star-returns-to-teach-half-block.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/01/16/all-american-tiger-hoops-star-returns-to-teach-half-block/ Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:41:00 MST https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2025/01/16/all-american-tiger-hoops-star-returns-to-teach-half-block/ /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Auguste.jpeg /newsevents/newsroom/2025/cc-at-model-un-part-3team-finds-engaging-excursions-and-familiar-faces.html https://thepeak.coloradocollege.edu/2024/05/01/cc-at-model-un-part-3team-finds-engaging-excursions-and-familiar-faces/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:55:00 MST James Hanafee ’22, the former President of CC’s Model UN Club, nearly tackles me in the hotel restaurant. The hug is warm and familiar. Zack Weiss ’22, another old friend who also spent four years involved with the club, accompanies Hanafee. Weiss and I had reunited briefly over the summer in Tbilisi, Georgia, but our embrace still comes too long after our last. Nick Cleveland-Stout ’22, the third of the leadership team from that year and a friend I first met over Zoom in the fall of 2020, flashes me his classic grin. I haven’t seen him in two years, during which time he completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Brazil. He looks a little older and a bit more traveled. He has a new haircut but the same radiant yet curious expression. “It’s good to see you,” he says.  It’s the current team’s fourth night in D.C. Earlier in the day, the eight students representing CC had spent almost nine hours in Model UN committee sessions at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. As a recent alum acting as the team’s chaperone and photographer, I am done for the day as well. This is the fourth conference I’ve traveled for. In my first three, Hanafee, Weiss, and Cleveland-Stout were mentors. Our team’s overlap with the three older alums in D.C. is entirely serendipitous. Jobs, fellowships, and educational opportunities brought them all to the nation’s capital for the upcoming summer. Now, well past 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, a familiar comfort washes over the cohort of students and alumni.  Even during the packed days, breaks were used to step away from the conference and experience downtown D.C. Along the National Mall, we spread time between Smithsonians. We begin with the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. From there we find our way into the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Then to the National Gallery of Art.  Throughout it all, I photograph our experience. From conference to museum to lunches on the National Mall, I blend with ease into the background. I’m reminded of my very first trip with the Model UN team. As a sophomore on the travel team, competing at a conference hosted by University of California Los Angeles, I played the role of reporter for the various committees, breaking news stories about the simulated world. I am again behind the lens. Again, I’m watching Hanafee, Weiss, and Cleveland-Stout. They tell us about each of their travels – locations ranged from Colombia to Georgia to Vietnam. It is a privilege to see three generations share a meal and a conversation. To hear the group’s diverse interests and aspirations. The stories they share about life after leaving CC remind the team why we enjoy traveling for conferences. It’s a taste of something new, different, and exhilarating – an on-the-ground application of a liberal arts philosophy. From the halls of museums to conference committee rooms to the casual conversations at hotel breakfasts, the energy never drags. All fourteen of us, from freshman to alum, maintain long bucket lists. Listening to questions and answers, I don’t think any of us will complete them. But I know none of us will stop expanding them. /newsevents/newsroom/_images/Photo-2-edited.jpg