Colorado Mountain College supporters and employees reacted positively to news that the board of trustees is negotiating to hire Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser as the college’s next president. Many stated they were excited at the news, or impressed with Hauser’s experience and presence.
“She’s a perfect fit,” said Edwards resident Doris Dewton, vice chair of the CMC Foundation Board and a former president of the board of trustees. “Unlike others who’ve not experienced Colorado and don’t understand our unique lifestyle, not only has she lived it, she’s embraced it.”
Lin Stickler, interim vice president for student affairs at the college, concurred, adding that her 15 years of experience in Colorado higher education could benefit CMC. “Her statewide and national connections will be a strong asset,” she said.
In Colorado alone, Hauser has been vice president for advancement and external relations at Metropolitan State University of Denver and executive director of its foundation. She also served as vice president and an original senior officer of the Daniels Fund, the major Colorado-based foundation focused on helping students achieve college access and success.
Her background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver and in Colorado State University’s executive MBA program. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Boulder-based Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the advanced management program at the Wharton School of Business. Currently she is a senior fellow for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo., and also served as president and CEO of Kauffman Scholars, Inc., a major subsidiary unit of the foundation.
“I am honored and thrilled about the invitation from the board to join Colorado Mountain College,” said Hauser. “I have not been looking to be a college president anywhere else, but have been an admirer and supporter of CMC for a long time. There is no doubt it is poised to do incredible things.”
Friends of the college were impressed with Hauser’s credentials, experience and skills. Joe Yob, president of the CMC Foundation Board, said, “Dr. Hauser’s breadth of experience in college administration and foundation efforts makes her the perfect person to move the college forward to serve our students and communities.”
Dan Gibbs, who is a Summit County commissioner, member of one of the college’s advisory boards and proud CMC alumnus, followed the selection process closely. He has advocated strongly for Hauser since participating in interviews at the college’s Edwards campus. On hearing news of the board’s decision, he said, “I am excited to hear of Colorado Mountain College’s selection of Dr. Carrie Hauser. Her commitment to Colorado combined with her unique skill set is the perfect match for the college. She understands the vital role CMC plays in our community, and has an exciting vision for how to continue and grow its impact and legacy. She and her husband will both be welcomed in our communities with open arms.”
Feedback following interviews guided trustee decision
Gibbs and Dewton were among the close to 200 employees, students and community members who participated in a full day of interviews of all the presidential finalists in September. When the trustees agreed to offer the position to Hauser during their Oct. 9 meeting, several commented that resoundingly positive feedback following the earlier interviews weighed into their support of Hauser.
Several who participated in the September interviews expressed confidence in Hauser’s ability to lead the college in a balanced way, both internally and externally.
“I was fortunate enough to be part of the College Council (senior college leadership) interviews with all of the presidential candidates and was very impressed with Dr. Hauser,” said Linda English, the college’s chief financial officer. “She is articulate and very well connected in the state, which I see as two of the most important qualities for a college president.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Dave Askeland, vice president of Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge and Dillon. He said, “I think she has the personal skills needed to move the college and a great group of employees to the next level.” He noted how the college is in a position now to move from receiving recent national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education and CNNMoney “to an even higher level of quality and opportunity for students. I think she is well equipped to move us to this next level.”
Dewton, who was also present in the board’s regular public meeting Oct. 9, during followup interviews with Hauser and other finalist Dr. Alan Walker, noted that Hauser demonstrated “the best knowledge of Colorado Mountain College’s special place in the overall higher education community in Colorado. In part, that comes from her having been with the Daniels Fund in its very early history and serving on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. She understands the kinds of students CMC has invested in over the years.”
And Dr. Brad Tyndall, senior vice president for academic affairs at the college, said, “I am personally very excited that we have selected Dr. Hauser. She has such solid footing in student-centered strategic thinking. I know she’ll lead CMC to great places.”
In addition to Hauser’s extensive academic and professional experience, she is a mountain climber, skier and former rafting guide.