Higher education executive Richard Maestas begins new role June 1
After receiving more than 200 applications and a search process involving dozens of Colorado Mountain College staff and faculty, a well-regarded community college administrator has been selected to fill a new position at the college.
On June 1, Richard Maestas will become the first regional vice president in CMC’s history, overseeing the college’s western region. Maestas’ territory will include five locations in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, where he’ll work with existing campus deans and administrators at the college’s locations in Aspen, Carbondale, Spring Valley, Glenwood Springs and Rifle.
“I am delighted that Richard Maestas has agreed to join the Colorado Mountain College family,” said CMC President and CEO Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser. “Richard is not only a highly accomplished higher education executive, but he absolutely believes in CMC’s mission, values and future.”
Community College of Aurora President Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven has worked alongside Maestas since 2009 in his role there as vice president of administration and chief financial officer.
“It has been my pleasure to work with Richard at CCA over the past several years,” Oudenhoven said. “He is a caring, intelligent and hard-working educator who understands the work of community colleges and values both the aspirations and the achievements of our students.”
A new position at the college
The need for a leader such as Maestas became evident in the college’s western region eight or nine months ago, explained Dr. Matt Gianneschi, CMC chief operating officer and chief of staff. “Campus deans in the region busy with activities at their individual locations needed a supportive leader who could think broadly in coordinating, facilitating, balancing and managing, fiscally and academically, the divergent needs within and among the five locations. Following the retirements of long-time Vice Presidents Joe Maestas and Nancy Genova, we had a rare opportunity to re-think how to most effectively support this region and ultimately design this new position,” he said.
Co-chaired by faculty senate president-elect Robert “Bob” Von Achen, an associate professor of communication and English at the college’s campus in Rifle, and Lin Stickler, CMC vice president for student affairs, the selection process was an all-hands-on-deck effort working with a multi-campus committee, staff from Central Services, and former Aspen Mayor and community leader John Bennett of the Cradle to Career Initiative at the Aspen Community Foundation. The group reviewed applications, made recommendations and coordinated interviews at each affected location.
“Even though all of the finalists were very well-qualified, and made the choice a difficult one, Richard’s wisdom and experience impressed all committee members,” said Von Achen.
Hauser said that Maestas is uniquely qualified for his new role.
“As a native Coloradan as well as a non-traditional and first-generation college student himself, Richard connects to our college and its students on many levels,” she said. “Moreover, his leadership experiences at other institutions and time in the classroom as an instructor, as well as his service in the U.S. Navy, have prepared Richard for success in CMC’s western region.”
Maestas knows a lot about effective communication, which he said he owes in large part to that time in the U.S. Navy stationed in Pearl Harbor serving on a nuclear submarine. Maestas related how living with more than 130 people on a submarine that did not surface for 65 days straight taught him how to put issues aside and work as a team. It’s a lesson that makes sense whether on a submarine or leading a college’s region.
“After all, it’s really all about people and relationships,” he said about collaborating effectively.
“You learn to not take things personally, and to get along.”
‘Highly regarded’ leader
Maestas received his MBA from Colorado State University in Pueblo, and has held positions at more than half a dozen higher education institutions, from Colorado College in Colorado Springs and the Colorado Community College System in Denver to his most recent position at the Community College of Aurora. Additionally, Maestas was appointed by Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia to serve on the state’s Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Committee.
“He’s one of the most highly regarded individuals in the Colorado Community College System,” said Gianneschi. “And because of people like him, the Community College of Aurora is one of the most stable community colleges in the state.”
Oudenhoven said that she will miss working with Maestas.
“I am sorry to lose him but I know he is very excited about this opportunity and has much to contribute to Colorado Mountain College,” she said. “[CMC is] gaining an experienced senior administrator, a collaborative colleague and a wonderful person.”
For Maestas, the challenge of a new position and integrating the success of five CMC locations is something to look forward to.
“I’m especially excited to work for an institution that is already doing really good work, that isn’t satisfied, and that wants to do even more,” he said.