Tinker Duclo has been named vice president and campus dean of Colorado Mountain College Rifle, and Dr. Marc Brennan has been named vice president and campus dean of Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley in Edwards. Both appointments, which are internal promotions, are effective July 1.
Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, CMC president and CEO, said, “The college has recently conducted unsuccessful national searches for several leadership positions. With these two key roles in transition, and with a very tight national labor market, it was important to fill these vacancies quickly and effectively.
“Our campus vice presidents play such an important role in our communities that we did not want to leave these two campuses without strong, continuous leadership,” she said. “From the beginning I have been confident that there was extensive internal talent and experience to tap, so this spring we reached out to our own team members. I am so pleased that Tinker and Marc will be seamlessly stepping into leadership of these important campuses.”
Duclo shows community leadership
Duclo has been providing interim campus leadership in Rifle since February, after the previous vice president and dean, Carole Boughton, returned to Wyoming. During her past decade with CMC, Duclo has worked as assistant dean of Student Affairs, coordinator of Student Services, tutor for TRIO students and academic advisor. She has also taught English, developmental education and sustainability courses at the college’s Rifle and Glenwood Springs campuses.
She has a master’s degree in humanities from the University of Colorado Denver and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from CU Boulder, where she was also a member of the women’s championship basketball team. She is also an alumna of CMC’s Leading Into the Future Together, or LIFT, leadership training program.
She serves on the board of the Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation, is active with principals and superintendents of the school districts in western Garfield County, represents the college at Rifle Chamber of Commerce and Grand River Hospital events, and has served on the Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Forum. At this year’s commencement ceremonies on campus, she presided in both English and Spanish.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve my community and campus in this role,” Duclo said. “CMC Rifle is uniquely positioned to provide a diverse array of inclusive, high-quality educational opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds. I look forward to working with my team and local stakeholders to innovate and expand possibilities.”
Brennan brings international perspective
Since relocating from Australia to Colorado in 2016, Brennan has been associate dean for Academic and Student Services at CMC Vail Valley in Edwards. Previously he’d held several positions as a lecturer in media and communications, and as an associate dean or associate director at universities in Sydney, Australia. His predecessor, Dr. Kathryn Regjo, was recently named CMC’s college-wide vice president of Academic Affairs.
Brennan holds a doctorate in philosophy from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in media studies from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. He has conducted research and been published in numerous British and Australian academic journals, on such topics as music journalism and popular culture.
“It is a privilege to work for a college with such close ties to its communities,” said Brennan. “I am honored to receive this appointment and look forward to continuing all the great work achieved by Dr. Regjo at the Vail Valley campus.”
Hauser said, “After working with and watching Marc and Tinker over the past several years, and reviewing the feedback from their campuses and from our search committee, I am convinced that they understand the needs of the communities where they live and work, and even more importantly that they are deeply committed to our students.”