Colleen Simpson, EdD

Future-focused and innovative, Dr. Colleen Simpson is redefining education by blurring the lines between high school, college, the classroom and the workforce.

Dr. Colleen Simpson proudly serves as the ninth president of Front Range Community College (FRCC), the largest community college in the Colorado Community College System, serving students across campuses in Westminster, Boulder County, Larimer County, and online. Her appointment in August 2022 marked a historic milestone, as she became the first Black woman to lead the college in its 60-year history. She draws on her Caribbean heritage and a lifelong commitment to educational opportunity to shape her leadership.

Under Dr. Simpson’s leadership, Front Range Community College has emerged as one of Colorado’s most innovative community colleges. Guided by the college’s Forward, Together strategic plan—which positions FRCC as a catalyst for student success, workforce innovation, organizational excellence, and transformational partnerships—she is reimagining what it means to blur the traditional lines between high school, college, and the workforce. Through expanded dual-enrollment opportunities, strengthened transfer pathways—including a strategic collaboration with Colorado State University, Colorado’s only land-grant institution—and innovative partnerships with employers, Dr. Simpson is creating seamless pathways that prepare students for high-demand careers. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that education should be flexible, connected, and responsive to the evolving needs of learners, communities, and industry.

Student success remains at the heart of Dr. Simpson’s presidency. She has expanded applied bachelor’s degree programs, including a first-in-the-nation BAS in Integrated Building Design, strengthened university transfer pathways, and significantly increased philanthropic investment in student success. In 2025 alone, the FRCC Foundation awarded nearly $1.9 million in scholarships, helping more students access and complete a college education.

Recognizing Colorado’s emergence as a global leader in quantum technology, Dr. Simpson has positioned Front Range Community College at the center of the state’s quantum workforce strategy. Through partnerships with Elevate Quantum, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Denver, Colorado School of Mines, national laboratories, and industry leaders, FRCC is creating education and workforce pathways that prepare students for careers in one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology sectors. Her leadership is helping establish Colorado’s technician workforce pipeline while reinforcing the essential role community colleges play in advancing innovation, workforce development, and economic competitiveness.

The impact of this work has been recognized through numerous state and national distinctions. Front Range Community College has been designated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education as both a First Generation-Serving Institution and a Comprehensive Basic Needs Campus. The college has also earned Military Friendly® Top 10 recognition, a Military Spouse Friendly® designation, and continues to participate in the nationally competitive Metallica Scholars Initiative, supporting workforce education in high-demand industries.

Her path to the presidency was shaped by deep, hands-on work across the student experience. At Bronx Community College (BCC) within the City University of New York (CUNY), she led a comprehensive enrollment, retention, and student success portfolio—advancing access, deepening engagement, and improving pathways to degree and credential completion. She also led technology and data modernization initiatives, and served as an adjunct faculty member, an experience that continues to inform her understanding of teaching, learning, and student engagement. At Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), she served as Vice President of Student Services and Regional Learning Centers, overseeing three campuses, five regional learning centers, and the Artisan Business Center.

Across every chapter of her career, Dr. Simpson has been a connector of people and purpose— committed to removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and creating learning environments where every student can succeed. Her leadership reflects a steadfast belief that community colleges are not only gateways to higher education but also powerful engines of economic mobility, workforce development, and community transformation.

She serves on the Board of Directors for UCHealth, the Boulder Chamber, the Colorado Community College System Foundation, Colorado’s Elevate Quantum consortium, and GlobalMindED Colorado. Nationally, she serves on the American Association of Community Colleges Presidents Academy Executive Committee and has been appointed to the AACC Commission on Student Agency, Student Success, Learning Pathways, and Wellbeing, helping shape leadership development and national policy conversations for community colleges across the nation.

She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy from Fordham University, a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Marketing—both from Baruch College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY).

Follow her on social media @FRCCDrSimpson