President's Update

November 2025

Dear FRCC Community, 

As the temperatures drop and we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on the many reasons I have to be grateful. This season of giving thanks offers a beautiful opportunity to pause, look around and appreciate the people and moments that make our lives—and our college—so special.

First and foremost, I’m profoundly thankful for my health and for the incredible family, friends and colleagues who have surrounded me with love, care and encouragement throughout this past year. Your kindness has lifted my spirit and strengthened me on this healing journey.  

I’m also deeply grateful to our college community—for your unwavering commitment to our students and each other. You continue to blaze new trails for the future: creating innovative programs, expanding opportunities and refining the ways we serve and support our students. I see the fruits of your hard work in the enthusiasm of our classrooms, in the hallways as students chatter and in the partnerships that extend our impact far beyond campus.

Every success story, every small improvement, every shared moment of inspiration reminds me of what makes this community so extraordinary. THANK YOU! 

Spread the Word

Ready, Set, Register!

Things are moving fast—and spring semester will be here before we know it. It’s that time of the semester when we’re encouraging all of our current students to register for spring classes. Our race-themed registration campaign is designed to motivate students to step on the gas and keep their education moving forward. 

As of the first week of priority registration, we had 3,305 students (headcount) enrolled for spring 2026, almost 2,000 of whom are continuing students. To meet or exceed last spring’s enrollment, this number will need to reach 22,082 (or more). This means we are at 13% of our goal, which is a solid start for one week into registration season—but of course, there’s more work to be done. 

Please remind students to register early for the spring semester. Early registration ensures the best opportunity to enroll in their preferred classes and helps them begin the semester well-prepared. And there’s an added bonus — all students who register by Friday, December 19, will be automatically entered into a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. 

Now’s the perfect time to plan ahead and set the stage for a successful spring! Please share this registration link with students and encourage them to register ASAP.

College Updates 

Illuminating a New Era of Equity & Inclusion

We are proud to announce the reimagining of our Equity & Inclusion Division into a new, forward-focused department: PRISM—which stands for Purpose, Respect, Inclusion, Servingness and Mobility. The new structure of this department affirms FRCC's commitment to our value of inclusivity and to our strategic plan priority of ensuring everyone here feels included, supported and equipped to thrive.

Much like the prism that transforms light into a vibrant spectrum of colors, FRCC’s new PRISM Department represents our renewed commitment to illuminating the full spectrum of experiences, identities and perspectives within our institution. This transformation reflects a bold step forward—from division to dynamic collaboration, from vision to active engagement. This new department will lead initiatives that promote servingness and belonging, foster respect and create equitable opportunities for all students and employees. Learn more about our renewed mission. >

 

Leadership Update

As I continue my tenure at Front Range Community College, I am taking the time to reflect on our evolving needs as a leadership team. In year one, the Executive Director of Human Resources role was expanded to Vice President of Organizational Development & Human Resources to reflect our focus on organizational development. In addition, our Vice President for Academic Affairs took on the role of Provost to acknowledge the position’s accountability for ensuring teaching and learning excellence.

In year two, the Executive Director of Strategic Marketing & Communication’s role was expanded to Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer to reflects a new focus on communications and special projects that support the college.

This year, as part of our alignment with FRCC’s strategic priority of College Excellence, I am pleased to announce the expansion of Denise Bucher’s role from Executive Assistant to the President to Executive Director of Administrative Operations. This update reflects a renewed focus on advancing institutional goals through strategic coordination, event leadership and process improvement.

In her expanded role, Denise will lead and coordinate day-to-day operations within the executive offices and oversee the newly established Institutional Events Department—creating consistent, efficient and mission-aligned event practices across all campuses. This decision ensures that FRCC elevates the quality and consistency of its events while strategically managing resources. Importantly, this change reflects a budget-conscious approach by reallocating resources from an unfilled position within the Division of Operations.

About the Executive Director

With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, Denise Bucher has made significant contributions to key projects at FRCC. Her leadership in creating the Support Staff Council, guiding the Process Improvement Taskforce and supporting the onboarding and transition of executive assistants and leaders has ensured continuity and alignment during the One College transformation.

Prior to FRCC, Denise served as a district manager for Franklin Covey, partnering with corporate and educational leaders to implement the company’s renowned leadership and productivity solutions. Her work drove organizational effectiveness and fostered high-performance cultures across multiple districts.

Please join me in congratulating Denise on her expanded role and in supporting her continued leadership as we advance our shared goals for excellence and collaboration.

Foundation & Community Partnerships Interim Leadership Update

Our Executive Director of the FRCC Foundation & Community Partnerships Beryl Durazo will be taking a scheduled leave of absence from December 1, 2025, through January 26, 2026. During Beryl’s leave, our new Executive Director of Administrative Operations Denise Bucher will serve as the interim lead on my behalf. I will work closely with Denise to ensure continuity in our operations and initiatives.

During this time, I will remain the external point of contact for donor agreements and partnership approvals. The Foundation & Community Partnerships team will continue to advance its mission and fiscal year priorities without interruption.

Tools & Resources 

HSI Leadership Panel

Come commit to servingness! Join us on December 2 from 12-1 pm for a conversation with Hispanic Serving Institution leaders from both FRCC and our partners at Community College of Aurora. We will explore the concept of servingness, discuss the current state of funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions and dream together about the future of this work at FRCC and beyond. 

Please RSVP by Monday, December 1 to ensure you receive a link to the virtual event.  

Panelists include: 

• Dr. Angela Marquez, Vice President of External Strategy and Chief of Staff, Community College of Aurora
• Dr. Reyna Anaya, Vice President of Student Success, Community College of Aurora
• Chico Garcia, Dean of Student Development, FRCC
• Dr. Colleen Simpson, President, FRCC
• Moderated by Dr. Krishna Pattisapu, Associate Vice President of PRISM, FRCC

I hope to see you there!  

Around FRCC

Celebrando la Feria del Tamal

Last month, some of our most enthusiastic FRCC employees volunteered to represent the college at the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County’s Feria del Tamal, celebrating and honoring our vibrant Latine community—and of course enjoying a variety of delicious tamales from across Latin America.

Like our college, this festival is committed to creating an inclusive space where everyone is welcome. The Latino Chamber designed the event to be accessible to all members of the community, with activities and entertainment that reflect the rich diversity of Latine culture.

FRCC’s amazing ambassadors staffed our outreach table, sharing college information and resources and engaging attendees in fun, family-friendly cultural activities. Thank you to these ambassadors who love connecting with our communities—your presence at these events helps create a welcoming and inclusive experience for all.