Editor’s note: This post was jointly written by FRCC President Colleen Simpson, EdD, Associate Vice President of PRISM Krishna Pattisapu, PhD, and Vice President of Strategy & Innovation Alana Olschwang, PhD.
Front Range Community College is reimagining 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.
A Renewed Mission
PRISM’s mission is to infuse purpose into our pursuit of equity, to honor respect as the foundation of community, and to embed inclusion in every aspect of campus life. Grounded in servingness and committed to mobility, PRISM will expand opportunities, strengthen belonging and inspire systemic change that uplifts every member of our college. Through innovative programs, partnerships and policy development, PRISM will serve as a driving force for inclusive excellence and upward mobility.
PRISM will continue the essential work of advancing inclusive excellence—reimagined for a new era of collaboration, empowerment and transformation. As we look toward the future, PRISM embodies:
- Purpose in our pursuit of equity and justice.
- Respect for every person’s story and contribution.
- Inclusion that ensures all members of our community belong.
- Servingness that centers compassion and community impact.
- Mobility that opens doors to opportunity and transformation.
Together, we will continue to build a college where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is intentional and equity is achieved. We will shine brighter, stronger and more united—through PRISM.
This evolution reflects who we’ve become as a college—an institution that leads with equity, centers servingness, and measures our success by how well every member of our community can thrive. “PRISM” is more than a name; it’s our collective commitment in action.
New Structure
PRISM will be integrated into the Division of Strategy & Innovation—where the team will work side by side with their critical collaborators on the Assessment & Accreditation team, Data Science & Institutional Research, Grants and Digital Accessibility. Dr. Krishna Pattisapu will serve as Associate Vice President of PRISM alongside Coordinator Harris Armstrong. We will share more details about PRISM in the months ahead.
As we make this transition, I want to share my deep gratitude for everyone at FRCC who has helped build the strong foundation of equity and inclusion here at the college. These are ongoing efforts that speak to the heart of who we are as an institution—so thank you to the many people who have been involved over the years.
