Originally published on cccs.edu, authored by CCCS Chancellor Joe Garcia.
As I prepare to step down as Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System, I find myself reflecting on not just my career but a journey that has been both deeply personal and profoundly transformative—for me, and for our entire system and the countless Coloradans we’ve had the privilege to serve.
A Personal Foundation for Leadership
When I first took on this role, I carried with me experiences that shaped my vision for what our community college system could become. My son’s transformative experience at Pikes Peak Community College and my mother’s journey at a community college in another state (she enrolled at the age of 56 and earned her BA at 63) reminded me daily of the life-changing power these institutions hold.
Community colleges have this remarkable ability to serve people of all ages and backgrounds, meeting them wherever they are on their educational path and helping them find their footing. That personal understanding became the foundation of everything I brought to this role and was the motivation for what we sought to accomplish together.
From Competition to Collaboration
One of my primary goals was to move our culture from competition to collaboration—what we came to call “the Power of 13.” When I arrived, there was a sense of suspicion between colleges and even between individual institutions and the system office. I believed then, as I do now, that we could be so much stronger working together than in isolation.
The transformation I’ve witnessed over these years has been remarkable. Just recently, watching our college leaders present at the June board meeting, I saw the genuine collegiality and mutual support that now defines our system. Newer leaders have told me how remarkable this collaborative culture feels and how it enhances their ability to create meaningful change in their communities.
Leadership That Made a Difference
This cultural shift didn’t happen by accident—it was built on the foundation of exceptional leadership across our thirteen colleges. I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve assembled.
Our college presidents—11 of the 13 have joined under my tenure—represent a remarkably diverse, highly talented and enormously capable group of leaders who genuinely support one another. This kind of collaborative leadership is rare in any system, and I believe it’s unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in higher education.
Resilience Through Crisis
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, our collaborative culture proved its worth. While maintaining continuity of learning for our students, we navigated those challenging months together, supporting each other and our communities through the crisis.
I’m proud that we not only weathered that storm but emerged stronger, recovering enrollment to pre-pandemic levels and achieving our highest graduation rates ever—with the most significant increases among first-generation and underrepresented students.
Innovations That Changed the Game
Together, we’ve achieved things that seemed impossible when we started. We transformed CCCS into a nationally recognized leader in innovative education delivery through three major consortium-led initiatives that have become models for the nation.
Colorado Online expanded access for students across our vast state. The Rural College Consortium ensured that geographic barriers wouldn’t limit educational opportunities to students in areas far from more resourced campuses. The Colorado Skills Institute aligned our programs directly with workforce needs, ensuring our learners are prepared for the jobs Colorado needs filled.
Centering Equity and Inclusion
We’ve also brought renewed focus to equity and inclusion, establishing councils at all thirteen colleges and launching a systemwide Equity & Inclusion Council. This work has been essential to ensuring that our doors are truly open to all Coloradans, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Strong State Support
Throughout these years, we’ve also had tremendous support from the governor and the Colorado legislature, who have recognized and invested in our mission of preparing Colorado’s workforce. This support has been crucial to our success and reflects the growing awareness of community colleges’ vital role in our state’s economic future.
A Lasting Cultural Legacy
But perhaps what I’m most proud of is the culture we’ve built—a culture where our mission drives everything we do, where collaboration trumps competition and where the values of service and excellence are permanent fixtures, even as people come and go.
To my successor and to the remarkable leaders who will continue this work, I offer this advice: recognize that our work is never completely finished. Like any worthwhile endeavor, building and maintaining a strong organizational culture requires constant attention and commitment. People may be transient, but the culture and values we’ve established should be permanent.
Gratitude and Hope for the Future
As I look back on these years, I’m filled with gratitude—for the opportunity to serve, for the incredible team of leaders across our system, for our governing board members who have never wavered in their support of our mission and the development of a visionary new strategic plan, for the governor and legislators who supported our vision, for the faculty and staff at both the system office and at our colleges, and most importantly, for the hundreds of thousands of students whose lives have been changed through the work of Colorado’s community colleges.
The Enduring Power of 13
The Power of 13 isn’t just about thirteen colleges working together; it’s about the exponential impact we can have when we unite around a common mission. That power will continue long after my departure, carried forward by leaders who understand that our greatest strength lies not in what we accomplish individually, but in what we achieve together.
Thank you, Colorado, for allowing me to be part of this incredible journey.
Originally published on cccs.edu, authored by CCCS Chancellor Joe Garcia.
