The Collegiate Peaks Forum Series

The Collegiate Peaks Forum Series™ began in 2003 as a small group of intellectually curious citizens in the Upper Arkansas Valley who determined that their lives could be enhanced by investigating the challenging questions raised by the interrelationship of philosophy, spirituality and science through academic stimulation, related discussions and their ensuing insights. To that end, notable speakers and scholars active in these disciplines would be invited to speak, offer their published works and engage in constructive dialogue.

The Collegiate Peaks Forum Series™ mission is to facilitate the intellectual enrichment of the Upper Arkansas Valley residents and their visitors by sponsoring FREE events featuring nationally recognized persons schooled in philosophy, spirituality or science and hosting other community discussion activities.

The Collegiate Peaks Forum Series is a bridge facilitating personal enrichment and constructive dialogue among individuals and groups to which they belong. It seeks to stimulate intellectual curiosity, stir the imagination and engage our diverse citizenry through lectures, study and discussion groups. It is committed to communicating with integrity, listening openly and honoring the differences of its participants.

The Upper Arkansas Valley runs about 150 miles from the historic town of Leadville (featuring the headwaters of the Arkansas River), through the towns of Buena Vista (at the foot of the Collegiate Peaks mountain range in central Colorado) and Salida (a well-known art and biking community).

This area boasts fifteen 14,000-foot mountains, including Mt. Elbert (14, 433 ft), Mt. Massive (14, 421 ft), Mt. Harvard (14,420 ft), Mt. Antero (14,269 ft), Mt. Princeton (14,197 ft), Mt. Yale (14,196 ft), Mt. Columbia (14,073 ft) and Mt. Shavano (14, 229). Due to the protection afforded by the Front Range to the east and the Sawatch Mountains to the west, the valley is known as the "Banana Belt" and offers a mildly temperate climate, allowing for exceptional recreational and tourist conditions year-round. Annually there are over 300 sunny days, with summer temperatures ranging from around 81° - 47° and winter temperatures ranging from about 40° - 10.°

• 2019 to 2024 - Kelly Collins
• 2017 to 2019 - Rebecca Poos
• 2013 to 2016 - William McQueen
• 2011 to 2012 - Jamie Hagen
• 2009 to 2010 - Arlene Waldorf
• 2007 to 2008 - Butch Butler
• 2005 to 2006 - John Cogswell
• 2003 to 2004 - Phil Jones

Past Board Members

• Kelly Collins
• Butch Butler
• Greg Reed
• Joanne Castendyk

Emeritus Members

• John Cogswell
• Phil Jones
• Owen Lentz
• Doug MacKay
• Arlene Waldorf

Special thank you to Butch Butler

CPFS treasurer and founding member who served on the CPFS board for the entire 21 year history of the organization.

• 2025

  • Dr. Matt Gianneschi– Born on the 4th of July: One 10th Mountain Division Soldier’s Quintessential American Story as an Immigrant, Orphan, Dropout, Hero, and Father
  • Dr. Kim Langmaid– Walking Like Mountains: The Science and Spirit of Sustaining Mountain Communities

• 2024

  • Dr. Nathan Mueller –Sowing Solutions: The Future of Global Food Systems in a Changing Climate.
  • Dr. Scott Tinker – Energy, Climate, and the Reality of Trade Offs.
  • Dr. Devin Castendyk – Recovering Critical Minerals for a Carbon-Neutral Future from Mine Waste; Maximizing Opportunities while Minimizing Risks

• 2023

  • Brad Udal – The Ongoing Multi-Decadal Colorado River Crisis: a collision of 19th Century Water Law, 20th Century Infrastructure, and 21st Century Climate Change and Population Growth.
  • Dr. Branko Kosovic –
    Wildland fires and weather are coupled through complex feedbacks including forest and wildfire management practices, human encroachment into wildland, and the effects of climate change.

• 2022

  • Dr. Meredith A. MacGregor – The James Webb Telescope.

• 2021

  • Dr. Tyler Lyson and Dr. Ian Miller – The Colorado Fossil Discovery that Rocked the World.

• 2020

  • Reverend Dr. Bruce Epperly – Spirituality in a Time of Pandemic.
  • Llody Athearn – Colorado’s 14ers: Balancing recreational Use and Environmental Protection on America’s Approachable Everests.
  • Melanie Yazzie – An Overview of Various Contemporary Indigenous Female Artists.
  • Mr. Ben Ehrenreich – The End of Time.
  • Craig Childs – The Animals Around Us: A spoken Word Evening with Craig Childs.
  • Dr. Jeffery Lockwood – The Epic (and Operatic) Tale of the Rocky Mountain Locust: An Environmental Murder Mystery featuring Locust: The Opera.

• 2019

  • Dr. Paula Cushing –  On a Silken Thread: Spider Fact and Fancy.
  • Dr. Michael Edwards – Understanding your DNA: The Past, Present and Future of Human Genetic Research.
  • Roland McCook –Uncompahgre Utes: Then and Now.
  • Dr. William Anderegg – Hot, Dry, and Smoky: What is the future of Colorado’s Forests in a Changing Climate?
  • Pastor John Pavlovitz – Cultivating Hope and Creating Community: A Compassionate Guide for Difficult Days.
  • Dr. Arri Eisen – Biology and Buddhism: What I've Learned about Life during a Decade Teaching Science to the Dalai Lama's Monks and Nuns.

• 2008-2018

  • Over the ten years from 2008 to 2018, the Collegiate Peaks Forum offered over 60 additional events, far exceeding what we can summarize here, leaving an enduring impact on our local community.