CMC Steamboat Springs faculty win collegewide awards

Thirty-three staff and faculty acknowledged with annual campus recognitions

May 26, 2023 – Colorado Mountain College students and employees earlier this month voted for CMC’s collegewide full-time faculty of the year and adjunct faculty of the year for the 2022-23 academic year – and both come from CMC Steamboat Springs.

Receiving the full-time faculty of the year award is Leslie Gumbrecht, a professor of developmental English and an affiliated faculty member of sustainability studies at CMC Steamboat Springs.

“Her class was my first introduction to college,” wrote student Johanna Adcock in her nomination of Gumbrecht. “Her class was so welcoming and exciting and she has such a unique teaching style that helped me understand the subject in a whole new way.”

Another student, Erin Bartosevich, wrote, “Leslie has shown so much passion for her students and that really inspired me to also grow a passion for people and life.”

Maria (CeCi) Peterson received the collegewide adjunct faculty of the year award. An English as a second language instructor with CMC Steamboat Springs, Peterson is originally from Argentina and has “received rave reviews year after year, due to her caring personality and professionalism,” according to JC Norling, Steamboat Springs campus dean.

“CeCi is a fabulous instructor who creates a warm and welcoming environment for students who speak languages other than English and are learning English,” wrote Dwenna Holden, the director for ESL and GED programs at Colorado Mountain College. “CeCi is an unsung hero at the college.”

Sue O’Connor, a college counselor at CMC Vail Valley at Edwards, received CMC’s collegewide full-time staff of the year award and Scott Schreiner, an enrollment services specialist, also at the Edwards campus, received the part-time staff of the year award.

In addition to these collegewide awards, CMC’s 11 campuses and locations also voted for faculty and staff of the year for each individual location:

CMC’s 2022-23 faculty and staff of the year

Aspen and Carbondale

• Full-time faculty: Professor Dr. Tom Buesch, arts and humanities
• Adjunct faculty: Denise Moss, English
• Full-time staff: Maria Graciani, enrollment services specialist
• Part-time staff: Deborah Strom, registration technician

Spring Valley and Glenwood Center

• Full-time faculty: Professor Leti Burbano de Lara, teacher education
• Adjunct faculty: Rebecca Musselman, social sciences
• Full-time staff: Dr. Lisa Runck, associate dean for student affairs
• Part-time staff: Jessica Baltran, administrative technician

Rifle

• Full-time faculty: Associate Professor Dr. Ann Hawkinson, biology
• Adjunct faculty: Michelle McCurdy, ceramics
• Full-time staff: Brenda Walck, academic advisor II/Access coordinator

Vail Valley at Edwards

• Full-time faculty: Associate Professor Alysse Gopalakrishnan, English
• Adjunct faculty: Kimberly Wynn, sustainability studies
• Full-time staff: Sue O’Connor, college counselor
• Part-time staff: Scott Schreiner, enrollment services specialist

Steamboat Springs

• Full-time faculty: Professor Leslie Gumbrecht, developmental English, sustainability studies
• Adjunct faculty: CeCi Peterson, ESL instructor
• Full-time staff: Kathie Rudasics, executive administrative assistant
• Part-time staff: Amy Stern, regional development officer

Breckenridge and Dillon

• Full-time faculty: Associate Professor Jill Boyle, nursing
• Adjunct faculty: Ashley Girodo, education
• Full-time staff: Ryan Shepard, facilities manager II
• Part-time staff: Gregory Roy, culinary arts custodian

Leadville

• Full-time faculty: Assistant Professor Jason Gusaas, ski area operations
• Adjunct faculty: Liz Walker, outdoor education
• Full-time staff: Krista Johnson, campus budget manager
• Part-time staff: Jennifer Speight, Access coordinator

Salida

• Full-time faculty: Assistant Professor Michael Schwager, mathematics
• Adjunct faculty: Jodi Demoss, CEPA, English
• Full-time staff: Chelsea DePetro, continuing ed and marketing coordinator

Central Services

• Full-time staff: Marjorie Lear, grants manager and special projects
• Full-time staff: Yuliya Lef, virtual library director
• Part-time staff: Kimberly Ganley, administrative technician