First-generation CMC Latina grad named dean of School of Business

Feb. 22, 2024 - Kristina (Kristy) Brooks-Olk's educational journey has taken her from Colorado Mountain College student to teacher and now dean of the college's School of Business. Along with attending classes, listening to lectures and earning several degrees, Brooks-Olk realized something else helped her along the way to her January 2024 appointment: humility.

Some of Brooks-Olk's achievements:
• First-generation Latina graduate of CMC;
• Earned an Associate of Arts degree from CMC and a Bachelor of Science accounting degree from Colorado Technical University;
• Completed her Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting and finance from Regis University and immediately began her career as a CMC adjunct (part-time) faculty member;
• Joined the School of Business full-time in 2017 and chaired the accounting program in 2021;
• Awarded 2022 Rifle campus faculty of the year and a became full-time professor in 2023;
• Named interim dean as of Sept. 1, 2023;
• One of just 16% of all U.S. candidates to pass all certified public accountant license exams on their first try;
• Perspectives include CMC student, adjunct faculty member, term faculty, professor, program chair and interim dean.

Among the many lessons along her higher education journey, Brooks-Olk said humility is the most important one central to her work as dean.

"As educators it is easy to believe that we know what is best for the student," she said. "As successful people who have been in the industry, it is easy for us to feel we know what the community needs. As an open access, Hispanic Serving Institution, our students in each community are unique. Their life experiences bring a beautifully diverse flavor to our programs."

Given those factors, Brooks-Olk said it's important to "remain humble and open to bringing the voices of those that we serve to the table. By listening to the voices of the students and community we can deliver the most relevant education and meet our students where they are."

As a CMC student, Brooks-Olk did not know she would ever become a dean. "It was during my time with a first-year accounting adjunct in Rifle at the time (Rob Tramazzo) that I began to consider moving beyond my Bachelor of Science in accountancy," she said.

Tramazzo told Brooks-Olk she would need a master's degree to teach and encouraged her to pursue her idea of giving back to her community. "Had it not been for those two in-person classes, I do not know that I would have ever considered returning as an adjunct," Brooks-Olk shared.

As a nontraditional student, she also called working and attending college online while raising her family a "transformational experience." Through it all, her husband of 23 years and high school sweetheart supported and encouraged Brooks-Olk to push herself further.