Colorado Mountain College announces Yesenia Silva Estrada as vice president of planning and chief of staff
Colorado Mountain College has selected alumna and longtime employee Yesenia Silva Estrada as its vice president of planning and chief of staff following a national search. In this new leadership role, Silva Estrada will work directly with CMC President Matt Gianneschi and alongside the college’s leadership team to advance the college’s strategic plan, with a focus on fostering equity, innovation and community-driven impact.
“Yesenia has proven herself to be a passionate and effective leader during her nearly 15 years at CMC,” Gianneschi said. “She exemplifies the college’s impact on students and our local mountain communities. I'm confident she will excel in this new role, ensuring that CMC meets its strategic objectives and continues to inspire future generations of students to reach their full potential.”
Silva Estrada’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of education and CMC. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, she moved to the United States at age 5 and grew up in Carbondale, where her parents worked in construction and housekeeping. After graduating from Roaring Fork High School, she became the first in her family to attend college, earning an Associate of Arts in business from CMC. She then transferred to Regis University, where she completed a Bachelor of Science in accounting.
Returning to the Roaring Fork Valley, Silva Estrada made the purposeful decision to forgo an offer from a prestigious accounting firm to join CMC as a summer administrative assistant. In this role, she helped manage the Spanish helpline, supported youth programming and assisted with scholarship support, reflecting her early commitment to empowering underserved students and families. Over the years, she has grown alongside the college, holding increasingly impactful roles and earning a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver while working full time. Most recently, as executive director of CMC’s strategic initiatives division, she has led transformative efforts to align externally funded programs with the college’s strategic goals, built partnerships, secured and managed multimillion-dollar grants and advanced equity-driven initiatives that strengthen access and success for students across the college’s mountain communities.
“This new position is an opportunity to give back to the college that shaped who I am today,” Silva Estrada said. “CMC empowers people to transform their lives, and I am deeply passionate and dedicated to continuing this transformative work. With commitment, determination, and a shared vision, I believe we can overcome any barrier to success. I’m honored to lead efforts that align with our mission and to contribute to the success and resilience of our mountain communities.”
As vice president of planning and chief of staff, Silva Estrada will oversee the departments of strategic initiatives and institutional research, including externally funded programs, grants development and management, legislative and government relations, and partnerships with faculty, staff, students and external stakeholders.
“My mentor recently told me that I may not climb fourteeners in my free time, but my journey — from a first-generation college student at CMC to a leader shaping the college’s future — is an even greater accomplishment,” Silva Estrada said. “As someone deeply rooted in these mountain communities, I’m humbled by this opportunity to serve the institution that shaped my path. Together, I am confident we can create meaningful opportunities that reflect the resilience and potential of our students and rural mountain communities.”
