Leadville Archives - Colorado Mountain College

Assistant Dean of Instruction, Leadville

August 10, 2020 By Jessica Smith

Under the general direction of a designated campus leader, the Assistant Dean of Instruction provides leadership in academics campus wide and to people and programs, coordinating and supervising the delivery of educational programs with an emphasis on quality instruction, experiential learning and student access. The Leadville Campus is a student-centered, positive working environment that thrives on innovation and change. We strive to maintain a reputation of excellence in all we do—both on campus and in the community we serve—and are committed to ensuring that everyone who interacts with our campus feels included and valued. Only candidates who are passionate about engaging student experiences, innovative and experiential pedagogy, and inclusive and accessible educational opportunities need apply.

The Assistant Dean of Instruction recruits and supervises adjunct faculty and will work in collaboration with School Deans to support processes for full time faculty. The ADI evaluates adjunct faculty for excellence in teaching and learning methods and assists in discipline related full time faculty evaluation and other processes in collaboration with School Deans.

The ADI supports faculty in instructional objectives, such as acquisition of text books and instructional materials and equipment; coaching for dynamic classroom practices; scheduling and programming classes; course management and assessment; participating on program advisory committees; maintaining and enforcing policies, procedures and academic standards; managing program budgets; and assisting in recruiting and retaining students.

Program responsibilities of this position may include but not limited to: Outdoor Recreation Leadership, Science, Math, English, Education, Business, Transitional Education, and oversight of the learning commons and related programs. The ADI also works with the community to develop community education programs.

View/download job description with anticipated hiring salary range: Assistant Dean of Instruction

Pre-requisites for Position (Qualifications Standards):

Education and experience sufficient for the rigors of the position. For example, a Master’s Degree along with two years related administrative experience, or equivalent education and experience that will provide the necessary knowledge, skill and abilities to perform the functions of the position. Supervisory experience essential.

Depending on the position responsibilities, examples of desired experience may include curriculum development, organizational development, budget management, and demonstrated knowledge of pedagogy and teaching experience, whether in an academic, business, or training environment.

Oversight of educational programs preferred, as well as experience in faculty development programs, instructional design and course and curriculum design in multiple modalities, current educational technology, curriculum alignment and focus on learning outcomes.

Ideal candidates will have at least one year of staff oversight experience. In lieu of staff oversight experience, candidates with five or more years of teaching experience may be considered.

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to working in a culturally diverse environment and the ability to effectively work with students, employees, vendor and community members having diverse backgrounds.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) or conversational language abilities preferred.

To Apply: Please submit the required letter of interest, a resume, a list of three professional references, and transcripts. To be considered as an applicant, transcripts must be attached with the original application material. Please do not mail transcripts separately. CMC is an EOE committed to diversifying its workforce.

External Applicants: Apply Online

Internal Applicants: Please proceed to the HR page of Basecamp for instructions on applying for a full time position as an internal applicant.

Review of application material will begin August 31, 2020.

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Leadville

February 26, 2020 By Jessica Smith

Under the general direction of the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs is responsible for the delivery of services that provide support and guidance to students in accessing and successfully completing their academic goals. The Assistant Dean also oversees residence hall and food service operations including conference services and associated budgets. The Assistant Dean creates team with academic affairs personnel to provide a unified approach to campus operations and student success. The Assistant Dean has direct oversight of the campus front desk and a staff of student affairs professionals in disabilities services, financial aid, academic advising and counseling services. Caring for, and supporting, a strong student affairs team that is excited about their work and forward thinking, is a critical component of this position.

The Leadville Campus is a student-centered, unfailingly positive working environment that thrives on innovation and change. We strive for excellent internal and external customer service where everyone who interacts with the campus feels included and valued. Only energetic candidates with a passion for amazing student experiences and an entrepreneurial spirit need apply. The Assistant Dean collaborates with others throughout the College and community to promote unity and further the vision and mission of Colorado Mountain College.

View/download job description including hiring salary range: Assistant Dean of Student Affairs

Pre-Requisites for the Position (Qualifications Standards)

Education and experience sufficient for the rigors of the position, such as a Master’s Degree from an accredited institution and 4 years of experience in a field within higher education student services that provide the education, training, and experience necessary to obtain the knowledge and abilities required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; or a Bachelor’s degree and 6 years of experience, or equivalent education and experience necessary for the position responsibilities.

Special Skills or abilities related to position: Knowledge of current principles, practices, and trends in higher education student affairs programming, state and federal laws, regulations and codes governing same. Ability to facilitate cooperation through discussion and consensus-building, analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, effectively lead a large team of professionals, knowledge and experience in student adjudication, experience with residential campus facilities, problem solve and communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to working in a culturally diverse environment and the ability to effectively work with students, employees, vendors, and community members having diverse backgrounds.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) or conversational language abilities preferred.

To Apply: Please submit the required letter of interest, resume, and list of three professional references. CMC is an EOE committed to diversifying its workforce.

External Applicants: Apply Online

Internal Applicants: Please proceed to the HR page of Basecamp for instructions on applying for a full time position as an internal applicant.

Review of application material will begin June 22, 2020.

'Truck camping’ to a college degree

May 14, 2018 By cmctestgenesis

Colorado Mountain College graduate Thomas Schoonover, right, hugs Rachel Pokrandt, vice president and campus dean of CMC Leadville and Chaffee County, as Schoonover receives his associate degree in natural resource management during the campus’s May 4 commencement ceremonies at the Climax Molybdenum Leadership Center at the Leadville campus. Photo Andy Colwell

By Mike McKibbin

LEADVILLE — Earning a college degree is tough, but doing so while enduring subzero winter temperatures at more than 10,000 feet of elevation in a pickup truck might be enough to discourage many people.

With help from Colorado Mountain College Leadville staff and programs, Thomas Schoonover stayed the course. He received his associate degree in natural resource management on Friday, May 4.

Schoonover, 29, enrolled in CMC classes in the fall of 2016 to make a career change. He chose CMC Leadville for the natural resource management program and smaller class sizes.

“I went to (the University of Colorado Denver) about 10 years ago in 2007 and didn’t like the large class sizes,” Schoonover said. “And I read about the hands-on experience you get in the natural resource management program, which really appealed to me.”

Schoonover found an apartment in Leadville for his first year but had some family health issues that put a pinch on his personal finances. He moved into a trailer for a couple months last fall, but that plan didn’t work well in the winter. “So I was just truck camping for a while,” he said.

‘So supportive’

Skip Lee, dean of student affairs at CMC Leadville, and Katy Warner, director of the college’s natural resource management program, learned he needed a better housing solution for the winter. Warner said she had been Schoonover’s supervisor for about a year and had always found him to be “someone who, in everything he does, gives his best effort.”

When Schoonover missed some classes, Warner and Lee talked to him and obtained a residential scholarship so the student could live in the residence hall on campus. They also arranged for other resources to help him be successful during his last semester.

“They really helped me be able to hang in there and keep my grades up,” Schoonover said. “I never had co-workers or colleagues before that were so supportive. When you’re in a tough situation like I was, it’s easy to get down on yourself. But the atmosphere at CMC was always great and they kept me on track.”

After graduation, Schoonover plans to work for the natural resource management program’s field institute over the summer. The institute provides paid internship opportunities. Student employees work on environmental projects, interact with environmental professionals and get relevant field and laboratory experience to help prepare them for future education and employment.

Schoonover said he will likely pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in natural resource management somewhere in Colorado or Wyoming.

“We’re really excited to see him walk in graduation and we’re all really proud of him and all other students that have to overcome whatever obstacles and adversity they face,” Warner said several days before graduation.

CMC work backbone of Leadville ski joring course

February 28, 2018 By cmctestgenesis

photo: Cameron Schuelke (student) and Jason Gusaas (instructor) with the Ski Area Operations program

Cameron Schuelke, Ski Area Operations student and Jason Gusaas (instructor) pose with CMC's PistenBully groomer at the 2016 Leadville Ski Joring event.

The Leadville Herald Democrat published this CMC Corner column in its Feb. 22 edition. This article is also published on enews.coloradomtn.edu.

By Rachel Pokrandt, CMC vice president and campus dean, Leadville and Chaffee County

The ski area operations program at Colorado Mountain College Leadville has been helping to make Leadville Ski Joring a success for over 20 years. To create the event course, the county deposits 250 dump truck loads of snow onto Harrison Avenue. Then two CMC faculty- and student-driven snowcats cruise from the campus, along the Mineral Belt, and to the top of Capitol Hill. Every year students in the Grooming Lab class enter a lottery to have the honor of working the event. This year’s winning ’cat drivers are Brad Holmes and Matt Davis.

“This event is a great way for the campus and the students to give back to the Leadville community, and for the students to gain valuable technical experience in grooming,” said Jason Gusaas, ski area operations professor.

It takes the team eight to nine hours to create the course. CMC donates the use of the snowcats, the students and faculty time, and the fuel used to power the snowcats. In addition, to support the event Acorn Petroleum has begun deducting 75 gallons off CMC’s fuel bill.

The students first create a six-inch base of snow down Harrison Avenue and then build the required eight- foot jumps. “It is technically challenging to create this initial six-inch layer,” said Gusaas. “Usually we are working with an 18-inch snow base to create recreational trails, but this event is special. When you’re being pulled by a horse at 40 miles per hour over an eight-foot jump it’s critical that the jump be constructed properly and that there is a flat and firm landing.”

Gusaas said that the ski area operations students complete about 80 percent of the work, and then he finishes the fine tuning. He is a 24-year veteran groomer and has taught grooming and overseen the creation of the skijoring course for the past eight years.

“This is a true community event,” he said. “I get the plans for the design of the course from the event coordinators, then the county Road and Bridge brings us the snow, and then ski operations makes their vision come to life.”

Experience the unique sport of ski joring and other winter events at the Leadville Ski Joring and Crystal Carnival, March 2 - 4, 2018.

Kristen Wells: Prepared at CMC for Stanford

May 2, 2017 By wpengine

Leadville native Kristen Wells misses her hometown and the Rocky Mountains. The Lake County High School graduate and former CMC student is now pursuing her Ph.D. in genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine. Though she yearns for views of the Collegiate Range, the allure of being on the cutting edge of medical research is more compelling.

“The coolest thing about Stanford is that all the top research is happening right here,” Kristen said. “We’re the first to implement many of the latest innovations in the science world, then a year later everyone hears about it and is talking about it in the public sector. It’s really fun to be a part of that.” For example, Kristen is using CRISPR, the revolutionary new gene editing technology, in her daily work. Her thesis, in layman’s terms, is about looking at gene expression that’s involved in preventing autoimmune disorders. Using CRISPR “really speeds up the research because we can manipulate an individual gene and see what it does,” she explained. The research may eventually lead to improved treatments for devastating autoimmune diseases like MS and lupus.

Wells credits her experience at Colorado Mountain College Leadville with setting her up for success in college. By the time she was a high school junior, she had maxed out on all the science and English courses available at her school. A counselor suggested that she take some college-level courses “up the hill” at CMC. So she did, taking Spanish with former Professor Mary Ebuna, and English with Associate Professor Jeff Runyon. “CMC was an incredible experience for me, especially Mr. Runyon who made English really fun. He pushed me, and made English exciting.” She learned early the rigors of college-level study, including increased homework and higher expectations from her instructors. “It made the transition to college much easier for me.”

Upon graduation from high school, Wells won a Boettcher scholarship and a full ride to Colorado College where she earned her bachelor’s in biology. She then was accepted into the doctoral program at Stanford where her education is completely paid for by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. “I use the writing skills I learned at CMC in my work now”, she said. “There’s a lot more creativity in science than you would expect, as writing and communication are a big part of the process. We write and publish papers, and orally present our work to our peers.”

For now, Kristen’s return to her home state will have to wait. She estimates it will take 4 more years of study to complete her doctorate. After that, she would like to continue advancing the study of genetics, wherever that pursuit takes her.

Mark Mueller: Powder Chaser to Avalanche Forecaster

March 21, 2017 By wpengine

Like most mountain folks, Mark Mueller fell in love with snow culture at a young age. But after a few years of working as a cook and in the rental/ repair shops, he recognized he needed knowledge and skills to grow his passion for powder into a rewarding career.

It was in the early 1970’s when Mark learned about Colorado Mountain College’s Ski Area Technology program (now Ski Area Operations), and he knew education was the missing link.

“I loved the atmosphere, like-minded friends, and culture around the ski area,” says Mark, who is originally from San Carlos, CA. “I knew I wanted to do something ski area related. I read about Colorado Mountain College in Ski magazine and it sounded cool!”

Mark attended Colorado Mountain College Leadville from 1974 – 1976 and immersed himself in all things ski industry. His instructors, CK Lukow and Ken Host, taught him about lift maintenance, equipment operations, welding, and avalanche safety.

After Mark graduated from Colorado Mountain College he spent 15 winters at California’s Squaw Valley, including 12 years as Ski Patrol Director from 1980-1992. Then in 1992, he made the familiar migration back to the Colorado Rockies to pursue a career with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).

Mark spent his first winter back in Colorado patrolling for Wolf Creek Ski Area, and started with CAIC in the fall of 1993 working on a new highway avalanche forecasting program with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). In 2015, he was promoted to Lead Avalanche Forecaster at the Pagosa Springs Office.

“I love my job! Each winter is unique and the learning never ends,” says Mark, who has been with the CAIC for 24 years. “I work with great people at CAIC and in CDOT and I get to spend a lot of time on skis out in the snow.”

Although professional upward mobility in the ski industry can be challenging terrain to navigate, it is possible to achieve your dreams. With the help of Colorado Mountain College’s Ski Area Operations program, Mark turned his passion for powder chasing from a part-time job to fulfilling career.

“My advice to students or anyone who wants to work in the ski industry,” says Mark, “Is to dream your life and live your dream. Make it happen."

Assistant Dean of Instruction, Leadville

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Leadville

'Truck camping’ to a college degree

CMC work backbone of Leadville ski joring course

Kristen Wells: Prepared at CMC for Stanford

Mark Mueller: Powder Chaser to Avalanche Forecaster

@Colorado Mountain College

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