Sept. 28, 2026
AURORA, Colo. – Dr. Angela Marquez, Vice President of External Strategy and Chief of Staff at the Community College of Aurora (CCA), will serve on a newly created advisory committee for the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). The Advisory Committee on Thriving Institution Outcomes will advise CDHE on the requirements for the state’s new Thriving Institution designation and help the department select those that will receive the designation. Dr. Marquez’s appointment to the committee is a statewide honor and elevates CCA as an institution.
The strength of this committee isn’t just in who is serving, it’s in what we can accomplish together,
said CDHE Executive Director JB Holston. The Thriving Institutions Designation gives us an important opportunity to elevate promising practices, support continuous improvement, and advance better outcomes for students across Colorado. I am grateful for the expertise and dedication each member brings to this effort and optimistic about the ideas that will emerge. This work has the potential to make a lasting difference for students, institutions, and the future of higher education in our state.
This is the committee’s inaugural year after the state law HB26-1006 established the initiative earlier this summer. Each member of the committee represents a specific area of expertise, with Dr. Marquez serving as the first-generation institution representative. As of August 2026, 51.8% of CCA students are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education. This led to CCA receiving the state’s First-Generation-Serving Campus designation in its inaugural year and again earlier this spring.
Of the 16 members on the advisory committee, Dr. Marquez is one of three to come from an institution in the Colorado Community College System.
I am honored to be appointed to the Advisory Committee on Thriving Institution Outcomes,
said Dr. Marquez. This work represents an important opportunity to help shape how Colorado recognizes institutions that are creating the conditions for students, communities, and campuses to thrive. I look forward to bringing my perspective and experience to the committee’s discussions and to serving in a way that supports meaningful, equitable outcomes across higher education.
The advisory committee will convene for the first time this fall, with the first Thriving Institution designations expected to be awarded to Colorado colleges and universities on or before Dec. 31, 2027.
Dr. Marquez’s appointment provides CCA an opportunity to contribute its experience serving first-generation students to a statewide effort focused on student success. Through her service on the committee, Dr. Marquez will help shape how Colorado identifies and recognizes institutions creating environments where students can thrive while bringing the perspective of CCA and its students to conversations about the future of higher education across the state.
About the Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.
Contact
Courtney Butler
Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]