May 13, 2026
Aurora, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora (CCA) has named former president Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven as President Emeritus, recognizing her lasting impact on the college’s growth, equity initiatives, and long-term investments in its campuses. Announced at CCA’s commencement ceremony on May 9, the President Emeritus designation is reserved for leaders whose impact extends beyond the time in their position. Dr. Oudenhoven, who served as CCA’s fifth president from 2013 to 2021, is credited with advancing equity-centered practices and securing critical investments that continue to benefit students and the broader community.
Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven received CCA’s 2026 President Emeritus designation.
I am very honored to be awarded emeritus status and humbled to be in the company of the leaders who have preceded me,
said Dr. Oudenhoven. My ten years at CCA were incredibly meaningful for me. Our students were inspiring, our employees were passionate and hard-working, and our community was involved and supportive. I do think it is possible to do our jobs from a place of love, and I loved CCA.
Dr. Oudenhoven joined CCA in 2011 as Vice President of Student Affairs before becoming president in 2013. During her tenure, the college acquired ownership of the CentreTech campus, helping the institution access new state funding opportunities and strengthening its long-term financial position. She also led efforts that positioned CCA as a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2016 and advanced workforce diversity initiatives. These efforts earned CCA the American Association of Community Colleges Advancing Diversity Award in 2019.
Her leadership also played a key role in securing state funding for what would eventually become the new Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), a major milestone in expanding workforce-aligned education. She also guided the institution through the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening responsiveness and resilience across the college. She believes that the lessons learned during that historic time make CCA a stronger and more responsive institution to this day.
Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven’s leadership has left an enduring mark on the Community College of Aurora,
said current CCA President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee. Her steady commitment to students, her belief in the power of access and opportunity, and her ability to lead with both clarity and compassion helped shape the foundation upon which we continue to build today. I am personally grateful for the strength and stability she provided this institution, which allowed me to step into the presidency with momentum and purpose.
Dr. Brownlee presented Dr. Oudenhoven with the
designation prior to CCA’s commencement ceremony.
Dr. Oudenhoven retired in 2021 and has stayed active running, playing senior women’s softball, and engaging with a variety of community organizations, including the Foundation Board for the Aurora History Museum. She also travels around the country to spend time with family, including a new grandbaby.
I will always be proud to have been part of CCA’s history. And now, through the leadership of Dr. Mordecai Brownlee and his team, the college is moving rapidly and confidently into a very bright future,
said Dr. Oudenhoven. It is exciting to see the innovation and progress on behalf of our students as well as how thoroughly Colorado’s most diverse institution of higher education is being embraced and celebrated locally and nationally.
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
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Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]