Two Southwest Colorado residents, Mary Rubadeau and Adam Red, have been appointed to the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees by Gov. Jared Polis.
The addition of Rubadeau and Red will bring the Board of Trustees to nine members with one faculty and one student representative.
In March, Polis signed a bill sponsored by state Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Colo., creating two new board seats. Adding two members brings the board’s size in line with other state higher education institutions with nine voting members.
McLachlan’s bill added a requirement that at least one trustee be an enrolled member of a federally recognized Native American tribe. Previously, no more than two members could be residents of Southwest Colorado, but now at least two members shall reside in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma or San Juan counties.
“I sponsored this bill to ensure that one board member will be a member of a recognized tribe, and another to represent a resident of Southwest Colorado,” McLachlan said in a news release issued by FLC. “Having focused representation helps student voices to be heard and recognized, adding to the value of a Fort Lewis education.”
A confirmation vote for Rubadeau and Red will be held during the 2021 session of the Colorado General Assembly.
Red of Ignacio is an enrolled member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and former Tribal Council member. Before serving as a tribal councilor, Red worked for tribal government including positions with the Southern Ute Permanent Fund and the Southern Ute Growth Fund.
Rubadeau of Durango has 40 years of experience in education, leading institutions and programs from pre-K through community college in both Alaska and Colorado.
Rubadeau has worked to increase educational opportunities for all students and close achievement gaps for minority student populations by targeting tribal and family partnerships, providing educational choice, teacher training in culturally responsive practices, and developing inclusive and equitable programs.
Rubadeau is a former superintendent of Telluride School District and interim superintendent of Bayfield and Montezuma-Cortez school districts.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
