Adams State will receive financial and technical support to embed project-based learning into five courses; faculty professional development, course design assistance and platform support; direct connections with employers, providing real-world, industry-sponsored projects; and ongoing coaching, field support and evaluation across the three-year pilot.

The CO-WIL program helps employers statewide create meaningful pathways from education to career. Administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), CO-WIL provides financial incentives to businesses that offer paid work-based learning opportunities—such as internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training and career exploration programs—for Colorado students and jobseekers.

“Adams State will partner with businesses throughout the state to connect interested and skilled students to work environments in their area of interest and major,” Provost Margaret Doell, M.F.A., said. “With support from CDHE, I believe this program will be very successful and paves the way for students beginning their career path and employers looking to fill relevant positions within their organization.”

Through CO-WIL, employers receive support to launch or expand high-quality placements while learners gain real-world experience, industry skills and professional connections that strengthen their future career prospects. The program is designed to grow Colorado’s talent pipeline, especially in high-demand fields and to ensure more learners—regardless of background—can access paid, career-relevant opportunities.

By partnering with CO-WIL, employers are not only investing in their own workforce needs but also helping build a more equitable and economically vibrant Colorado.

Authorized by House Bill 25-1186, CO-WIL supports institutions in integrating work-based projects into existing courses by partnering with a third-party matchmaking platform that connects faculty with employers across Colorado and beyond. 91��� gain hands-on, career-aligned experience while employers tap into emerging talent and innovative problem-solving from Colorado learners.

Priority for the pilot was given to rural-located and low-income-serving institutions in alignment with CO-WIL’s mission to expand equitable access to meaningful work-based learning opportunities.

The initiative is funded by Ascendium Education Group, which has committed $5.5 million over three years, with an additional $100,000 one-year grant from Strada Education Foundation, to support the pilot’s mission of expanding access and opportunity at institutions serving rural and low-socioeconomic populations.

The CO-WIL Consortium launches in May 2026, with project embedded courses starting this fall 2026.

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91è���� President David A. Tandberg established the President’s Commission on Campus Water Conservation. The cross-disciplinary commission will advise University administration on effective management and preservation of water resources. The Commission will utilize research to develop data-driven practices to meet sustainability benchmarks and promote efficient use of water.

The Commission brings together university trustees, faculty, facilities professionals, and community water experts to advise the administration on both near-term operational improvements and long-term sustainability planning. It will report directly to President Tandberg and Adams State Vice President of Administration Kevin Daniel.

“Water is among the most precious and finite resources in the San Luis Valley, and Adams State has a responsibility to lead by example,” said President Tandberg. “This Commission reflects our commitment to institutional sustainability and our deep connection to the Valley we serve.”

The Commission’s work is organized around six primary areas of focus: operational efficiency and maintenance; technology integration and smart monitoring; long-term infrastructure and landscape planning; campus education and outreach; student engagement in research and implementation; and financial sustainability through grant funding and external partnerships.

Near-term priorities include conducting a comprehensive campus water audit, evaluating irrigation timing and frequency, and exploring the conversion of turf areas to drought-tolerant xeriscaping. Longer-term efforts will focus on embedding water conservation standards into the Campus Facilities Master Plan and ensuring alignment with applicable state and local regulations.

The Commission is co-chaired by Karla Shriver, 91��� trustee and agriculture specialist, and Paul Formisano, Ph.D., director of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center.

Additional members include:
Tom Worley, Adams State Director of Facilities
Kevin Ruybal, Adams State Grounds and Nursery Specialist
Chayan Lahiri, Ph.D., Adams State Associate Professor of Geosciences
Zena Buser, Ph.D., Adams State Professor of Business and Agribusiness
LeRoy Salazar, farmer, former Adams State trustee, and water engineer

The Commission will work in coordination with Tawney Becker, grants specialist, to identify and pursue external funding opportunities in support of its conservation initiatives.

91è���� is Colorado’s only designated Rural Anchor Institution and a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution. Located in Alamosa in the heart of the San Luis Valley, one of the largest alpine valleys in the world and a region deeply shaped by agricultural tradition and water policy, the University is uniquely positioned to model sustainable water stewardship and contribute meaningfully to regional conservation efforts.

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Throughout the week of April 12, Adams State employees were treated to a night at the movies, potting plants, bowling, a picnic, coffee, organized by the Employee Appreciation and Employee Recognition Committees to recognize and demonstrate appreciation for employees.

The week cumulated with the Employee Recognition Banquet, hosted in the Student Union Building and included certificates and plaques for years-of-service, exemplary status, retirement, promotions, and awards. President David Tandberg, Ph.D., said: “Tonight, we celebrate you. The faculty who challenge students to discover their capabilities; the classified staff who keep this institution running every single day; and the professional staff who build the systems, relationships, and programs that make Adams State a place where students truly thrive.”

Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Kim was the Master of Ceremonies. He concluded the evening, saying: “This evening, we recognized decades of service, exceptional teaching, and extraordinary dedication. You are the reason this institution has endured, the reason it is positioned to grow, and the reason we can look our students in the eye and know we’ve delivered on the mission of Adams State.”

Presidential Teaching Award Undergrad

Assistant Professor of Sociology Nicholas Van De Voorde, Ph.D.

Presidential Teaching Award Grad

Professor of Counselor Education Mark Manzanares, Ph.D.

Years of Service

10 Years

Kimberly Chacon, Ph.D., School of Health Sciences director; Ashley Clayton, Ph.D., professor of mathematics; Kristina Cook, Health Sciences administrative assistant III; Jerah Dickson, Academic Affairs program assistant III; Minga Francisco, Migrant Education Program senior educational recruiter; Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., School of Education director; Rob Glover, Computing Services enterprise applications system programmer; Christina Harrell, Ph.D., associate professor of counselor education; Michelle Le Blanc, M.F.A., instructor of English; Daniel Martinez, Facilities Services general labor I; Esmeralda Martinez, Migrant Education Program director; Maria Martinez, instructor of kinesiology; Nolan Miller, Facilities Services mechanical trades; Sarah Rhett, Computing Services manager of enterprise applications systems; Angelo Salazar, Facilities Services structural trades; Lillian Sanchez, Financial Aid advisor; Matthew Scavezze, Housing Residence Hall Director; and Shanda Taylor, Migrant Education Program office assistant.

15 Years

Christopher Adams, Ph.D., professor of chemistry; Leslie Boutillette, School of Business administrative assistant III; Delilah Chavez, Title IX assistant director and Cleary compliance coordinator; Tyler Eagan, Academic Instructional Technology Center director; Jeff Elison, Ph.D., professor of psychology; Ronald Farmer, Facilities Services structural trades; Matthew Gersick, M&W Cross Country/Track & Field assistant coach; Amy Kucera, PR & Marketing graphic artist; Melissa Moeller, School of Counselor Education senior academic advisor/operations director; Sadie Romero David, Prison Education Program administrative assistant II; Kara Van Gieson, School of Visual and Performing Arts – Music administrative assistant III; Elaine Wenta, and Thomas Worley.

20 Years

Berna Hostetter, Extended Studies concurrent enrollment/advisor, Oneyda Maestas, Cultural Awareness and Student Achievement coordinator, and Gina Mitchell, Ph.D., professor of psychology.

25 Years

Kevin Daniel, CIO and vice president of administration, Stephanie Lewis, assistant director of auxiliary services, Christina Miller, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, Tracey Robinson, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology, and Karie Yount, Graduate Studies administrative assistant III.

30 Years

Sharon Chavez, Financial Aid student employment and special programs coordinator, Margaret Doell, M.F.A., provost, and Gina Willis Student Affairs program assistant I.

Retirees

Andrea Benton-Maestas, -30 Years; Kathleen Chavez, 13 Years; Peggy Dunn, 25 Years; Laurin Haber, 3 Years; Patricia Martinez, 30 Years; Leonard Pacheco, 15 Years; and Jeff Storm, 27 Years.

Exemplary Classified Employees

Melissa Conley, School of STEM administrative assistant III, Jeff Gallegos, Financial Aid administrative assistant III, Alex Harris, Mailroom materials handler II, and Elaine Wenta School of HSS administrative assistant III.

Exemplary Faculty

Bethany Adams, Ph.D., School of Counselor Education clinical faculty; Meredith Anderson, Ph.D., professor of mathematics; Beth Bonnstetter, Ph.D., professor of journalism; Laura Bruneau, Ph.D., professor of counselor education; Carol Cotter, Ph.D., to associate clinical faculty; Fallon Crowther, associate professor of nursing; Sandra Gavin, Ph.D., assistant professor of counselor education; Brittany Harlan, assistant professor of business; Stephanie Hilwig, Ph.D., professor of sociology; Lynnea King, professor of English; Rena Kirkland, Ph.D., professor of psychology; Melinda Leoce, D.M., assistant professor of music; Michele Mann, Ph.D., associate professor of teacher education; Gina Mitchell, Ph.D., professor of psychology; Matt Nehring, Ph.D., professor of physics; Jenna Neilsen, M.F.A., professor of theatre; Melissa O’Neill, Ph.D., School of Counselor Education associate clinical faculty; Tracey Robinson, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology; Beth Robison-Crockett, D.M.A., professor of music; Matt Schildt, Ph.D., professor of music; Heidi Schneider, Ph.D., professor of sociology; Justine Schwartz, Ph.D., assistant professor of education; Christopher Schwinghamer, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology; Ahmed Shafee, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science; Colleen Stabolepszy, Ph.D., School of Counselor Education clinical faculty; John Taylor, Ph.D., School of VPA director; Kirk Thiemann, Ph.D., associate professor of counselor education; Paul Tunis, M.F.A., assistant professor of media communications; Billy Ulibarri, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology; Nick Van De Voorde, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology; Alex Vernon, D.B.A., assistant professor of business; Mary Wilhelm, M.F.A., assistant professor of art; Ben Wilson, Ph.D., School of Counselor Education clinical faculty and Brian Zuleger, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology.

Exemplary Directors

School of Counselor Education Director Cheri Meder, Ph.D., School of Education Director Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., School of Humanities and Social Sciences Director Colleen Schaffner, Ph.D., and School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Director Benita Brink, Ph.D.

Exemplary Professionals

Delilah Chavez, Title IX assistant director and Cleary compliance coordinator; Aftin Gillespie, assistant vice president for student affairs; Nicholas Gossage, football assistant coach; Jeremy Jaramillo, manager of campus AV; Caleb Kizewski, football assistant coach; Amy Kucera, graphic artist, Chase Kyser, football assistant coach; Desiree Lewis, Juntos project director; Toni Martinez, School of Counselor Education budget analyst/office manager; Becky Meidinger, senior institutional researcher; Melissa Moeller, School of Counselor Education senior academic advisor/operations director; Nic Olney, football assistant coach; Brittany Raines, Computing Services manager of support services; and Sheldon Rockey, School of Business project director.

Faculty Promotions

David Bertolatus, Ph.D., to associate professor of biology and tenure; Sandra Gavin, Ph.D., to associate professor counselor education and tenure; Chayan Lahiri, Ph.D., to associate professor of geosciences; Ahmed Shafee, Ph.D., to associate professor of computer sciences and tenure; Carol Cotter, Ph.D., to associate clinical faculty; Melissa O’Neill, Ph.D., to associate clinical faculty; Jessica Brown, Ph.D., to professor of English; Kyle Glenn, Ph.D., to professor of economics, Lynnea King, Ph.D., to professor of English; Heidi Schneider, Ph.D., to professor of sociology; and Meliza Ramirez, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish, tenured.

Pins and certificates were presented for employees for 1 through five years of service.

One Year

Imani Alston, Oluwatoyin Akinlade, Alma Alcala, Xiang Ao, Florencio Aranda, Kazi Arefin, Gloria Arroyos, Mai Awad, Olivia Ayers, Charise Baker, Quinlin Bisbee, Phillip Bode, Mikal Boisson, Caroline Brown, Eric Brown, Kris Browne, Mark Buck, Madalyn Caldwell, Nico Centeno, Joe Chavez, Jon Cordero, Peter Costas, Ian Creager, Abby Crouse, Breann Dickey, Mimi Dolan, Paul Formisano, Evan Foster, Peter Freeman, Levi Gallas, Jessica Gazzola, Lonnie Gillespie, David Gonzales, Nicholas Gossage, Timothy Gross, Daniel Gulbrandsen, Ralph Hanke, Eric Heberline, Amanda Hill, Nicholas Holguin, Nathan Holloway, Brett Hunter, Jason Hunter, Chris Kam, Caleb Kizewski, Chase Kyser, Kaylie Langer, Alyson Leatherman, David Lee, Luke Lee, Angelia Liles, Rylee Lovato, Dana Maestas, Castulo Maldonado, Megan Maldonado, Yogesh Manoharan, Kate Martinez, Ramona Martinez, Ana Melendez, Lay-nah Blue Morris-Howe, Nicol Mugrage, Acacia Nadeau-Lara, Angelline Nageak, Nic Olney, Sean Phelps, Artemis Preeshl, Amanda Price, Amanda Pruit, Jake Rissler, Ambrosio Rodriguz, Katie Sacco, Morgan Sammons, David Sanchez, Madyson Schliep, Elizabeth Scott-Janda, Chenchen Shen, Samantha Siggelkow, Alize Sisneros, Candice Taylor, Krissy Treviranus, Renee Treviranus, Rose Urbina, Nicholas Van De Voorde, Kendall Vance, and James Wehe.

3 Years

Bethany Adams, Elidee Alston, Rebecca Caple, Manuelito Casias, Paul Clark, Adrian Cordova, Dane Craig, Monica DeLaTorre, Savala DeVoge, Alexander Duncan, Jayden Fischer-Douglas, Marlene Garcia Araiza, Joaquin Garcia, Regis Gilmartin, Thomas Gilmartin, Diana Gonzalez, Alexander Greco, Evila Gutierrez, Marisa Gylling, Jake Hanson, Brittany Harlan, Sky Higens, Sarah Hughes, Melinda Hunzeker, Cecilia Ibarra Cantu, Jeremy Jaramillo, Amy Johnson, Jamie King, Dillon Larsen, Simone Lenzini, Desiree Lewis, James Lind, Jennifer Logacz, Tamara Lomeli, Bethany Martinez, Kristie Martinez, Brooke Miller, Victoria Miranda, Steven Moody, Kris Mugrage, Lucie Olivas, Brittany Raines, Meliza Ramirez, Wil Rickards, Sheldon Rockey, Deborah Rodda, Juana Rodriguez Tarango, Katrina Ruggles, Juel Ruvolo, Kyle Sand, Justine Schwarz, Christopher Schwinghamer, Philip Sierra, Julie Silipo, Kassiopeia Smith, Judith St. John, Kim Stanger, Maddie Stouder, Jesika Stuart, Sonja Sutherland, Kirk Thiemann, Kenneth Tripp, Jaxine Trujillo, Jennifer Valadez Molina, Thomas Vernon, Kelsey Ward, Mary Wilhelm, Benjamin Wilson, Gregory Wilson, and Chasity Winchester.

5 Years

David Bertolatus, Mario Caetano, Trudy Chavez, Rachael Cheslock, Annaliesa Conner-Meissner, Carol Cotter, Sean Cruz, Rocio De Lira, Kenai Douglas, Karla Fierro-Guaderrama, Jess Gagliardi, Sandra Gavin, Kris Giere, Peter Gomez, Anthony Guntren, Ryan Hunter, Melinda Leoce, Aryana Lopez, Steven Lucero, Rhonda Madril, Kenneth Marquez, Lisa Martinez, Kym McColl, Marco Medina, Taylor Mills, Janene Mondragon, Melissa O’Neill, Johnsa Phares, Nathan Sellers, Ahmed Shafee, Dawnia Smith, Maddy Stevens, Paul Tunis, and Billy Ulibarri.

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Hall of Fame Head Coach Damon Martin has built the Adams State cross country and track & field programs into one of the most respected and successful dynasties in collegiate athletics. His career stands as a powerful example of what sustained excellence, intentional leadership, and belief in people can produce over time.

Widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier distance coaches, Coach Martin has led Adams State to 40 NCAA National Championship teams and three NAIA National Championships, setting a standard of dominance rarely matched at any level of sport. His teams authored historic championship runs, including nine consecutive women’s cross country titles (1991–1999), seven straight women’s titles (2003–2009), and two separate three-year men’s championship streaks (2008–2010, 2012–2014). Most recently, he guided the Grizzlies to the 2024 NCAA Women’s Cross Country National Championship, reinforcing a culture that continues to thrive decades after it began.

Beyond championships, Coach Martin’s greatest legacy is the people he has developed. Over his career, he has coached 1,481 All-Americans, 154 individual national champions – including both the 2025 men and women’s individual national cross-country champions, and 12 national championship relay teams, earning 43 National Coach of the Year awards. These numbers reflect more than wins – they represent lives shaped, confidence built, and potential realized.

Coach Martin’s programs have been honored for their complete excellence, receiving nine USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Men’s Program of the Year awards and five USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women’s Program of the Year awards, recognizing sustained success across cross-country, indoor, and outdoor track & field.

His influence extends well beyond the collegiate level. Coach Martin has represented Team USA on three occasions, including serving as men’s distance coach at the 2019 World Track & Field Championships in Doha, Qatar. He has coached multiple Olympians such as Boris Berian and Eilish Flanagan, who competed at the 2016 Rio & 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, demonstrating his ability to prepare athletes for the highest stages in the world.

In recognition of a career defined by excellence, integrity, and impact, Coach Martin was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018. He is also a member of the University of Arkansas–Monticello Athletics Hall of Fame, the Adams State Hall of Fame, the Colorado Running Hall of Fame, and the Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame.

During the spring undergraduate commencement ceremony, Adams State will award 209 degrees including 58 associates; 81 Bachelor of Arts; 67 Bachelor of Science; and 3 Bachelor of Fine Arts. Chair Tom Kim will deliver a greeting from the Board of Trustees. The Colorado Springs-based band, Mariachi Las Dahlias, will perform the special music, “La Negra,” by Blas Galindo, and will feature Semillas de la Tierra. Adams State music graduates Will Lipke and Casper Jackson will perform the Alma Mater.

The afternoon post-graduate ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. in Plachy Hall and will award 365 Master of Arts, 53 Master of Business Administration, 3 Master of Public Administration, 23 Master of Science, and 11 Doctorate degrees. Kari Slater, doctorate candidate for counselor education and supervision will address her fellow graduates as the Commencement Speaker.

For those unable to attend in person, both ceremonies will be livestreamed.

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Written by Chelsea Marcantel, in 2019, and directed by Professor of Theatre Jenna Neilsen, “Airness” is a lighthearted look at the world of air guitar competitions. “At its heart, Airness is about a young woman trying to find her place in the world and ultimately finding her people,” Neilsen said. “We all want to find the people who support us in becoming the best person we can be.”

The characters perform air guitar to rock songs from the 70s through the early 2000s, from every genre of rock, that lend themselves to guitar solos. “This is a fun production and reflects the philosophy of air guitar, which is about collaboration not competition,” Neilsen added.

There are six pillars of air guitar including technical ability, originality, feeling, artistic merit, charisma, and airness. “Throughout the play, the veterans of air guitar try and explain airness to newcomer, Nina,” Neilsen said. The characters define airness as the “ability to transcend the fact you are not holding a guitar. It links to the feeling you got when as a kid you would rock out in your bedroom filled with joy, and before you were old enough to worry about looking cool.”

The entire idea of air guitar as a competitive sport was born when, in response to an assignment to promote world peace, a group of Finnish college students organized the first competition. Although now the world of air guitar includes competitions, from regional to international, the focus at every level is camaraderie and support and world peace.

The production includes seven actors, from graduating seniors and first-year actors, as well as a sophomore and junior. Light design is by senior Jay Lobeck, set design by sophomore Chaz Childress, and costume design by first-year student Sam Southards. For the first time, Neilsen has an assistant director, senior Kris Fleecs, who also is the sound designer and choreographer.

“This is a fun play, and it has buoyed my world. It is an opportunity to be silly and embrace the goofy side of our personalities.”

“Airness” begins at 7:30 p.m. April 24 and 25, and May 1 and 2, with a 2 p.m. matinee on May 3. The production is rated R for profanity but contains no nudity or violence. The 90-minute play does make use of flash lighting and fog for special effects.

General admission tickets are $13 and free to Associated 91��� and Faculty with current Adams State identification. Tickets may be purchased at theatre.adams.edu, reserved by calling 719-587-8499, or in-person at the box office, from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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In March of 2026, Assistant Professor of Social Psychology Xiang Ao, Ph.D., and Professor of Psychology Rena Kirkland, Ph.D., and School of Humanities and Social Sciences Colleen Schaffner, Ph.D., gave a poster presentation titled “The Effects of a Yoga Research Project on College 91è����’ Self-Esteem and Well-being” at the virtual Neuroscience and Yoga Conference. The presentation summarized the impact of a three-year place-based research project embedded into the Research Methods course in the psychology department.

Dr. Ao, Dr. Kirkland, Assistant Professor of Psychology Chris Kam, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology Gina Mitchell, Ph.D., and Professor of Psychology Jeff Elison, Ph.D., attended the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association’s annual conference with five undergraduate students. Dr. Kam and student Travis McKinzie delivered an oral presentation titled “Exploring Unconscious Integrative Complexity and Affective Polarization in American Politics: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study,” and Dr. Kam gave a presentation titled “Exploring the US-Canada Relationship with Social Identity Theory & Terror Management Theory.”
Dr. Ao presented “How Population Shifts Affect Chinese Urban Residents’ Prejudice Toward Migrant Workers: The Mediating Roles of Threats to Urban Identity.” Faculty mentored and supported the students in their research projects, culminating in five poster presentations and two oral presentations delivered by students at the conference.

Travis McKinzie’s oral presentation, “Intellectual Humility and Need for Closure as Predictors of Affective Polarization in U.S. College 91è����,” mentored by Dr. Kam, received a Psi Chi award.

Associate Professor of Biology David Bertolatus, Ph.D., attended the Rocky Mountain Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Conference in Denver, Colo., on April 15-16. He was joined by 14 Adams students in the Mighty Chondria biology club. Maggie Mccleskey, Nick Pieper, Augustine Pacheco, Adriana Vigil-Gardea, Gabby Castillo, and Kassandra Barber presented posters of their research projects at the conference. Day two of the conference involved a field trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, where they learned about the conversion of the chemical weapons manufacturing facility into a wildlife refuge and the ongoing environmental remediation and habitat restoration projects on this site.

Professor of Counselor Education Laura Bruneau, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Krissy Treviranus, Ph.D., presented at the annual American Counseling Association conference on, “Grounded Voices: Counseling Insights from Transgender Adults’ Experiences.”
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Maddy Stevens, Ph.D., Professor of Counselor Education Courtney Allen-Pavlak, Ph.D., and Dr. Bruneau also presented at the American Counseling Association conference on, “Cover, Uncover, Discover: Altered Book Making With Clients.”

Director of First-Year Seminar Jess Gagliardi, Ph.D., was recently elected Colorado Faculty Advisory Council (CFAC) Chair, along with Dr. Joe Horan, Colorado School of Mines, as vice-chair. This is the first time the leadership is from two of the smaller state schools.

Director, Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center Paul Formisano, Ph.D., organized the 2026 Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium, which was held on March 28. Over 175 people registered for the event that included presentations by natural resource professionals, Adams State staff, community members, and award-winning journalist and author Ben Goldfarb. Recordings of the presentations can be found in the Salazar Center’s.
Dr. Formisano has partnered with the Colorado Water Center to secure a $80,175 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to bring the Colorado Water Fellows Program to Adams State. This program, initiated by the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University, was extended to Colorado Mesa University, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Denver, Fort Lewis College, and Metro State University in 2024. Over the last year, Dr. Formisano worked with the Colorado Water Center to extend this program to Adams State as well as to Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo, Northern Colorado University, and Western Colorado University. Adams State’s grant will support twelve students over three years who will each receive a $1000 stipend, the opportunity to participate in monthly training events, travel to three water conferences per year throughout the state, and networking opportunities with water professionals. The grant will also support a student program assistant who will help direct the local chapter.

As part of the Rio Grande Basin Water Education Mural Project grant, Dr. Formisano visited Alamosa and Del Norte high schools to teach students about the history of water development in the Rio Grande Basin. Subsequent field trips to the Zapata Ranch Preserve and Corset Ranch helped immerse students more deeply in local water management and natural resource conservation practices. They also had the opportunity to work with a local artist to prepare for community mural painting days this summer, June 27 in Del Norte and July 11 in Alamosa.
Dr. Formisano has also served as a manuscript referee for Western American Literature.

Migrant Education Program Educational Advocate Diana Gonzalez was recognized by Colorado State Migrant Education for her dedication to students in the program, as well as for the coordination of the STEAM Academy and other student programs.

Assistant Professor of History David Johnson Lee, Ph.D., published his essay  in Volume 126, Issue 1 of the journal Translation Review. His translations were also featured in the Sant Jordi poetry festival held in New York City. Dr. Lee also reached an agreement with Bloomsbury Publishing to publish his translation of Maya poet Humberto Ak’abal’s memoir, Testimonio de un indio k’iche’. This book is scheduled to be released in 2027.

In February, Bethany Martinez was promoted Director of Prison Education Program. Bethany previously served as Co-Director (PEP Director of Operations). “Through her immense dedication and passion, Bethany Martinez brought the Prison Education Program to new heights in just one year,” said Rocio De Lira, Prison Education Program senior advisor.

Instructional Designer/Trainer (AITC) Chelsea Oden, Ph.D., composed a new work premiered by the Adams State Woodwind Chamber Ensemble on April 25. The composition, The Alligator Farm (Colorado Gators: The Reptile Park), is a humorous, jazzy piece for solo voice, flute, clarinets, and bass clarinet. The song addressed some critical questions about the Gator Farm, such as how alligators survive the San Luis Valley’s harsh winters, if any of the brave souls who work there have ever lost any fingers, whether emus are actually dinosaurs, and, most importantly, what Steve Irwin would likely pick out from the gift shop. The premiere coincided with a weekend of complimentary admission at Colorado Gators Reptile Park.

Professor of Kinesiology Tracey Robinson, Ph.D., and Instructors of Kinesiology Kris Mugrage and Maria Martinez accompanied a group of undergraduate and graduate students to the Rocky Mountain American College of Sports Medicine (RMACSM) Conference in April, in Fort Collins, on the campus of Colorado State University. 91è���� included exercise science graduate students Abigail (Abby) Adiong, Ronan Melani, Keirryse Simpson and exercise science undergraduate students Ryley Martinez, Rachel Allred, Sergio Zaragoza, and Makylee Wilson.

Abby presented a posted entitled “Effects of resistance and increased or equal cardiorespiratory training in cancer survivors,” mentored by Dr. Robinson.
91��� and faculty participated in networking opportunities, listened to guest speakers, and heard about the latest research in presentations, posters and oral.
The undergraduate team of Ryley, Rachel and Makylee took second place in the Student Bowl competition, similar to jeopardy but all about exercise science and related topics.

Visiting Assistant Professor in Biology Chenchen Shen’s, Ph.D., article, “New actinopterygians taxa from the Garrard Quarry and their implications in early ray-finned fish evolution during Late Paleozoic era,” was accepted for publication in the journal, “Canadian Journal of Zoology, Special Issue: Recent Advances in Palaeoichthyology in Honour of Mark V.H. Wilson.” 

Prison Education Program Instructor of Distance Education Sara Willox co-authored an article. Willox, S., & Margondai, A. (2026). Human and AI facilitation in business simulations: blended support for organizational training. , 1-3.

Personal Accomplishments

Richardson Hall, early morning March 3, during the total lunar eclipse.

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91è���� is about to get a lot cooler. A geothermal heating and cooling project will significantly improve the comfort and quality of campus life. Through a partnership with the Colorado Energy Office and McKinstry through Colorado’s Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program, the university will install a ground-source geothermal system serving the Student Union Building (SUB) and Rex Activity Center. The new system will add air conditioning to both buildings and will replace less efficient heating infrastructure with ground-source heat pumps that are four to five times more energy-efficient than conventional electric resistance systems.

The project received a Colorado Geothermal Energy Tax Credit Offering (GETCO) grant award of $4.3 million in state investment tax credits bringing significant state investment to the project.

“The SUB and Rex Activity Center are hubs for our students,” said Adams State President David A. Tandberg, Ph.D. “With these environmental upgrades, students can work out in Rex or hang out in the SUB much more comfortably.”

The geothermal system uses a closed-loop design, meaning it exchanges heat from the ground for building heating and cooling, without removing groundwater. In a region like the San Luis Valley, where water is a precious and carefully managed resource, this approach is sustainable and the best use of natural resources. This project will help the campus better conserve natural resources and save money. “This type of cooling and heating project reflects our responsibility to this community,” said Adams State Vice President of Administration and Chief Information Officer Kevin Daniel.

The project also includes replacing grass on the campus green space in front of the Rex Stadium with artificial turf, a change that will reduce irrigation demands by over one million gallons a year and conserve water resources for the long term.

Colorado is increasingly recognizing geothermal as a proven path to cleaner, more affordable energy for its public institutions. Earlier this year, the Colorado Energy Office released feasibility studies confirming that geothermal systems are technically viable for campuses across the state and represent a meaningful step toward reducing emissions and stabilizing long-term energy costs.

Critically, the system is being designed with the future in mind. Capacity will be built in to accommodate a potential expansion of the Student Union Building, and the infrastructure is planned to eventually serve student housing and other buildings on campus as well, which extends the comfort and efficiency benefits to where students live and learn and faculty and staff work.

The project is made possible through Colorado’s Energy Performance Contracting program, a state-administered mechanism that allows public institutions to fund facility upgrades through long-term energy savings, enabling improvements that might otherwise be beyond reach for institutions like Adams State. McKinstry, a national leader in building performance and energy services, is the university’s partner in designing, implementing, and managing the project.

“This project reflects what the energy performance contracting model was built to do: deliver large‑scale, integrated solutions,” said Brian Firestone, senior account executive at McKinstry. “In partnership with 91è���� and the state of Colorado, we’re implementing a complex geothermal system that improves building comfort, supporting greater student use and community engagement while creating infrastructure designed to serve the campus for years to come.”

The geothermal system builds upon recent Adams State infrastructure improvements, the renovation and expansion of the Central Technology Building and the future construction of a new Facilities Services Building.

The geothermal project is expected to begin immediately and be completed by the end of Spring 2027.

About 91���

91è���� is Colorado’s only Rural Anchor Institution and the state’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution. Located in Alamosa in the heart of the San Luis Valley, Adams State is committed to expanding access to higher education for first-generation, rural, and underserved students. For more information, visit adams.edu.

About McKinstry

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CDHE launched the First Generation-Serving Campus designation, recognizing colleges and universities that enroll and support a higher-than-average number of first-generation students—defined as students whose parents did not complete a bachelor’s degree.

Many Adams State administrators and faculty members were themselves first-gen students, including Vice President for Student Affairs Savala DeVoge, Ed.D., and Vice President of Advancement Jake Rissler. In the fall of 2024, they, along with Lane DeVoge, established the Grizzly Summit First-Generation Student Endowment. All three understand the trajectory that a bachelor’s degree can offer and created the endowment to help eliminate some of the obstacles first-generation students face.

“We are proud that the CDHE officially recognizes and affirms what we know and see every day with our students – that we are a First-Generation Serving Institution,” VP Rissler said. “Adams State will continue to serve all students with a variety of resources available for any student who may need additional guidance or assistance.”

Established through House Bill 24-1082, the First-Generation Serving Institution designation honors institutions whose first generation resident undergraduate enrollment meets or exceeds the statewide average of 37 percent over three consecutive years, as well as institutions participating in the FirstGen Forward Network, a national network of colleges and universities committed to advancing the success of first-generation college students through intentional, institution-wide strategies.

CDHE also publishes a First-Generation Dashboard highlighting enrollment trends by institution, gender and race/ethnicity. Future enhancements will include persistence and completion outcomes, reinforcing Colorado’s commitment to equity and first-generation student success.

Learn more by visiting the

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Apache will guide writers during a Community Writing Workshop at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 in McDaniel Hall 204. All are welcome.

Crisosto Apache is the current 11^th Poet Laureate for Colorado (26-27) and is from Mescalero, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Crisosto is Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache, and Diné (Navajo). Apache’s clanships are the Salt Clan, born for the Towering House Clan. Apache attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and earned an MFA and is an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing. Crisosto is also an editor-at-large for The Offing Magazine. Apache’s books are GENESIS (Lost Alphabet), Out-of-Print & Ghostword (Gnashing Teeth Publishing), winner of the Publishing Triangle’s 2023 Betty Berzon Emerging Writers Award and a finalist for the 2023 Colorado Authors League Award in poetry, with a new poetry collection is(ness), from Gnashing Teeth Publishing. Apache is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. Crisosto continues to advocate for the Two-spirit/Indigiqueer community for the past twenty years, working in grassroots non-profit organizations both locally and nationally.

Throughout his college career, senior Cosmo Innarelli came to realize the actual reason he writes stories. “Not just writing them for fun – even though that’s what I do every time – but also adding meaning and relatability to each story I write.” Commercial fiction is his first goal. However, he learned that the literary sense is most important when writing stories. “Not only that, but it fuels me to focus on my passion and understand why I keep writing.”

Innarelli genuinely enjoyed writing throughout his college career, but only a handful of his stories made it into his final capstone book. “Those stories and the characters spoke to me in a way that challenged me to take so much time and effort to make sure the story is good and says what I always intended for it to be.”

Melanie Bernstein experiences at Adams State have been wonderful and she is glad that she returned as a non-traditional student. “My professors have been wonderful to work with and they’re very supportive. My inspirations have been the authors that I’ve studied in English classes such as Joy Harjo, Edgar Allen Poe, and Anton Chekhov, to name a few.”

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Naranjo, percussionist, vocalist, composer, clinician, graduated from Alamosa High School, and took music courses at Adams State. This early exposure propelled her forward to becoming a very accomplished musician. “Adams State is my original alma mater.”

In the mid 2010s, she donated a West African percussion instrument, a gyil, to the Adams State music program. Through demonstrations and hands-on workshops, Naranjo will focus her teachings on the instrument. “The gyil is the grandparent of the modern-day marimba. It, like the marimba, is a series of wooden bars that is suspended over a frame from which are hung resonators.” Naranjo and kuor player Barry Olsen garnered a first-place award for their playing of the gyil’s traditional repertoire in Ghana’s Kobine Festival of Traditional Music, in 1996.

Along with mastering the gyril, Naranjo will share many other lessons garnered during her 25 visits to West Africa over the last 36 years. “I have learned so much from the West African philosophy of art.” For the community in Ghana and surrounding countries, art is present in all aspects of being and creating, from cooking to music. “Everyone has tremendous gifts just by living life. In Ghana, artists are not judged by their accomplishments, they are revered if they can touch the soul.”

91��� will also learn the rewards of tenacity and dedication from Naranjo. She moved to New York City after completing studies in vocal and instrumental music education at the University of Oklahoma and Percussion Performance from Ithaca College.

When first moving to the city, she often played on the streets, known as busking, and performed in restaurants. “My parents always supported my decision to become a musician, they looked on it as a gift. My dad’s advice stayed with me, ‘if you desire something, don’t sit at home and ask, you need to put what you do out there.’”

As Naranjo became known the gigs became more fruitful, but she also faced disappointment. “When times were tough, I listened to my friends who told me you are not tested when all goes well, you are tested when they don’t.”

In the summer of 1995, Naranjo faced severe disappointment after losing a very important role with a nationally known band. A practicing Buddhist, Naranjo came to understand her own heart through prayer. “I came to the realization that there is nobody like me. I began to believe in my contribution to the world.”

That belief became substance for Naranjo. In 1996, she was approached to accept the role as the percussionist for NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band, one that continues to this day. She has recorded and performed with Broadway’s The Lion King, The Philip Glass Ensemble, David Byrne, The Paul Winter Consort, Tori Amos, Airto Moreira, and the international percussion ensemble, MEGADRUMS, which includes Milton Cardona, Zakir Hussein, and Glen Velez. Naranjo is also a professor at New York University.

“I reflect daily on all of the cool experiences that, together, have made for a very happy life,” Naranjo said.

Participants of the Percussion Festival will learn through hands-on workshops and public concerts, featuring Valerie Naranjo and Melinda Leoce, Adams State assistant professor of music and festival organizer. The ASU Percussion Concert begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. The Percussion Festival Showcase Concert begins at 5:30 p.m.  Thursday, April 16, both concerts willl be held in Richardson Hall Auditorium.

The cost for admission, cash only, to the concerts is $5 for adults, $1 for students and seniors, and free to AS&F and Friends of Music. 91��� attending the festival will receive free admission. For more information contact the Music Department at 719-587-7621 or email Melinda Leoce at mleoce@adams.edu.

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