AURORA | The Community College of Aurora has named former college president Betsy Oudenhoven president emeritus, honoring her leadership in expanding equity initiatives and securing long-term investments that continue to shape the college.
The designation was announced May 9 during the college’s commencement ceremony. The president emeritus title is reserved for leaders whose influence extends beyond their time in office, according to the college.
Oudenhoven served as CCA’s fifth president from 2013 to 2021 after joining the institution in 2011 as vice president of student affairs.
During her tenure, the college acquired ownership of its CentreTech campus, a move that opened access to additional state funding opportunities and strengthened the institution’s financial position. She also led efforts that helped CCA become a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2016 and advanced workforce diversity initiatives that earned the college the American Association of Community Colleges’ Advancing Diversity Award in 2019.
“I am very honored to be awarded emeritus status and humbled to be in the company of the leaders who have preceded me,” Oudenhoven said in a statement. “My 10 years at CCA were incredibly meaningful for me.”
Oudenhoven also played a role in securing state funding for the college’s Center for Applied Science and Technology, which expanded workforce-focused education programs. Her administration additionally guided the college through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current CCA President Mordecai Brownlee credited Oudenhoven with helping position the institution for future growth.
Portrait by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado
“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,” Brownlee said in a statement.
When she retired, she was honored by the state system of community colleges for the work she did in Aurora, the Sentinel previously reported.
The State Board for Community Colleges recognized Oudenhoven in 2021 for her work and described her as a “trailblazing” leader.
“Her insight, her genuine care and concern for others, and her ability to expertly move forward the priorities of equity, inclusive excellence, and student success has left a lasting legacy that will benefit CCA, the surrounding region, and the higher education sector for decades to come,” then Colorado Community College System Chancellor Joe Garcia said in a statement.
Since retiring, Oudenhoven has remained active in community organizations, including serving on the Foundation Board for the Aurora History Museum. She also spends time traveling and participating in senior women’s softball.
“I will always be proud to have been part of CCA’s history,” Oudenhoven said. “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.”