Former Governor Takes Helm of Colorado College
colorado college, dick celeste, education, former governor, richard celeste, u.s. peace corps,
A career in politics and diplomacy took Richard Celeste around the globe. Now‚ he’s on top of the world as president of Colorado College.
Celeste‚ a former two-term governor of Ohio and U.S. Ambassador to India‚ took the helm at Colorado College in Colorado Springs in 2002. He also served as lieutenant governor of Ohio‚ a state representative‚ and for two years was director of the U.S. Peace Corps.
“I’m a deep-rooted Midwesterner‚ but I was excited by the tradition of the college‚” Celeste says. “It’s 130 years old and predates the state of Colorado. I was excited by the diversity of the college. The block plan we use here is a unique approach to teaching and learning‚ and I was excited by the passion for teaching and learning I see among our faculty.”
Shortly after he was sworn in as the college’s 12th president‚ Celeste commissioned a study‚ led by a group of administrators and faculty members‚ to formulate a long-range vision for the college. After the report was completed during the course of the 2002-03 academic year‚ Celeste studied the group’s work and other reports and developed an action agenda called “Colorado College 2010.”
More than a year into the implementation of CC 2010 on the campus of 2‚000 students‚ Celeste is pleased with the progress.
“We are actively engaged in virtually every aspect of CC 2010. Obviously‚ the most important issue is the focus on increasing the intellectual rigor of the place‚” Celeste says. “Part of what we hope to do in every course and every year is equip our students with critical thinking skills and polished writing skills and an understanding not only of a discipline‚ but‚ for example‚ understanding the larger world through community service and international study.”
Colorado College students take classes on a block plan‚ taking one course at a time for three weeks. Colorado College also encourages students to do community service‚ and the college ranks 11th in the nation among small colleges and universities in Peace Corps volunteers.
With his background‚ Celeste feels at home at Colorado College.
“Any college campus is a small community and‚ in many respects‚ the college president is like the mayor of a small town‚” Celeste says. “You have constituencies who need to be attended to – faculty‚ staff‚ students‚ their parents and the community. So‚ it is‚ in the best sense of the word‚ a political microcosm. It requires leadership.”
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Wes Aldridge
