“Residence at Rex, our showpiece dormitory and one that you need to qualify to live in, needed to be taken offline as manufacturer defects in plumbing materials caused damage to the facility,” noted Mark Pittman, assistant director of housing. “It’s a very unfortunate situation we’re in, but we’re moving forward with the necessary repairs and upgrades. Our students deserve it.”

Completed in 2012, Residence at Rex is the newest living facility on the Adams State campus, housing 68 students at full capacity with 17 four-bedroom suites.

“These problems first surfaced not long after the building was completed,” said Kevin Daniel, Executive Director of Infrastructure and Resources. “There were a number of small leaks that were handled properly by Adams State facilities staff and external contractors. This past spring, though, the leaks were significant and untenable, leading to the decision to focus on a building-wide repair.”

Repairs will include replacement of the faulty plumbing lines, repairs to damaged drywall, paint, and other water-damaged surfaces.

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“It really means a lot to me,” Garcia said of the award from his alma mater. The fact he now teaches in the community that raised him also adds to the specialness of the award, he said.

The Adams State School of Education established the Educator Highlight Award to recognize and highlight its alumni, prominent local teachers, and other educators working within or hailing from the San Luis Valley.

“In doing so, Adams State University hopes to build familiarity with the community as a serious destination for future educators,” said Chrissy McKinney, program coordinator and advisor for the Adams State School of Education.

The Educator Highlight Award is being coordinated by McKinney and Paul Clark, program assistant for Adams State School of Education.

Each recipient of the award receives an engraved plaque and is honored during a presentation by the Adams State School of Education staff at the recipient’s school.

“I’m just trying to make a difference in people’s lives and be a positive role model, especially being a male role model for some of these kids,” Garcia said of the role he plays as an educator.

Being a teacher is “busy and fun,” he said. In addition to being a Monte Vista High Special Education Resource Teacher, he also serves as a coach for multiple sports.

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Adams State University has been recognized as one of the best schools for the online Master of Arts in Music Education by OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD). The program was ranked fourth in the nation, earning top honors for overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success.

“This year, we focused on the schools making it easier for students to compete in today’s increasingly difficult job market,” said Kyle Darland, co-founder of OMD. “Each ranked school offers a fully or partially online master’s program in education at a time when earning a master’s has become a minimum barrier to entry for many.”

Darland is referencing a recent survey from CareerBuilder, which found that “thirty-three percent of employers are hiring workers with master’s degrees for positions that had been primarily held by those with four-year degrees.” These employers cited an evolution of the skills needed to perform the jobs as the cause of the shift, and an increase in work quality, productivity and employee retention as the result.

“Providing students with opportunities to get a master’s online is only part of our rankings,” said Darland. “Top-ranked schools also had competitive tuition rates and/or scholarships to help drive costs down. And with grocery, gas and other expenses on everyone’s mind right now, an affordable master’s is key.”

OnlineMastersDegrees.org analyzed more than 7,700 accredited universities by using data pulled from the schools themselves and from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). After the data was compiled, OMD’s data science team then applied a proprietary algorithm to rank all qualifying schools for each of the different master’s degrees specialties. Primary data points include:

• Academic counseling services
• Career placement services
• Student/faculty ratio
• Tuition
• Percent of students receiving school-based aid
• Amount of school-based aid per student

To be eligible for ranking, a university must hold active regional accreditation and have at least one partially online master’s program in the ranking subject. Just 8 percent of U.S. postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position.

About OnlineMastersDegrees.org
OnlineMastersDegrees.org began in 2020 to support online learning at the master’s level. Our user-friendly, research-backed content helps students find scholarships, resources, financial aid, and connect with accredited colleges and universities across the country.

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Cheri Meder, Ph.D., professor and director School of Counselor Education, will finish the last year of her five-year appointment on the CACREP Board on July 1, 2023. “It has been a wild and fun ride, and I will surely miss it. I have established excellent relationships and friendships and have been part of chairing a committee for the last two years helping assist with digital delivery and making recommendations for our new standards set to release this year.”
Last year Dr. Meder was nominated for the executive council and declined the nomination. This year she accepted the nomination and was elected the Vice-Chair of the CACREP Board. “I will finish the last year of my term in this position and am super grateful to serve the profession in this capacity.” For more information visit New CACREP Board Members.

Frank Novotny, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, and daughter, Emily, earned the honor to wear Mt. Taylor Doubler Scarfs. Frank and Emily completed the Mt. Taylor 50K in September, 2022; and the Mt. Taylor Winter Quad, including biking, running, skiing, and snowshoeing to the top of Mt. Taylor, in February, 2023.

Nick Saenz, Ph.D., professor of history and special assistant to the president; and Regis University Vice Provost Nicki Gonzales, Ph.D., were interviewed on “Colorado Matters” discussing the 175th anniversary of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and its arrival in Denver.

Colleen Schaffner, Ph.D., director School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Department of Psychology chair, and Rena Kirkland, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, $26,840.00 from the Duncan Charitable Trust, for the “Movement for the Mind and Mindfulness Practice for San Luis Valley Youth” project.

Matthew Schildt, Ph.D., professor of music and director Master of Arts in music education, will have his composition “Finding, Believing,” for vibraphone performed by former colleague James Doyle, D.M.A., at the Society of Composers Conference at the University of Puget Sound on February 24.

Lindsey Wente, M.F.A., adjunct professor of English and manager Grizzly Testing and Learning Center, is a dedicated writer and teaches first-year writing. She published an essay, “My Kwik Trip Gas Station Has Always Been There for Me,” with the literary community Catapult.

Brian Zuleger, Ph.D., professor of sport psychology and chair Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Program, was a lead clinician at the Wisconsin Track and Field Coaches Association Annual Clinic February 2-4 in Madison, Wisc. He led four clinic sessions on sport psychology topics. The clinic had over 1,100 coaches in attendance.
Brian was also a guest on the Wisconsin Public Radio “The Morning Show” on February 7.

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Adams State University will host the San Luis Valley Educator Workforce Development Forum on March 31. The forum will provide an opportunity for all 14 school districts within the San Luis Valley to collaborate with Adams State on filling much-needed teaching positions and curb the onset of long-term teacher shortages.

“Adams State is fully aware of the need for more teachers in the Valley,” noted Interim President David Tandberg, Ph.D. “We are the primary driver of workforce development in the San Luis Valley. It’s not lost on me or the Adams State team that 73 percent of all educators and administrators in the Valley are Adams State graduates; the solution lies squarely at our feet and we’re determined to work with our school district colleagues on solving a high-profile issue.”

Spearheaded by Adams State School of Education Director Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., the forum will invite superintendents and other key district representatives with roles in the recruitment, hiring, and professional development of educators. “Adams State wants to provide a long-term roadmap for success with each partner school district. Our founding as a teachers’ college and its continued importance drives us to succeed.”

For more information contact Nick Saenz, Ph.D., professor of history and special assistant to the president, at cnsaenz@adams.edu.

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Participants of the MMIW Awareness Walk marched from the corner of Main St. and West Ave. to the Adams State Nielsen Library. The event continued inside with presentations, audience participation, and a Jingle Dress Dance by Adams State senior kinesiology major Precious Kaibah Robinson, who is a cross country and track athlete. Robinson, a Navajo and Chiricahua Apache, is also pursuing her MBA.

Sophomore business administration/business education major Nizhoni Begay, member of the Navajo Nation, helped organize the event. “The number of missing or murdered Indigenous women is a very serious issue that remains under-reported. I have presented my research twice during the fall semester and at this event. It’s important to draw attention to this ongoing, widespread tragedy.”

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Adams State Gives Day raised the roof of Richardson Hall Auditorium securing funding for much needed student scholarships and programs. “It was so successful we are still counting the generous pledges and contributions, over $123,000 so far,” said Executive Director of the Adams State Foundation Tammy Lopez. You can still make your gift count, Give ASGD.

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Centered around the theme of nostalgia, talented students and alumni will perform throughout the evening beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, live in Richardson Hall Auditorium or stream ASGD.

Tune in for special guest Freddie Jaquez, Adams State Class of 1976, who will play a couple of favorites and the colorful and talented Semillas de la Tierra dance troupe will show why that group has remained relevant on campus for 50 years. Gifted theatre majors will move the audience with dramatic interpretive readings created from actual letters of the very first Adams State freshman class.

Hosts Adams State School of Visual and Performing Arts Director John Taylor, Ph.D., and Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman will read a heartfelt letter by John Tooker, M.D., Class of 1966 and San Luis Valley native, describing his fond memories growing up in the outskirts of Alamosa and attending his hometown college. Dr. Tooker received the Adams State Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2014. He was a former president of Alpha Omega Alpha, an honor medical society; and a former executive vice president and CEO of the American College of Physicians.

The spotlight will shine on Morgan Hollingsworth, freshman music major, who will perform, an almost forgotten song, “The Singing Sands of Alamosa,” once covered by Bing Crosby. The 2022 collective and individual national titles of the Adams State Women’s Cross-Country/Track & Field and Men’s Wrestling teams will be recognized on stage as well.

Light snacks will be provided for the in-person audience and there is no cost to attend online or in-person.

Adams State plays an important role in the San Luis Valley and across the region providing a quality, affordable education for all students. Donate early and then sit back and enjoy the show.

Students will staff a live telephone bank to accept pledges made during the talent show. Viewers can call in to make a gift or a pledge to 1-844-GIVE-ASU or 844-448-3278.

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Starting as a student, Vollmer continued his interest in the yearly state competitions to stay sharp. “It is a good experience to test your mettle against other professionals.” The 50-year-old competition, held annually by the AFBF, also provides young agribusiness professionals the opportunity to apply all they’ve learned in their professional and personal leadership programs into one comprehensive event. This, in turn, develops better and more flexible advocates for the nation’s agricultural industry.

Vollmer advanced to the national competition after his outstanding performance at the state level.

“This is such a wonderful accomplishment, difficult to say the least, as competitors are taken from each state to compete in the national competition,” Zena Buser, Ph.D., professor of business, said.

It is a path Vollmer started while working on his Adams State undergraduate degree when he competed for the Adams State Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter. “Dr. Buser challenges her students to reach the next level,” Vollmer said. “The small batch, intimate community and cooperation between mentor and mentee at Adams State pushes students further than we thought possible. This can only happen in a smaller school curriculum.”

He attributes his success to Dr. Buser. “She won’t let you get away with nonsense. She holds you accountable and expects you to live up to her expectations, which puts you in a much better place than you were when you started.”

When first choosing a college, Vollmer toured a large front range university and immediately realized there were “far too many people.” He then visited Adams State and soon fell in love with the people, culture, and food.

Vollmer received his degree in business administration/agribusiness and currently is an agriculturist/agronomist for the Western Sugar Cooperative, which includes traveling to Washington, D.C. several times a year to advocate for sugar policy and farm bills. He also finds time to advise the Northeastern Junior College Collegiate Farm Bureau Club. In addition, he continues to help manage his family’s cattle feeding operation in Sterling, Colo.

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“We are thrilled that construction of this new engineering space is finally underway and I am excited for the educational opportunities and experiences that these labs will provide for our students,” Nehring said. “There is something satisfying and tangible about the construction progress that we will begin witnessing tomorrow. I know the students are excited and I hope the community views this partnership as a point of pride.”

The renovations to Adams State Porter Hall will include laboratory and classroom space for the CSU/ASU mechanical engineering program. Funding for the project included a $1.1 million federal community project funding supported by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator John W. Hickenlooper. Additional funding comes from Adams State institutional funds and the Adams State El Centro Sierra Blanca Grant. Although not used in the construction costs, Colorado State University received $1 million from the federal community project funding supported by U.S. Representative Joseph D. Neguse to assist with the mechanical engineering program.

CSU/Adams State Mechanical Engineering Program

Adams State partnered with Colorado State University to establish the mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree. Students have the opportunity to earn the CSU degree, delivered entirely on the Adams State campus. Adams State provides all lower-division coursework for the first two years of the program and CSU provides all upper-division coursework with face-to-face instruction for the last two years by CSU faculty who are located in Alamosa.

William Porter Hall

The late William A. Porter, Class of 1951, was founder and chairman of E*TRADE Group, Inc. William Porter donated $4.6 million worth of stock in E*TRADE Group, Inc. in 1998. He received the Adams State Associated Alumni’s 1991 Outstanding Achievement Award and the 2005 Billy Adams Award.

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