Aims Community College trustees pick Leah Bornstein as president after day-long deliberation

The Aims Board of Trustees spent about six hours in closed-door deliberations Friday as its members discussed the best fit for president of Aims Community College.

It wasn’t until about 4:30 p.m. that the board unanimously selected Leah Bornstein as Aims’ next president.

“Knowing the personnel, the culture and history of this college, I think she will be a tremendous fit at Aims,” said Aims Board of Trustees President Walt Richter. The lengthy meeting behind closed doors was necessary as the decision was a serious one and was not made lightly, trustee Mike Geile said.

Bornstein is the president of Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, Ariz., and has had multiple leadership and management roles in her 25 years in higher education.

“I’m thrilled about the board moving forward and making Aims our family and Weld County our home,” Bornstein said late Friday in an interview. “(Colorado has) been our home base for years, and it’s where my heart and my home is.”

She originally hails from New England, where she received her Associate and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Bradford College in Massachusetts and her Master of education from the University of Vermont. Since leaving New England, her career has taken her to places like Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Arizona and Colorado.

During her time at Coconino, she had to help the school navigate unprecedented economic challenges, as the school went through an almost 50 percent budget reduction. While there, she has worked with underserved populations such as Native Americans who struggle with transportation and childcare.

Although her current position may be in Arizona, Bornstein is no foreigner to Colorado. Before her time at Coconino, she served as CEO for Colorado Mountain College-Summit County Campus, where she spearheaded projects such as land acquisition and design and development of a new 35,000-square-foot campus that acts as a gateway to the ski resort town of Breckenridge. In addition, she served as chief academic officer at Lamar Community College, Colorado’s smallest community college. She also was the vice president for academic affairs at University College at the University of Denver.

The search for a new president of Aims began after Aims Community College president Marsi Liddell announced her retirement in November. Liddell will retire June 30 after 12 years at Aims and after spearheading projects such as the addition of an allied health program and building in Greeley and oil and gas and agricultural programs at the Fort Lupton campus.

The Aims Board of Trustees enlisted the help of the Association of Community College Trustees, the organization that helped track down and hire Liddell 12 years ago, to help with this year’s search. A presidential search committee comprised of trustees, faculty, staff, students and community members reviewed the 41 applicants.

Eventually, 41 was narrowed down to three: Bornstein, Ivan Gorne, vice president of student services at Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Wash.; and Geri Anderson, special assistant for external affairs to Aims. The candidates participated in two public forums, in which residents were allowed to ask questions as well as listen as the candidates explained why they would be best for Aims.

During the closed-door deliberations Friday, the Aims Board of Trustees read and reviewed every form submitted from the two public forums, a factor that played a large role in the trustees’ votes, said Aims Board of Trustees member Ray Peterson.

“One of the most important aspects of this whole thing was the comments from all of you,” Peterson told those who attended the Friday meeting. “The future is looking bright for Aims. We are a great institution, but by golly we will be better.”

Bornstein is expected to begin at Aims sometime at the end of July due to her current contract at Coconino Community College, Richter said.

Her position as president is contingent on a background check, site visit and contractual agreements. Liddell will earn about $215,000 this year. It’s unknown how much Bornstein earns at Coconino.

Bornstein said she couldn’t discuss when she will be able to make the move, as she is still under contract at her school in Arizona. Once she gets here, she said she plans to a three- to six-month listening tour in the community to discuss challenges facing Aims.

 

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected from its original version. It has been updated to correct the criteria upon which Bornstein’s position as president is contingent.Type your paragraph here.



*For original version published in the Greeley Tribune click HERE