Dr. Marielena DeSanctis has been appointed Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System, becoming the first Latina to lead the state’s largest provider of higher education and workforce training. Currently President of the Community College of Denver, she will begin her new role on October 1, 2025, with a focus on advancing the System’s 2030 Strategic Plan.

The Community College of Denver has been selected as the only Colorado institution to join the Aspen Institute’s Unlocking Opportunity Network, a national initiative helping community colleges connect students to meaningful careers or smooth transfers. Over the next three years, CCD will strengthen advising, expand access, and align programs with high-demand jobs, furthering its role as a leader in student success and workforce development.

The 2025 cohort marks one of the largest in the Foundation’s 25-year history, reinforcing its continued commitment to creating debt-free pathways to higher education for high-achieving students with financial need.

In partnership with Metro State University Denver (MSU Denver), graduates can seamlessly transfer to a top 100 ranked public university to receive their Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design within two additional years. Through an inter-institutional agreement, students in this pathway will take industrial design courses at MSU Denver while maintaining their CCD enrollment status.

Unbeknownst to many, the career landscape is far more diverse and not simply limited to teaching art in a K-12 classroom – which is certainly a meaningful career for some. However, what if teaching is not for you? Let’s explore what unique career paths are attainable with a degree in Arts Education.