spent about 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as part of 21 years of combined active and reserve service. I retired from the Reserve in December 2022, and those years still shape how I lead at Community College of Denver. One lesson I carry with me is that readiness depends on what we do between the moments when people are counting on us. We practice, give people responsibility and make time for feedback so they’re ready to lead when the opportunity comes. 

Military training gave me a practical way to think about developing people. The Army’s after-action review is one example of how teams use feedback to improve after a training exercise. Set clear expectations. Give someone a chance to lead. Then take time to talk about what worked, where they struggled and what they’ll try next. A person can learn a lot in a classroom, but having someone trust you with real responsibility changes how you see yourself and what you believe you can do. 

Give people room to lead 

At CCD, I bring that perspective to how we develop supervisors and prepare future leaders. One of the ways I’ve helped strengthen training at CCD is by developing professional development for CityHawk supervisors and facilitating  In a college setting, practice can mean preparing for a difficult conversation, leading a project across departments or asking for feedback after a decision. Those experiences help people build judgment while they still have someone to turn to for guidance. 

Gallup estimates that managers account for 70% of the variation in engagement across teams. That gives us a reason to invest in the people our employees turn to every day for feedback, direction and support. 

I also think about readiness when a new employee joins CCD. A good onboarding experience helps someone understand what’s expected, who can answer their questions and how their work supports students. When we make those connections early, people have a clearer sense of where they fit and how they can contribute. 

Stay connected between the big moments 

My years in the Reserve taught me to pay attention to how a team stays connected when people aren’t working side by side every day. Trust grows when you check in, follow through and make it easy for someone to ask for help before a concern becomes urgent. That lesson applies just as much on a college campus, where people work across departments, locations and schedules. A check-in over coffee can give a colleague room to ask a question they’ve been carrying for weeks. Following up afterward shows them their concern mattered. 

Build a culture where people can grow 

I helped launch CCD’s first CityHawk Employee Wellness Program because supporting our people includes making it easier for them to care for their health and well-being. In the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America survey, 92% of workers said it was very or somewhat important to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological well-being. 

For me, training and wellness are part of the same vision for CCD. I want our college to grow in ways that give people room to build skills, raise concerns and support one another through change. We build that culture in everyday decisions, from making time to mentor a colleague to listening when a team tells us what it needs to do its work well. When we invest in the people who teach and support our students, we help them do that work with greater confidence and care. 

This Veterans Day, I want to thank the veterans in our CCD community, including our students, faculty and staff. Each of you brings your own experience of service, and I hope you have opportunities here to share what you’ve learned and keep growing in the direction you choose. For those of us in leadership, there’s something we can do today and throughout the year. Think of someone who’s ready for a chance to lead, give them a meaningful opportunity and stay close enough to help them learn from it. 

If you’re a student veteran looking to connect with others who’ve served or get help navigating education benefits, I invite you to reach out to CCD’s Veterans Services Center. 

By Shana Stovall, Vice President of Human Resources, Community College of Denver 
Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 

About Shana Stovall