Welcome from Dr. Heather J. Shotton, President
Dr. Heather J. Shotton serves as the 11th President of Fort Lewis College, making history as the first Native American to lead the institution. She brings over two decades of experience in academic leadership, student success, and institutional transformation to her role.
Dr. Shotton is leading the implementation of Fort Lewis College's 2025-30 Strategic Plan, focused on five interwoven strategic directions that reflect the collective campus vision. As she describes it, "This is work that can only happen in this special place—because of our location, the land, and the people. The strategic plan embraces that."
Her leadership emphasizes building a future grounded in belonging, access, and academic excellence for every student the college serves, ensuring our approach aligns with FLC's mission of putting students at the center.
An enrolled citizen of the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes and a descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne Tribes, Dr. Shotton is a nationally recognized scholar and higher education leader. Before becoming president, she served for three years as Vice President of Diversity Affairs and Acting Dean of Student Engagement at FLC.
Dr. Shotton's scholarship focuses on Indigenous education and culturally responsive practices. As Board President of the National Indian Education Association, she led national advocacy efforts to strengthen educational outcomes for Indigenous communities. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the Mildred García Senior Scholar Award and Educator of the Year from the NIEA.
At FLC, Dr. Shotton has been instrumental in advancing reconciliation work that acknowledges the institution's history as a federal Indian boarding school, positioning FLC as a national model for institutions seeking to reconcile with their past while advancing equity and student success.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Shotton is passionate about supporting FLC's first-generation students, who make up 42% of our student population. She earned three degrees from the University of Oklahoma and previously served as Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies there.
Dr. Shotton's husband, John R. Shotton, serves as Chairman of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. They have two daughters: Sloan, an FLC alumna (Public Health, '24), and Sophie, a student at the University of Oklahoma. Known for her relational leadership style, Dr. Shotton is a visible and engaged presence on campus, from Hozhoni Days Pow Wow to Skyhawks athletic events.
Fort Lewis College finalized an agreement for 18 different transfer degree options for Pueblo Community College students. Students holding an associate degree from any PCC campus in the determined programs can transfer into an FLC bachelor’s program to pursue a four-year degree. “As the regional four-year institution, we wanted to ensure our local community college students have access to the next step in their educational and career pursuits,” says FLC President Tom Stritikus. Academic Affairs, Registrar, and Admission offices at FLC and PCC collaborated on degree maps for Anthropology, Biology, Business, Criminology & Justice Studies, Early Childhood Education, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, Geology, History, Math, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology, and Studio Art. “The original intent with these degree maps was to target the programs offered at the local sites in Durango and Mancos and so we’re pleased to expand this agreement to the whole PCC system,” says Peter McCormick, associate vice president for Academic Affairs. “We expect to add more paths soon including a Computer Information Systems path and a Hospitality Studies to a Business Administration, Tourism & Hospitality Management path.” In 2013, PCC expanded its partnership with Fort Lewis College via the Colorado Community College System’s Admission Promise. It provided PCC students a guarantee of admission to the four-year school. The new agreement between the two institutions formalizes the transfer option for students and provides specific degree maps for students to follow at PCC and through to FLC. “The Admission Promise was an important initiative to strengthen our relationship with Fort Lewis and an avenue for our students to pursue a four-year degree without leaving the area,” said PCC President Patty Erjavec. “This year, both of our institutions came together to make sure that promise was fortified with a renewed commitment. A clearly defined pathway saves our students time and money, enriches the student experience, and contributes to their ultimate success.” PCC operates a branch in Mancos/Cortez, a site in Durango and, beginning this fall, a site in Bayfield. Enrollment is now open for fall classes, which begin August 19. Every student transferring to FLC is offered a pre-enrollment meeting with the Transfer Admission Counselor. Students can meet one-on-one with the counselor to determine courses approved for transfer and to discuss degree requirements and scholarship opportunities. Statewide articulation agreements exist for community college students with an associate degree, which guide their degree paths at FLC. Transfer applications are due to FLC by August 1 for fall 2019 classes. Visit www.pueblocc.edu/transfer to learn more.