Learn about our members

Professional Associates (PA) is a community of nearly 50 educators, scientists, innovators, business leaders, policymakers, and professionals who bring their real-world experience to support Fort Lewis College. Members share a commitment to strengthening student learning, enriching faculty teaching, and advancing community partnerships across the Four Corners.

Expertise across disciplines

PA members represent seven core areas of expertise:

  • Medicine, public health, and life sciences
  • Engineering, physical sciences, and technology
  • Environmental science and ecology
  • Education, sociology, and community development
  • Arts, communication, and humanities
  • Leadership, strategy, and organizational management
  • Law, policy, and government service

This breadth of knowledge allows PA members to serve as guest lecturers, mentors, advisors, and collaborators—bringing valuable insight to classrooms, academic programs, and community initiatives.

History and purpose

Professional Associates was established in 1999 by President Kendall Blanchard as a strategic advisory group. Since then, its role has expanded to include direct support for students, faculty, and community programming—while maintaining a strong advisory partnership with college leadership.

Meet our members

Each member brings a unique background and perspective to Fort Lewis College. Browse the directory below to explore individual bios, professional experience, and areas of expertise.

John A. K. (Kip) Boyd

gisarm7@gmail.com

Profession:  Family Physician | Hospital Administrator | Medical Ethicist.

Education and Training

  • 1976, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine
  • 1979, Family Medicine Residency at Silas B. Hays Army Hospital, Monterey, California

Career Highlights

After serving as a Family Physician at Fox Army Hospital, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (1979-1981), he returned to Silas B. Hays Army Hospital where he was on the clinical faculty for the Family Medicine residency program and served as the medical director of the Family Practice Clinic (1981-1983). After his discharge from the U.S. Army, he moved to Durango, Colorado, where he had a private medical practice until 1993, when that practice was purchased by Mercy Regional Medical Center. In 1997 he became the Chief Medical Officer for Mercy. He retired from Mercy in 2018.

Community Outreach

Dr. Boyd has been active in community and volunteer work since arriving in Durango. While a practicing family physician, he precepted medical students and nurse-practitioner students from the University of Colorado from 1983 through 1996. In 1983 he became a charter member of the Mercy Regional Medical Center Ethics Committee. He chaired that committee from 1984 until his retirement in 2018. He served on two state-wide non-profit healthcare ethics boards and the Centura Health Ethics Advisory Council. Locally, he gave sex education presentations for almost every Durango 8th grade health class for over 30 years and has given community presentations (usually with local attorneys) at least two to three times a year on Advance Medical Directives from 1989 to the present. Over the years, he has also been a Visiting Instructor in Biology, Philosophy and General Education at Fort Lewis College – and an Instructor of Pathophysiology at Southwest Community College. Currently, he serves as the historian for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Durango, in which capacity he sends out newsletters, and gives sermons, lectures and historical tours regarding the church’s history from 1881 through the 1960s.