Schools & Departments

FLC's School of Business Administration hosted the 31st annual Southwest Economic Outlook. Though many presenters noted the local economy's rapid rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, they said the region must reckon with workforce shortages, rising housing costs, and an aging population. 

Fort Lewis College hosted the Success for Native America 2022 panel, an event created by Swarvoski Little from First Southwest Bank and FLC faculty members to combat the inequities facing future Indigenous business leaders.

Heidi Steltzer, professor of Environment & Sustainability, spoke at a recent water seminar, imploring water managers to ensure water is distributed equitably during this time of drought.

High Country News featured the years-long mule deer migration research of Anna Ortega (Biology, '14). Now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wyoming, Ortega fondly recalled Jo, a celebrity ungulate whose migration data turned her into an internet sensation.

Greg LeBlanc (Biology, '13) has been hired as the new assistant town manager of the community of Snowmass Village, CO, home to Snowmass Ski Area.

Jenni Trujillo, dean of the School of Education, provided testimony to state legislators regarding access to educator training and the funding needed to support teacher candidates in order to address the teacher shortage.

Filmmaker, wilderness first responder, chef, professional snorkeler—river guides can wear more hats than just those floppy straw ones. Greg Cairns (Humanities-English Concentration, '13) talks all about the guide life in his new autobiographical film, I’m A River Guide.

Ryan Evans (Business Administration, ‘03) has made waves in the niche Belgian-style beer market with his very own “Bruz Beers.” Having struck a deal with Ska Distribution, Evans hopes to take his business to the next level and bring Belgian-inspired beers to the Southwest.

Nate Peach, visiting assistant professor of Economics, spoke to The Durango Herald about the impact of rising gas prices on our small mountain community. Peach says that Durango’s workers will feel the impacts of rising gas prices the most.

Lucas Clancy (Biology, '19) and Josh Bonar (Biology, '19) recently completed training and earned permanent positions as District Wildlife Managers with Colorado Parks & Wildlife—a competitive job that requires applicants to score at the very top of their cohort on written and oral exams just to be considered for training.

With the uncertain future of water in the West looming, Fort Lewis College is preparing the next generation of water leaders with the River Studies & Leadership Certificate and the Fort Lewis on the Water program.

Kaitlin Mattos, assistant professor of Environment & Sustainability, was interviewed by Microsoft’s WorkLab about applying the old adage “reduce, reuse, recycle” to the office culture in the United States. Work output, she says, could be maximized by exploring the intersection of sustainability and productivity.

In his time at Fort Lewis College, Lee Bitsóí, former associate vice president for Diversity Affairs, became a role model for Indigenous students looking to confront colonial narratives.

Fort Lewis College alumnae Isabelle Farrell (Philosophy, ‘19) and Annie Farrell (Political Science, '20) showcased their film “Route One North” at the Durango Independent Film Festival. Produced during the pandemic, the film follows the story of two sisters tracking down their absentee father.

In a guest column for The Globe Post, Benjamin Waddell, associate professor of Sociology & Human Services, makes the case that the proposed "global tax" will increase global inequity—not fix it.