Vice President of Diversity Affairs
Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College is a public liberal arts undergraduate research institution shaped by the land, people, and culture of the Southwest. Nestled in Durango, Colorado—where the desert meets the Rocky Mountains—FLC offers students immersive, hands-on learning across 60 majors.

Academic excellence and regional perspective

Whether through business, arts, sciences, or emerging fields like nanotechnologies, graduates leave with a deep understanding of their field and a unique perspective shaped by the region’s diverse landscapes and communities. This prepares them to address global challenges with regional insight, the skills and knowledge to excel in today’s workforce, and adapt to the evolving demands of the future.

Commitment to diversity and inclusivity

Diversity and inclusion are core to the FLC experience. As a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI) and an emerging Hispanic-serving institution, the college is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where students from all backgrounds can thrive. The college enrolls approximately 3,400 students, with about 150 in graduate programs. The student body represents 113 Native American Tribes and Alaskan villages, 49 states, and 12 countries, with almost half from Colorado. In addition, 36% are Pell Grant Eligible, 44% are first-generation students, 39% are Native American, and 15% are Hispanic/Latinx.

Equity and student support

FLC prioritizes equity and inclusion in academics and campus life through a community of care approach. This commitment extends to academic programs and student support services, ensuring everyone has the resources and opportunities needed for success.

Faculty excellence and research leadership

The college’s 240+ faculty members go beyond traditional teaching, providing a well-rounded education that extends into impactful programs for students and the broader community. Their dedication has garnered national recognition and opened significant grant opportunities. Last year alone, FLC secured over $38 million in grants and sponsored research, a jump from $33 million the previous year—a remarkable achievement for an institution of its size. This year, the School of Education secured nearly $7 million in federal grants from the Office of English Language Acquisition and a U.S. Department of Education grant naming the school as an Augustus F. Hawkins Center of Excellence. Other grants include the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) initiative, an NSF grant for the Partnership for Education and the Advancement of Quantum and Nanosciences, and a $1.2 million U.S. Department of Energy grant for advancing environmental sciences and environmental justice education that also provides paid internships and housing for students.

Holistic approach to student well-being

In addition, with the goal of supporting students in every aspect of their lives, FLC staff have successfully secured grants to support harm reduction initiatives and provide culturally responsive mental healthcare, emergency housing, food, and healthcare services.

The Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees (BoT)

The BoT consists of nine voting and two non-voting members responsible for making policy for Fort Lewis College and overseeing its operation. The Colorado governor appoints voting members and requires Colorado State Senate confirmation. They serve four-year terms. The two non-voting members are elected by FLC faculty and students. The faculty representative serves a two-year term, and the student representative serves a one-year
term. Staff is also represented on the board with a non-voting member.

The FLC president is appointed by and reports to the Board and is responsible for the institution's and its employees' day-to-day management.

Learn more about the BOT

Shared governance

At FLC, shared governance is a key pillar in fostering collaboration and transparency across the institution. The FLC Board of Trustees is committed to ensuring faculty, staff, and students are actively involved in the decision-making processes shaping the college's future. Through structures like the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Faculty and Staff of Color, LGBTQIA2S Staff and Faculty, and various committees, members of the FLC community contribute to policy development, curriculum design, and strategic planning.

The Board’s resolution on Culture and Shared Governance emphasizes maintaining a positive institutional culture rooted in trust, teamwork, and open communication. By giving voice to all stakeholders and promoting transparency, FLC ensures faculty, staff, and students are empowered to contribute meaningfully to the college’s goals.

The Board underscores the importance of integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into all institutional work, acknowledging FLC's complex history and the ongoing efforts toward racial reconciliation and inclusivity.

We acknowledge the land that Fort Lewis College is situated upon is the ancestral land and territory of the Nuuchiu (Ute) people who were forcibly removed by the United States Government. We also acknowledge that this land is connected to the communal and ceremonial spaces of the Jicarilla Abache (Apache), Pueblos of New Mexico, Hopi Sinom (Hopi), and Diné (Navajo) Nations. It is important to acknowledge this setting because the narratives of the lands in this region have long been told from dominant perspectives without full recognition of the original land stewards who continue to inhabit and connect with this land. Thank you for your attention and respect in acknowledging this important legacy.

Fort Lewis College operated as a federal Indian boarding school from 1891 to 1910, and understanding and confronting this complex history is critical for the institution.

In 2019, the college established the Committee on FLC History to address the college’s connection to the intergenerational impacts of the federal Indian boarding school system. Since then, FLC has engaged in community-wide conversations and listening sessions and worked to implement institutional changes.

FLC is committed to developing and implementing a reconciliation process focused on healing, maintaining respectful and reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and caring for Indigenous students at FLC.

As part of this process, and in partnership with the Southern Ute Indian and the Ute Mountain Ute tribes, FLC leadership advocated for the passage of state legislation HB22-1327 to investigate the traumas at Federal Indian Boarding Schools in Colorado. History Colorado released the final report in October 2023.

In August 2023, the FLC Board of Trustees reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to reconciliation, recognizing that it is ongoing and requires an intentional focus on healing, centering Indigenous voices, and maintaining respectful and reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations. Led by the Diversity Affairs Office, this work permeates everything Fort Lewis College does.

Learn more about Reconciliation at FLC

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.

Learn more about President Shotton