With multiple top-15 World Cup finishes in mountain biking, FLC junior Savilia Blunk has also won five national titles. Even with no races on the calendar during the pandemic, she devoted the entire last year to training and came out more eager to achieve her goals than ever before.

Fort Lewis College's Communication Design program has been named #4 in Colorado for best graphic design programs by Animation Career Review.

Fort Lewis College has been awarded a five-year $1,185,000 grant to support undergraduate students traditionally underrepresented in biomedical sciences as they prepare for research-based Ph.D. programs.

Kevin Lynch (English-Communication, '99), an FLC alumnus and former staff member at The Independent, just released his first novel, Tabloid Baby, which is loosely based on his experiences working in and with media in Durango.

Ben Waddell, associate professor of Sociology & Human Services, filmed a video and co-authored an article for Rocky Mountain PBS about an immigrant mother's struggle to educate her children in the midst of a pandemic.

Paul Booth, professor of Art and Design, won an international design award from the London International Creative Competition for a poster he designed advocating for tackling climate change and warning that a future with more fires may lie ahead.

In response to the high cost of housing in Durango, Fort Lewis College is studying ways to help employees, faculty, and staff with homeownership costs. Though this is not a new issue, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased costs in what has already been a difficult year.

In light of a new bill proposing in-state tuition for all Native American students from tribes with historic ties to Colorado, FLC advised other institutions on how best to serve and support Native students.

SmartAsset ranked Fort Lewis College at #10 on their list of Best Value Colleges in Colorado.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented Fort Lewis College from hosting any in-person commencement ceremonies in 2020. Now with the prevalence of vaccines and low local case counts, FLC will host its first in-person commencement in a year in multiple outdoor ceremonies.

Students applying to Fort Lewis College for 2021-22 will have the ability to do so through Common App, a powerful online college application platform that serves more than three million applicants, teachers, counselors, and advisors across all 50 United States and around the world each year.

Assistant Professor of Public Health Tapati Dutta was a guest speaker on 4 Corners Art Forum to discuss how narrative and community-based storytelling can be used to help teach difficult or uncomfortable topics, which can in turn empower marginalized communities and lead to systemic change.

Fort Lewis College's Psychology degree is #48 on Study.com's list for Best Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology.

Lee Bitsóí, associate vice president for diversity affairs at Fort Lewis College, and Ernest House Jr., chairman of the FLC Board of Trustees, have been named to Governor Polis' Water Equity Task Force.

Fort Lewis College students, along with other community members, planted nearly 200,000 trees on Wolf Creek Pass to restore areas that have not seen natural regeneration after clear-cutting and tree loss from beetles.

Alumna Laura Jeffries (Exercise Science, '93) is now the Vice President of Human Resources for Donor Alliance, a federally-designated organ procurement organization serving Colorado and Wyoming.

San Juan Basin Public Health announced vaccine eligibility will open tomorrow, Friday, March 19, for individuals within the Colorado COVID-19 Vaccine 1B.4 Phase.

Governor Polis announced a new vaccine prioritization phase beginning in late March, which includes student-facing employees in higher education.

Professor of Philosophy Sarah Roberts-Cady discusses John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice, and how he views the project of understanding and addressing real-world injustices as collaborative and interdisciplinary for philosophers, politicians, and everyday citizens alike.

"We can emerge stronger from the pandemic than when we went in," says President Stritikus. This year, the College is in one of the strongest fiscal positions it has been in recent years and is reporting steady enrollment.

Fort Lewis College's Accounting degree is #50 on Study.com's list for Best Bachelor's Degrees in Accounting.

Recently retired from her role as the highest-ranking African American female in the U.S. Navy, Gail Harris holds many firsts. Today, she's excited to be working as a DJ for KDUR at Fort Lewis College.

Geosciences Lecturer Andy Gleason, a snow scientist on the NASA SnowEx project, explains the dangers of avalanches this year and why the risk is higher—even with a lower snowpack.

Public Health Department calls for students and employees who are at least 18 years of age to participate in a research study titled ‘Understanding the Pulse for COVID-19 Vaccinations among FLC Community.'

Emily Johnson (Biology, '19) looks to traditional values of Indigenous peoples for lessons on how humanity should band together and reconnect with the planet for a sustainable future.

Jason Stanley (English, ‘08) is from a family that believes in the power of education and in his leadership roles as high school principal and college regent, he's hosting field trips to FLC to introduce students to “the campus in the sky” and the opportunities that college provides.

On the day of President Biden's Inauguration, sophomore Bella Aiukli Cornell was delighted to see New Mexico Representative Deb Haaland representing Native American culture by wearing the handcrafted traditional ribbon skirt Cornell made for her two years ago.

Natalie Benally (Theatre, '10) has been named a Cultural Capital Fellow by the First Peoples Fund, an organization whose mission is to honor and support First Peoples artists and culture-bearers through grants, awards, and fellowships.

Alumna Violette Cloud (Philosophy, '13) has joined the Policy Research Associates criminal justice team as a project associate. PRA is a national leader in behavioral health and research that works to create positive social change for people and communities through technical assistance, research, and training.

Center of Southwest Studies Director Shelby Tisdale has edited a new book with author Federico Jiménez Caballero, an Indigenous Mixtec jewelry artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose story brings readers on his remarkable journey from Oaxaca, Mexico to Los Angeles.

Alumna Kelly Koskie (Accounting, '96) has returned to the Four Corners after 15 years in the Midwest to serve as the new finance director of the City of Cortez, Colorado.

For the Deming and Sells-Wheeler families, Fort Lewis College has been a part of their legacies for multiple generations.

With her bright smile often accentuated by scarlet lipstick, Hayley Kirkman (Art, ‘17) blends art into the tiniest details of her life.

As a result of the pandemic, you may have experienced unexpected or increased costs for housing, food, childcare, technology, healthcare, or other essential needs. FLC can help you recover those costs. 

FLC classrooms are evolving to encompass even more Indigenous perspectives, thanks to a three-year, $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. Visiting Assistant Professors Davina Two Bears and Brian Twenter have both joined the Native American & Indigenous Studies Department as this year's Mellon Scholars.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or AACSB International, announced that Fort Lewis College has extended its business accreditation, an accomplishment that has been achieved by only 5% of the world’s schools offering business degrees at the bachelor’s level or higher.

Professor of Philosophy and Gender & Sexuality Studies Sarah Roberts-Cady's new book on political philosopher John Rawls is one of the most popular philosophy titles published in 2020.

Behind the 700-foot wall of Glen Canyon Dam is not only a massive span of placid water but hundreds of feet of captured Colorado River sediment. As Assistant Professor of Geosciences Alan Kasprak has researched, the river corridor below the dam through Grand Canyon is poised for an ecological transformation.

Because the FLC Teacher Education Department's educator training focuses on early literacy and how to teach youth to read, it is one of only two programs in Colorado with full approval for all majors from the state's reauthorization program.

Multimedia artist Venaya Yazzie's (English Communication, '00) latest exhibit of photos and poetry pays homage to her maternal grandmother, who died last year, and her female lineage of creators and artists.

The Equity Transfer Initiative awards up to $27,500 to advance transfer pathways between San Juan College and FLC and increase transfer and completion for underrepresented student populations.

Launched in the early 2000s, the Colorado State Library’s Historic Newspapers Collection has been slowly adding historic newspapers from across the state to its anthology, including publications from FLC as far back as 1896. 

Born and raised on the Navajo Nation in Round Rock, Arizona, Faith Roessel lived the disparities of the education system as a Native student and has since focused her life’s work on changing the Native American education experience.

For David Cole, geology isn’t just a vocation; it runs in his veins, propelling him toward a dream career that’s taken him from the Rockies to Central Asia’s Tien Shan Mountains and back again. That dream found footing in the Fort Lewis College Geology program, which boasts unparalleled access to the Colorado Plateau.

Each week, FLC students measure snow depth in the San Juan Mountains, traveling by cross-country skis or snowshoes to collect data at the Swamp Angel Study Plot as part of NASA’s SnowEx program.

Old cars embedded in the banks of many Western waterways are known as “Detroit Riprap,” and according to Gigi Richard, director of the Four Corners Water Center and instructor of Geosciences, just one amateur method of preventing riverbank erosion.

Artist Michaela Goade (Art, '14) was selected to create a Google Doodle celebrating Alaska Native civil rights champion Elizabeth Peratrovich, who played an instrumental role in the 1945 passage of the first anti-discrimination law in the United States.

Emerita professor of Psychology Janet Jones' new book Horse Brain, Human Brain was recently listed as one of Book Authority’s “Ten Best Human Brain Books to Read in 2021." 

Paul DeBell, assistant professor of Political Science, was on Colorado Public Radio's Colorado Matters to discuss what election denial and violence at the Capitol mean for the future of democracy in the U.S.

Mikki Naranjo (Accounting, '05) has transitioned into the Contracts and Grants Manager position for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe after finishing the Tribe’s apprenticeship program.

Known in the Whiteriver, Arizona community for setting and achieving one goal after another, Roger Leslie (Business Administration, '93) is taking on his next challenge—managing a ski resort during a pandemic.

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has sworn in Linda K. Baker (History, '94) as a new Tribal Council Member. Baker previously worked for the Southern Ute Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in the Anthropology Department.

Under the Paris Agreement, 2020 was supposed to be a milestone year for global emission reductions. What happens next? “The future is up to us and will always be up to us," says Heidi Steltzer, professor of Environment & Sustainability and Biology. 

In a guest column for The Durango Herald, Professor of Philosophy Justin McBrayer looks at new Twitter and Facebook policies to flag misleading information and explains why these notices may not actually be improving the accuracy of our beliefs.

FLC men's basketball all-star Rasmus Bach (Exercise Science, '18) has been signed to the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League.

The Hawk Tank Business Plan Competition is launching on January 26 and has expanded to include students from San Juan College. 

The Biochemistry program at Fort Lewis College has been approved for accreditation by the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology through 2027.

For this year’s virtual event, which invited participants to organize informal socially distanced rides wherever they were, nearly 100 riders took to the trails and roads to raise money for the Fort Lewis College cycling team.

Graduating seniors were celebrated in the Virtual Winter Commencement ceremony on December 4. Dugald Owen, professor of Philosophy and recipient of the Alice Admire Outstanding Teacher Award, gave the commencement address.

After being accepted into DACA, Marissa Molina (Political Science, '14) graduated summa cum laude from FLC and has since worked on behalf of fellow Dreamers at the forefront of immigration reform as a bipartisan political organizer.

Cheyenne Williams, senior in Journalism & Multimedia Studies, created a heartfelt video about her grandmother to not only learn more about her family history but to inspire other Indigenous youth to learn their elders’ stories and pass them on.

Madeleine Froncek's (Sociology, '14) band, Ley Line, was recently featured as the Austin360 Artist of the Month.

“The College Tour” is a new TV series from Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning producers, telling the stories of colleges and universities across the country.

Peter R. Decker was a staunch supporter of Fort Lewis College, serving as one of the first trustees when the board became independent in 2002. Decker died on December 12, 2020 at age 86.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Bill Collins, this year’s Featured Scholar, researches the health of honeybees, which are under threat worldwide. 

This summer, the FLC Board of Trustees voted to promote six faculty to professors and 13 faculty to associate professors for the 2020-21 academic year. The faculty promoted to associate professor also received tenure.

More than 150 Skyhawks were celebrated in a Virtual Winter Commencement ceremony on December 4, culminating their educational journeys at Fort Lewis College. 

COVID-19 fatigue is real, says FLC Psychology Professor Brian Burke. One of the reasons for the recent troubling milestone of 1,000 cases in La Plata County, according to Burke, is that people are not equipped to handle constant stressors.

Knowing languages are integral to the sustainability of culture, Fort Lewis College, in conjunction with the Southwest Indigenous Language Development Institute, will be offering Ute language classes to help preserve Ute culture.

To help out local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, the Fort Lewis College Career Center is matching marketing, social media, and e-commerce interns with several businesses in the Bayfield area.

From an unfinished RiNo storefront in Denver, Trey Duvall (Art K-12 Education, '09) leads a lineup of exhibitions and performances in "Entirely Devoid," nine unique, relevant, absurd, and fresh takes on the pandemic experience.

Alumnus Elijah Huff (Sociology & Human Services, '19) was interviewed on the Ednium Podcast for being a young leader in the Five Points community in Denver and on his process for making change.

In a guest column for The Durango Herald, President Tom Stritikus looked back on FLC's fall semester during the coronavirus pandemic and commented on the importance of future college and community action to stall virus transmission.

The Theatre Department premiered their performance of the play "Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them" online last week after a semester of careful rehearsal following COVID-19 guidelines and four weeks of editing. 

After a hard year for the restaurant industry and being laid off, alumnus and chef David Cuntz (Art, '90) paired up with The Roost to revitalize their menu and kitchen. He intends to bring it to "another level of American and international cuisine."

Fort Lewis College, along with several other schools in Colorado, took on the challenge of physically distanced classes by transforming outdoor spaces into classrooms with the help of tents. According to Philosophy Professor Justin McBrayer, the outdoor classes were a total blast. 

San Juan Basin Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment are moving La Plata County to COVID-19 Dial Level Red: Severe Risk beginning Friday, Nov. 20. 

About 150 students will graduate in Fort Lewis College's Virtual Winter Commencement on Friday, December 4.

Fort Lewis College was recognized by The Healthy for our COVID-19 response. Widespread testing, masks, distancing, and improved ventilation and air filters allowed in-person education to continue much longer than most colleges and universities.

Morgan Rutkowski, a senior Psychology and Political Science major, moderated a webinar about how political campaigns manipulate people's anxiety about death, and how this can help us understand the current state of politics. The webinar was hosted by the Ernest Becker Foundation.

Wahoo Fitness rode along with Sarah Sturm (Art, '12) in an uplifting video story about her measurement of success and the pursuit of high performance for athletes.

The growing number of novel megafires in Colorado and the increasing longevity of fire season is a result of climate change and extreme drought, according to Julie Korb, professor of Biology.

Just in time for your holiday dinner table, Andrew Gulliford, professor of History, tells the story of Colorado's famous cannibal, Alferd Packer, and how he became an "unlikely local folk hero."

The School of Business Administration researched the creative industry in Durango and how it impacts the local economy and tourism industry. FLC expects to see the economic impact of artisan products, culinary arts, culture, design, live music, and public art continue to grow.

Paul DeBell, assistant professor of Political Science, hopes to see an increase in student involvement in future elections with the addition of a ballot box right on campus.
 

Introduction to Sociology students are reviving the lost art of letter writing to forge new connections with seniors at local care facilities and to reconnect with family and friends during the pandemic.

Spaced apart and from behind masks, FLC students are engaging in a new way to make music. The Music Department just released its Fall Concert Series that includes a playlist of duets, solos, strings, and more.

FLC received $3.6 million as part of a collaborative to build strong postsecondary pathways for students in the build trades and environmental science.

In response to COVID-19 struggles, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe paired with Fort Lewis College's Teacher Education Department to help tutor students in Towaoc, Colorado. Together they are bridging digital and cultural divides through individualized education.

Fort Lewis College's response to COVID-19 and subsequent increases in enrollment and retention rates were featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education. President Tom Stritikus and consultants from Guild Education (formerly Entangled Solutions) spoke with Chronicle senior writer Goldie Blumenstyk.

Heidi Steltzer, professor of Biology, spoke with The Durango Herald about the relationship between climate change and increasingly frequent fires in the high country, like the Ice Fire west of Silverton, Colorado that began on October 19.

Audrey Harvey (Environmental Studies, '11) believes that studying restoration ecology as a graduate student at Northern Arizona University continues a lifelong story that stems from her roots in the Navajo Nation.

The dedicated and knowledgeable FLC Case Management team, who help students overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, was featured in a Promising Partnership Practices interview with the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

The Princeton Review included Fort Lewis College on its Guide to Green Colleges for 2021, a list based on colleges' use of renewable energy, recycling and conservation programs, the availability of environmental studies in academic offerings, and career guidance for green jobs.

FLC students want you to vote. Fort Lewis College students Logan Fullington, Cheyenne Williams, Coya Pair, and Joe Kinneen use their filmmaking and video production skills to raise awareness about the importance of voting.

Fort Lewis College is excited to partner with COVIDCheck Colorado to offer our community the first opportunity to experience a cutting-edge COVID-19 testing experience via a pilot study of SalivaDirect™. 

In an interview with The Durango Herald, Wade Litt, assistant professor of Economics, pointed out that an economy largely tied to tourism makes southwest Colorado and La Plata County particularly vulnerable to spikes in COVID-19.

The Native American Center hosted a Solidarity Walk and Student Showcase on Monday for Indigenous Peoples' Day, honoring the resilience of Indigenous peoples and celebrating Indigenous art, music, culture, unity, language, dance, storytelling, poetry, traditions, and food.

Provost Cheryl Nixon was interviewed by The Durango Herald recently about her first year at Fort Lewis College and what initially drew her to the institution and southwest Colorado.

A new bachelor’s degree program in Nutrition was approved by the FLC Board of Trustees this month. It will be offered through the Health Sciences Department and will emphasize public health, exercise science, and biomedical applications.

About 50 students participated in FLC's first-ever "First Generation College Student" virtual conference hosted by Career Services, El Centro de Muchos Colores, and the Native American Center, as well as other FLC faculty, students, and alumni. The conference highlighted the experiences of first-gen students and included life skills breakout sessions.

Associate Professor of Sociology Benjamin Waddell spoke with WPFW community radio in Washington D.C. about the racist past and present of the Electoral College, and the political implications we face in the 2020 election.

The Ernest Becker Foundation invited the students in Professor of Psychology Brian Burke's Psychology Senior Research class to contribute nonpartisan psychological analyses of political ads to their website. The students' contributions have since been published online.

Associate Professor of Sociology Benjamin Waddell participated in a debate on Colorado Public Radio about Colorado Proposition 113 and the National Popular Vote Compact.

Skyhawks cycling alumna Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Exercise Science, '16) has been busy this month competing in elite women's mountain biking races in Europe, coming away with 14th in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCC race and 26th in the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships XCO race.

At a small, distanced ceremony on Friday, October 9, the Fort Lewis College community and friends broke ground for a new state-of-the-art facility.

Congrats Skyhawks – we have an A going into midterms! However, we have just been handed some difficult assignments and final grades have not yet been determined.

A statewide committee awarded Carol Little (Accounting, '85) the Victim Advocate of the Year Award for her work with the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The Durango local has worked as a victim advocate for the District Attorney's Office for 25 years.

With only one active case of COVID-19 currently in the campus population, FLC is one of few colleges across the country that's keeping the virus from spreading and disrupting in-person instruction.

The hard work of staff and faculty in the implementation of strategic initiatives has increased enrollment at FLC by 3.7%. First-year and transfer student enrollment is up, as is retention of Skyhawks entering their second year at FLC.  

Three students contributed to “The Strater: The Hotel That Built Durango,” kicking off the eighth season of Colorado Experience from Rocky Mountain PBS.

A perfect day is “the day we throw a big party with luscious, animal-free milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream,” according to the Perfect Day Foods website. While animal-free creamy goodness may sound odd to the uninitiated, for Adam Hamilton (Philosophy and Biochemistry, ’18), animal-free dairy alternatives are the future.

Two Fort Lewis College friends, Allie Wolfe, a senior majoring in Psychology, and Tatyana Trujillo (Environmental Studies, ’20), were inspired to further the message of Black Lives Matter by painting a BLM mural on the iconic east-facing wall of College Drive’s Everyday gas station.

Fort Lewis College ranks in the top ten for campus ethnic diversity at national liberal arts colleges in this year’s Best Colleges report.

FLC cross-country is one of only two sports allowed to compete this fall as a result of COVID-19 precautions. Despite uncertainty at the start of the season, the Skyhawks are more than motivated and ready to run. 

Angel Benally (Political Science, '20) was an intern this summer with the FirstNet program of AT&T, which is working to address the digital divide across Tribal Nations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Herbert E. Owen Native Plant Garden was built in 2012 as an educational resource for the Biology Department. It is named for Herb Owen, professor of Biology at FLC from 1955 to 1978 and founder of the department.

New academic hub, TRIO Student Success Center, and TRIO STEM3 received grants that will help support student success and increase retention and graduation rates.

After identifying a perennial herb that had never been reported in Colorado before, Professor of Biology Ross McCauley welcomed three students to join him in a five-week Field Botany class with the goal of the course mirroring McCauley’s venture: to learn how to identify vascular plants while in the field.

Jack Llewellyn (English Communications, '87) came to Durango, sight unseen, in 1982 to attend college at FLC. These days, Llewellyn is one of Durango's first points of contact for many outsiders, newcomers, and up-and-coming business owners.

Dawson Gipp, vice president of the Political Science Club and member of the FLC Ethics Team, contributed to an Indian Country Today newscast to talk about racism and mascots.

The Center of Southwest Studies is open for reservation-only viewing of its latest exhibition, "PIVOT," which features skateboard deck art from Native American artists.

Paul DeBell, assistant professor of Political Science, spoke to The Durango Herald about voters disassociating from traditional parties as a result of growing frustration with national politics.

FLC has been nationally recognized by LendEDU for having one of the lowest student loan debt figures in the country for the Class of 2019. FLC's average student debt per borrower figure of $19,429 ranked #38 in the country and #1 in Colorado.

Brian Burke, professor of Psychology, is nominated for Best Educator in Durango. Voting continues through September 12, 2020.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education featured Professional Advocate and Case Manager Kate Suazo and her team for their exemplary work in supporting students through the coronavirus pandemic this spring.

The Princeton Review named FLC as one of the 2021 Best Colleges in the Western region.

In an op-ed for The Durango Herald, President Stritikus reflects on the decision to return to campus for in-person instruction.

More than 1,400 residents and hundreds of FLC employees were tested for COVID-19 during move-in week. Free testing is available for FLC community members for the remainder of the semester. 

Cycling coach Dave Hagen has had unparalleled success as a college coach, clinching national championships and helping shape some Olympians along the way. He was featured on the 303Endurance podcast.

At their annual retreat, the Board of Trustees examined ways to deepen and reinforce Fort Lewis College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Except for cross-country and golf, FLC fall sports will not compete this season after the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference postponed football, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball games until Spring 2021.

Veronica Krupnick (Public Health, '17) was accepted to the National Foster Youth and Alumni Policy Council this year, where she'll work to educate and partner with policymakers to improve child welfare policy across the country.

Matt Taylor (Business Administration, '03) launched the AidtoAll app, a charitable giving platform that helps more fortunate people make financial contributions and connect with their neighbors in need.

In an interview with KSUT's Sarah Flower, President Stritikus discussed the plans in place for an in-person fall semester.

Before the first day of classes, FLC students and employees are being tested for COVID-19, free of charge. On-campus residents are required to test when they check in on campus, while employees and any other student have the option to test.

Teacher Education Professor Kristine Greer was featured in a recent WalletHub article about the best early education systems and what it takes to support child development through education.

Once upon a time, yearbooks served as America’s collegiate scrapbooks, the cradle of institutional memories created by students for students. Records reveal that FLC's yearbook tradition lasted only 30 years. 

Christopher Adam Red and Mary Rubadeau fill two new seats on the Board after it expanded from seven to nine voting members this spring.

The FLC Chemistry Department is now home to two new instruments typically only found at large universities for graduate level research.

Two lifelong pals found friendship in FLC’s Chemistry lab, a place they’d always imagined giving back to, and eventually help pave the way for future chemists.

This new collaborative program between the two institutions looks to ultimately improve teaching across the state.

Shelby Tisdale, director of the Center of Southwest Studies, was appointed to the National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Review Committee.

FLC was listed by AISES' Winds of Change magazine as one of the Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students.

Steve Elias, dean of the School of Business Administration, received a $10,000 Startup Champion award to further support activities that grow local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

The Fort Lewis College Foundation received $ $6,172,368 from in gifts and pledges for the 2019-20 fiscal year, the largest annual amount in FLC history.

Steve Elias, dean of the School of Business Administration, was awarded the inaugural Anchor Point Foundation’s Startup Champion Award to further support activities that grow local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

The Campus Sustainability Council received funding to install two electric vehicle charge stations, located next to Sitter Family Hall.

Since he was a kid, Gary Schlessman (Business, ’79) has always determined to carve his own path. While his father and siblings chose Colorado College, Schlessman opted to get as far away from the Front Range as possible while still staying in Colorado. He headed to Fort Lewis College in Durango in 1975 and discovered an education to live by and friends to last a lifetime.

After 15 years of service to the FLC community, Dean of the School of Education Richard Fulton is packing his proverbial dry bag and shoving off toward the next horizon of quasi-retirement.

Assistant Professor of Music John O'Neal was interviewed on Pete's Percussion Podcast, where he discussed the FLC Music program, driving in the mountains, and playing in a punk band.

Howard Grotts (Mathematics, '14) is known best for his illustrious career on the bike, but now the professional athlete and Olympian is pursuing a new trail: math and a future in teaching.

Do you llama go bikepacking? Brett Davis, assistant director of Outdoor Pursuits, wrote about his journey through the San Juans last summer on bike and in a packraft... and with llamas.

Drought and wildfire risk in southwest Colorado is a research priority for the Rocky Mountain Restorative Initiative, a collaborative that now includes the expertise of Biology Professor Julie Korb and research opportunities for students.

Paul DeBell, assistant professor of Political Science, spoke to The Durango Herald about what to watch for in the highly competitive U.S. Senate race between former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gardner.

Associate Professor of Sociology Benjamin Waddell's research on discriminatory lending in the San Luis Valley was recently featured in a podcast by KUNC Colorado Edition.

Fort Lewis College was awarded the Literacies, Inclusion, and Transit (LIT) in the Twenty-First Century grant, a three-year, $500,000 award designed to address equity and inclusivity in the curriculum and on campus, as well as to enhance undergraduate research in the humanities.

Coleman was a business professor for almost 20 years at Fort Lewis College and strong supporter of study abroad. Coleman died July 17, 2020.

Beginning with admission for 2021, Fort Lewis College will no longer require ACT or SAT scores for admission consideration. Due to cancelled SAT and ACT exams as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Colorado passed a temporary law that allows public institutions of higher education to make test scores for admission optional.

The Native American Alumni Chapter was officially recognized in August 2018 and has hosted as many as 100 alumni at meetings since.

Senate Bill 20-219 sets in place a lease-purchase agreement to fund continuing capital construction projects at Fort Lewis College, University of Colorado, and Colorado State University. 

After a 20-year hiatus from the Southwest, LeManuel “Lee” Bitsóí has returned home to the Four Corners as FLC’s new Diversity Collaborative Director and Special Advisor to the President for Native American Affairs.

Payson McElveen (Exercise Science, ’16) is focused on bringing professional cycling to the next level, for him and others.

Roderick’s career at FLC began as a Teacher Education professor, going on to serve as department chair, provost, and interim president. Roderick died July 4, 2020.

U.S. News & World Report ranked FLC as the tenth most diverse liberal arts college in the nation, acknowledging racial diversity as an important deciding factor for many first-year students.

Professor of Environment & Sustainability Heidi Steltzer shared her thoughts on the importance of including people of color, women, gender minorities, sexual minorities, and people with disabilities in the sciences.

FLC's origin as a government Indian boarding school has been an important piece of the national conversation about systemic racism, which President Tom Stritikus and Board Chair Ernest House, Jr. reflected on in a personal op-ed.

The Board of Trustees approved the 2020-21 budget, which included reductions as a result of state budget shortfalls due to COVID-19.

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing spoke with Assistant Professor of Public Health Tapati Dutta about her career in public health and the importance of her role in education during a pandemic. 

President Stritikus found himself in the company of LeBron James, AOC, Alexis Ohanian, Ava DuVernay, Megan Rapinoe, and others last week when named as "angelic troublemakers" who are each reshaping the world through social justice.

When the Spanish Flu hit Southwest Colorado, the Fort Lewis School closed campus from October 1918 through April 1919, according to FLC archives. One hundred years later, Fort Lewis College is once again striving to emerge from a pandemic healthier, tougher, and wiser than ever. 

When the need for extra medical supplies seized the Four Corners, Erin Lehmer and Steven Fenster, co-chairs of FLC’s Biology Department, organized a campus-wide collection of personal protection equipment, which were delivered to local healthcare facilities.

Psychology Professor Brian Burke treats his PSYC 302 class, Forensic Psychology, like a complex adventure. From day one, he and the students delve into the interaction between psychological science and the legal system by unpacking the details of a trial.

As colleges were shutting down around the country, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers met over Zoom to grapple with the disruption. 

After 20 years of service and millions of dollars in grants to FLC and the Native American Center, the John & Sophie Ottens Foundation is winding down operations, imparting one final gift to the NAC - the largest single cash gift in FLC history.

AHS has been awarded $13.7M through the Colorado Department of Education for construction of a new facility to be built on the Fort Lewis College campus, south of the Bader-Snyder Residence Halls. 

The Fort Lewis Solar Innovation Park received $1.5M as part of the state’s Advanced Industry Accelerator Grant Program.

In a virtual yet emotional video commencement, FLC graduates were announced by their department, with addresses from FLC leadership, the student body president, and adventurer and author Erik Weihenmayer.

The launch of the Bridge to Bachelor's Degree Program guarantees new, first-time Colorado community college students pursuing an Associate degree admission to all state universities.

Outdoor Pursuits held its annual Celebration of Adventure virtually this spring, showcasing students' film and photos of 'getting rad outside' and spreading the stoke for big adventures.

A Paul Booth original was named Print Advertising Winner at the 2020 Communicator Awards. The Communication Design professor also received an honorable mention at the London International Creative Competition for his illustration.

FLC librarian Lauren Connolly spoke to The Colorado Sun about her new self-published novel Remembering a Witch.

Taylor Nakai, a Together Towards Tomorrow scholarship recipient and computer engineering major, is making plans to be a software engineer in the healthcare or aerospace fields. 

Congratulations to Matt Wassam (Business Administration, '98) for being recognized as a Titan 100, one of Colorado's top 100 CEOs.

FLC's Chemistry degree with a minor in Forensic Studies was named as one the most affordable bachelor’s programs in Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Science for 2020-21.

President Tom Stritikus voluntarily took a 20% pay reduction, leading the way as FLC looks to lower costs amid state budget shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Art 300 Sketchbook Habit students transitioned to virtual instruction, they used their new environments and experiences through COVID-19 as inspiration. Their work was compiled by Professor Susan Moss and is viewable online.

Rachel Medina (Geology, '13) was elected to City Council in Cortez, Colorado and appointed as mayor pro tem. She'll serve a four-year term.

FLC is crafting Fall 2020 plans on how academics and activities will reconvene on campus. Three staff members shared their thoughts with InsideTrack on how they're adapting services to support students.

Lorna Meaden (Art, '94) has noticed artists and their creations have earned new appreciation during the coronavirus pandemic as people spend more time at home, seeking the arts for entertainment and support.

In 1918, influenza was a global challenge and public health crisis that had a severe impact on Four Corners communities, according to Professor Andrew Gulliford, who spoke to KSUT about the pandemic.

As further pandemic relief funding is considered, Professor Heidi Steltzer encourages the government to include money that supports science at rural colleges and universities to ensure equitable research opportunities and a better future for all.

In a 10-year study, Professor Julie Korb analyzed the effectiveness of tree thinning and prescribed burns on ecological resiliency for mixed-conifer forests in the western U.S. to help forest managers better understand regeneration during climate change.

Political Science major Angel Benally just completed the Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University, a semester-long experience in hands-on applied politics, networking, and an interactive skills practicum.

In an interview with Albuquerque Journal, Ricardo Caté (Education, '06) told stories about his start as a cartoonist and the galleries and museums where his work is now on display.

As Colorado and La Plata County move toward reopening businesses, much of the local public health guidance to prevent COVID-19 exposure remains unchanged.

FLC professors are making the most of their virtual classrooms, bringing in creative solutions and setups to teach students they'd usually see face-to-face in field labs or mock courtrooms.

Three FLC student producers were featured in the Colorado Student Showcase of the Rocky Mountain PBS series Arts District, available online now.

In a The Durango Herald op-ed, President Stritikus says that in the face of the global challenge of coronavirus, the role that higher education plays in society is more important than ever.

Assistant Professor of Psychology Alex Borgella explains in Gizmodo how dark humor during difficult times can relieve anxiety and help maintain a sense of humanity.

It's still unclear why the coronavirus pandemic is driving people to hoard toilet paper, but Professor of Psychology Brian Burke thinks the construct "social influence" could be a reason.

KSUT and KDUR's Sarah Flower interviewed President Stritikus and student body president Cody Stroup about the effects of coronavirus on FLC and how the community is stepping up to support students.

Professor of Exercise Science Melissa Knight-Maloney earned designation as U.S.A. Triathlon All-American for her outstanding performances during the 2019 season, ranking nationally in the top 10% of her age group.

Stephanie Lefthand (Business Administration, '16) was selected for a Native American Congressional Internship with the Udall Foundation, where she'll focus on healthcare policy and research, and tribal and federal government relationships.

Mickey Campbell, assistant professor of Geosciences, and Jesse Tune, assistant professor of Anthropology, established remote sensing methods that better detect the severity of tree mortality in woodlands, as explained in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.

The FLC Marketing & Communications Department received seven Collegiate Advertising Awards for various marketing pieces, including video and graphic design.

Lee Bitsóí, director of the Diversity Collaborative, says a cultural renaissance of indigenous language and customs in our education system could add an ancestral knowledge of resilience in adapting to climate change. He was a panelist for an Earth Day 50 virtual event.

FLC alumnus Chris Bettin (Business Administration, '92) has turned his company's empty vacation rentals into homes for medical personnel and others displaced by the coronavirus pandemic.

President Stritikus joined an Entangled Solutions town hall last week to talk about the FLC way of keeping students at the center and the importance of equity in higher education.

Donors across the nation are contributing to emergency grants to help students affected by the coronavirus, including the Skyhawk Emergency Fund & Persistence Grants.

Assistant Professor Paul DeBell and Morgan Rutkowski, a double major in Political Science and Psychology, spoke to The Durango Herald about the effects of government restrictions on civil liberties in the time of coronavirus.

The shortened athletics season was especially bittersweet for James Young, the student behind Skyler who didn't get to say his goodbye to fans. Thanks for the life you brought to Skyler and sports at FLC, James!

Colleges across the U.S. and in Colorado, including FLC, are realizing major costs as a result of the coronavirus. However, presidents across the state are predicting higher education will be a part of the comeback.

The FLC Board of Trustees has increased from seven Governor-appointed members to nine, and is now required to have at least one trustee be an enrolled member of a federally recognized Native American tribe.

Trillions of dollars have vanished, reappeared, and vanished again in the stock market during the coronavirus global health crisis. Benjamin Waddell, associate professor of Sociology, analyzed how the pandemic's toll on the stock market affects everyone's lives for The Week.

Payson McElveen (Exercise Science, '16) defended his champion title, and rode with the memory of training partner and friend Ben Sonntag (Business Economics, '10), at the muddy Mid South gravel race in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The Center of Southwest Studies' latest exhibit is skateboard deck art, featuring more than 30 Native American artists. Though CSWS is currently closed for coronavirus precautions, the exhibit will be displayed through 2020.

In Colorado's San Luis Valley, historic discriminatory lending has lost Hispanic farmers and ranchers land and income. Associate Professor of Sociology Benjamin Waddell wrote about these families for High Country News.

FLC librarian Lauren Connolly is a finalist for the 2020 Colorado Book Awards in the romance division for Remembering a Witch.

Fort Lewis College is responding to the COVID-19 crisis in practical and compassionate ways to make sure our students are fully supported. You've got this. We've got your back. View this short video to see how.

The 2020 Faculty & Staff Award recipients have distinguished themselves in their teaching and service to the students of Fort Lewis College.

Through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, you are eligible to apply for emergency relief funding for coronavirus-related expenses.

The program acknowledges FLC alumni accomplished in their careers, in conjunction with the annual Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Symposium for graduating seniors.

Professor of Environment and Sustainability Heidi Steltzer was interviewed by NPR about the magic ingredient for sustaining water supply - snow.

The Four Corners Water Center at Fort Lewis College celebrated Water Week with Rocky Mountain PBS and local stakeholders with a screening of the documentary "Western Water - and Power."

Students are headed back to the Navajo Nation next week for Solar Spring Break, an alternative program that provides hands-on experiences for students and solar power for low-income families.

Kelsey Lansing (Psychology and Native American & Indigenous Studies, '16) was profiled by Westword after receiving the National Sexual Violence Resource Center 2020 Colorado Visionary Voice Award for her work at a local nonprofit with Native American women.

Assistant Professor of Management Carma Claw spoke with BizEd about her personal academic journey and how she's working to create inclusivity and opportunity for her Indigenous students. She is the first Diné doctorate business professor at an AACSB-accredited business school.

The grandeur of mountain and desert sunsets can feel mysterious and mystical, but there's science behind those color bursts. Joanna Gordon Casey, visiting instructor of Physics & Engineering, explains why we see such amazing sunsets in the Four Corners.

First-year student Kellen London is an avid adventure athlete. In the FLC Adventure Education program, he's found both his dream major and academic support to succeed.

Archaeologist Brandon Olson (Anthropology, '03) helped uncover 2,300-year-old fortifications on the southeastern coast of Cyprus, further revealing the military character and date of occupation of the historic site.

Giedre Tarnauskaite is at the net as FLC's new head volleyball coach. She's been coaching for 14 years and is ready to build a culture of success for Skyhawks volleyball.

Talons up, Skyhawks! The new head football coach is Darrius G. Smith, an offense-minded and passionate football coach with 20 years of experience.

The EPA awarded an FLC student team with $24,824 to develop a portable system that will provide accurate, rapid detection and identification of waterborne bacteria in water systems.

FLC ranked fifth in Colorado in a study looking at return on investment for students, based on factors like average early career pay and student loan debt at graduation.

Lowering textbook costs for students is a priority for Reed Library and faculty, who received funding from the Colorado Department of Education to implement more free, open education resources at FLC.

Award-winning playwright Lee Blessing has been at Fort Lewis College for a week-long residency with the Theatre Department. He's best known for his work, "A Walk in the Woods," nominated for a Tony award and Pulitzer Prize.

Congrats to the students named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2019 semester! These students took at least 15 credits of gradable hours and achieved a 3.60 or higher grade point average.

To ensure FLC students have access to fresh, nutritious food, Manna staff members are on campus to help students enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Local historic tribal publication The Southern Ute Drum is utilizing the expertise of Fabian Martinez (History, '18) to digitize and preserve the paper's extensive inventory of publications and photographs.

For its standout academics and affordability, FLC is ranked in the top 100 Philosophy bachelor's degrees in the U.S. by Great Value Colleges.

During halftime at a local high school basketball game, two students from the FLC Indigenous Society of Psychologists shed light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.

Conceptual artist Trey Duvall (Art, '09) invited his hometown community to explore absurdity and repeated tasks of doing and non-doing in his art installation "Hat On A Hat" at the FLC Art Gallery.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Joslynn Lee (Chemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology, '06) spoke to Chemical & Engineering News about her path as a student and chemist, and her return home to teach at FLC.

Thanks to his innovative uses of technology as executive principal at Colorado Springs' Falcon Middle School, Brian Smith (Chemistry, '02) was honored as the Change Management Principal of the Year by the National Council on Digital Convergence.

Shelly Thompson (Political Science, '03) is the new Cultural Preservation Director at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and the Southern Ute Museum in Ignacio, Colorado, working to spread culture and share the work of the SUCC with the Ute community.

Professor of Geosciences David Gonzales (Geology, '82) was selected as the winner of The Mountain Geologist Best Paper Award for 2019 for his research on breccia dikes in the western San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Farmers Max Fields (Environmental Studies, '15) and James Plate (Business Administration, '14) are FLC Old Fort farm-incubator program alumni who have found local fame for their carrots grown at 7,600 feet in the Animas Valley and their heritage, grass-fed lambs.

This past week, the Governor’s Office provided more guidance regarding the Safer at Home phase of coronavirus mitigation that will slowly become our new statewide reality after April 27. We’ve attached some graphics from the state for more information.

Provost Nixon welcomed graduating seniors into the world of ideas at the virtual Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Symposium.

FLC has moved instruction online for the remainder of the semester after Spring Break. Only essential personnel are now reporting to campus after stay-at-home order issued.

Seven teams from the high school, college, and alumni tracks received cash awards for their business ideas at the 2020 Hawk Tank Business Plan competition.

In this historic virtual version of FLC's storied Hawk Tank business competition, the winners of all three tracks are announced- High School, Alumni and College. Congratulations to the winners!

After scientific modeling and analysis of how the stay-at-home efforts of all Coloradans have impacted the spread of the virus, new guidance is beginning to roll out from the state.

Governor Polis released an executive order yesterday evening requiring employees of Colorado’s critical businesses to wear a cloth cover* or medical mask over their nose and mouth while at work.

The 2020 Hawk Tank Business Plan Competition hosted by SOBA and Alumni Engagement will conclude via Zoom on April 18.

FLC has joined the MakerLab at Durango’s Powerhouse Science Center's civic task force of more than 100 volunteers to design and produce protective equipment for local medical professionals.

Local public health officials issued recommendations for individuals to use face coverings when leaving the home for essential travel to the grocery store, doctor, or pharmacy.

As necessary precautions are being taken at the College in response to the coronavirus, many students are suddenly facing a different set of challenges, including the inability to secure housing, afford basic needs, find access to resources for online learning, and more. The Skyhawk Emergency Fund is filling those gaps.

The bill increases the size of the board from seven Governor-appointed members to nine, and adds a requirement that at least one trustee be an enrolled member of a federally recognized Native American tribe.

In March, FLC celebrated women leaders on campus. They shared stories of the women who have inspired them and what they hope for the future.

Even though we’re not together, our community is still connected. In this historic moment, FLC staff, faculty, administration, and their children and pets welcome our students back for an unforgettable end to the Spring 2020 term.

The Center for Innovation houses business startup consultants and acceleration assistance, offering entrepreneurs wraparound services from one location on Main Avenue.

Political Science majors are teaching local high school students how to register to vote, and FLC now has its own on-campus ballot box and voting center.

Ski-Soak-Ramen-Repeat was the itinerary on two recent Outdoor Pursuits trips to Japan for FLC students, alumni, and staff.

1980 Class President Ray Boucher talks about life at the Fort in the Seventies, bed racing, his professors and the importance of conviction.

The School of Education recognized two graduates and one student from the Teacher Education program with the Southwest Rural Make a Difference Teacher Award.

The annual Durango Chamber of Commerce Durango Rocks ceremony awarded FLC Trustee Ellen Roberts Citizen of the Year and Luke Prince (Marketing, '14) Young Professional of the Year.

Representative Barbara McLachlan sponsored a bill that would increase the size of the FLC Board of Trustees from seven to nine members, specifically adding spots for additional local Trustees and a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe.

An alpine flower is helping Heidi Steltzer, professor of Environment and Sustainability, determine the availability of water to the rest of the world as the climate warms.

Hearts raced as the FLC Exercise Science faculty and staff led lactate threshold testing for the Durango Nordic Ski Club. The tests help athletes train and recover more effectively.

The Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs was one of 10 organizations chosen for a national initiative on rural economic development. SCAPE is housed under FLC's new Center for Innovation in downtown Durango.

Three FLC undergraduate students are now published authors in the journal RNA for their research conducted through the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department.

Professor of Environment and Sustainability Heidi Steltzer testified on the importance of climate science and action at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

The Environmental, Social, Governance policy will move Fort Lewis College toward more sustainable investing.

Governor Polis appointed Mapel as a Trustee in December. The Colorado State Senate will vote on her confirmation in the 2020 legislative session.

Campus and community members gathered in honor of the Civil Rights Movement leader, with activities organized under the theme "Because He Had a Dream We Can..."

The Center of Southwest Studies, founded in 1964 as the first research center in the U.S. to focus exclusively on the Southwest, is looking at how its records and mission can be more accessible to community members and the students of FLC.

FLC was ranked fourth in the state of Colorado in a study released by LendEDU that looks at the best colleges in the nation for financial aid.

After struggling with drug addiction and serving time in jail, Jamie Matthews (Accounting, '15) enrolled back in school and turned her life around. She was one of four people to receive pardons from Governor Polis in December.

Callie Morris (Journalism & Multimedia Studies, '19) produced a video feature story on a local baker as part of a student project with Rocky Mountain PBS. The segment aired on Arts District and can be viewed online.

Shirena Trujillo Long (Spanish and English, '00), longstanding student mentor and program coordinator of El Centro de Muchos Colores for 15 years, was profiled in the Durango Herald.

The School of Business Administration and partners held the annual Southwest Economic Summit on campus last week, where economists forecasted the trends expected for Colorado and the Southwest in 2020.

Graduates and their families and friends celebrated with FLC faculty and staff on Friday, December 20, with Colorado Senator Rhonda Fields as commencement speaker.

Principal Leadership is the second online graduate program from the School of Education.

Tom Stritikus, president of Fort Lewis College, and Carrie Besnette Hauser, president of Colorado Mountain College, were elected to the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities.

Surrounded by boxes and papers in the archives of the Center of Southwest Studies, History students are preparing records important to both U.S. and Colorado history for use by future researchers, historians, and students.

Three FLC students received the Seek Your Adventure award from Outdoor Pursuits to help them pull off the ultimate backcountry expedition.

Jill Coons received the Silver Torch Award for her career in auxiliary services and years of service in NACAS.

Fort Lewis College Winter Commencement will take place Friday, December 20 in Whalen Gymnasium at 3 p.m.

Fort Lewis College will now match students' scholarships from civic organizations in southwest Colorado with a one-time award of $500.

In September 2019, FLC was privileged to capture a rare conversation with the legendary actress Angela Lansbury. From "Murder, She Wrote" to "Beauty and the Beast," Lansbury's 70 + years of experience in film and theatre are explored in conversation with her niece, Felicia Lansbury Meyer, who teaches in the Department of Theatre.

It’s the perfect match for Colorado’s work hard, play hard lifestyle: FLC's location the new Certificate in Ski Resort Operations.

Check out FLC's First Year Launch programs at Purgatory resort, only a half-hour drive from campus. Purgatory is a repository of geologic and biologic gems to be discovered. 

The exhibition titled “Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health & Illness” will be displayed until January 15, 2020.

The annual event that brings national theatrical talent to town also gives students a way to spend their summers helping run a festival. 

Fort Lewis College remembers Bob Dolphin, former president, vice president, and dean, who passed away Oct. 19.

Fort Lewis College joined this “friend of the court” brief to demonstrate our unwavering support for our DACA and immigrant students. 

Oct. 11 was also proclaimed as Dr. Bob Dolphin Jr. Day, to honor his years of service to the College.

A local businessman and his family look to support generations of Fort Lewis College students through donation.

Fort Lewis College makes commitment to cover the cost of tuition for eligible Colorado residents with new grant.

Some topics demand learners be willing to cross borders, both literally and figuratively, to really grasp the issues involved. Northward migration toward and into the United States is just such a topic.

Associate Professor Beth Dorman is a recognized scholar and thought leader in teacher education.

The pledge program aligns with FLC's Common Ground in encouraging the community to model civil behavior and tone, and respect others. 

The center will be a collaborative of campus and community water research, education, and information.

A Durango-based nonprofit uses both a social system from the past and student talents from the present to make it affordable for Four Corners-area homeowners to add solar power systems to their homes. 

Environmental Studies students are learning about wetland ecosystems and the laws protecting them by helping restore a damaged alpine wetland. 

Fort Lewis College wins national competition, bringing millions in from Entangled Solutions, an innovation and strategy consultancy for education.

Navigating the technical side of student life just got easier on the Fort Lewis College campus.

Check out one of FLC's broadcast commercials for the fall of 2019!

FLC’s lab is one of four academic labs in the nation conducting liquid sodium research, running experiments critical to the future of nuclear power and producing the industry’s next engineers.

September 2 was the first day of classes for FLC and for 24 new faculty.

FLC's 2019 Fall Welcome video! President Stritikus waxes poetic on the nature of Skyhawk skill levels and finds a new one of his own (with Skyler's help of course!)

In a remote Colorado valley, Anthropology students uncover ancient residents and modern thieves.

Major gifts to student grants and capital projects helped the Foundation set a school record gift total.

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Jared Beeton presented his research on climate change at the quadrennial meeting of the International Quaternary Congress, in Dublin, Ireland, in July.

FLC was named to the 2019–2020 list of Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students by Winds of Change, the journal of the American Indian Science & Engineering Society.

Four students in the new student group Indigenous Society of Psychologists and a Psychology faculty member attended the Society of Indian Psychologists national retreat and conference in June at Utah State University.

Brandon Castle (Anthropology, '19), a tour guide at the Totem Heritage Center, in Ketchikan, Alaska, is the 2019 recipient of the $5,000 Patricia Roppel Scholarship from the Tongass Historical Society.

Marine veteran, speaker, stand-up comedian, writer. activist, and tribal official for the Santo Domingo Pueblo, Ricardo Caté (Education, ’06)  is the most prominent Native American cartoonist working today,

A new partnership between FLC and the University of Colorado Denver lets aspiring historians complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public History in just five years. 

In the first two quarters of 2019, 15 faculty and staff received grants for their programs and departments, ranging in size from $250 to $83,000.

FLC placed in the top 100 of Great Value Colleges' ranking of the "Most Affordable Small Colleges West of the Mississippi."

School of Business Administration Dean Steve Elias has been named Vice Chair of the AACSB Small School Network for 2019-2020.

When Assistant Professor of Management Carma Claw started teaching at FLC this summer, she became the first Navajo business professor in the country.

Shane Seibel (Business Management, '13) was named executive director of the Southern Ute Growth Fund, which operates and manages the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s businesses and business investments.
 

The most winningest coach in men’s soccer history and ’05 National Champions team were inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame on July 12. FLC women’s golf were also recognized at the ceremony, winning the 2018-19 Brechler Award for the top women’s golf grade point average in the conference.

The formal paths make it easier for PCC students with an associate degree to transfer into the same academic program at FLC and pursue a four-year degree.

The second iteration of FLC's collaborative partnership with Durango Playfest happens in August. Join hosts Dan Lauria and Wendie Malick for the Southwest's most innovative theatre arts festival. 

For more information, see www.durangoplayfest.org

Nearly 400 students were named to Fort Lewis College's Dean's List for the Spring 2019 semester. These students took at least 15 credits of gradable hours and achieved a 3.60 or higher grade point average.

For Joshua Been (Art, '99), a career in art has been an art unto itself. 

A bill signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis extends state financial assistance to undocumented students living in Colorado.

Elementary schoolers are learning how to identify physical characteristics of people from simulated human remains through a program at Durango's Powerhouse Museum designed by Anthropology students.

Harris’ gift funds programming and scholarships for several athletic teams and student organizations.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Callie Cole received a $20,000 Primarily Undergraduate Institution grant from the American Society for Mass Spectrometry to support undergraduate research.

Durango is #1 on Livability.com's list of "Best Home Base Cities for Adventure Enthusiasts."

A team of engineering students competed in the First Nations Launch competition at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area, in Wisconsin.

Professor of History Andrew Gulliford's book The Woolly West: Colorado’s Hidden History of Sheepscapes won the 2019 Colorado Book Award for History.

The FLC Forever Loyalty Debit Card launched on June 4 and will help fund grants available through the FLC Foundation.

Mayor, distiller, and outdoorsman P. T. Wood embraces the mountain-town spirit in his living, working, and politicking.

Walter Dear’s generous gift will help students persist in their education by providing funds for small outstanding balances and in-semester emergencies.

The reasons for the resurgence of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua is the topic of an essay in The Conversation by Associate Professor of Sociology Benjamin Waddell. 

Five students braved cool, wet spring weather and mud to volunteer their time with San Juan Mountains Association and BLM staff to plant native trees and shrubs along the Dolores River.

Professor of Biology Cynthia Dott was interviewed by KSJD about the effects of high water releases from McPhee Reservoir on riparian health on the Dolores River.

Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies Keri Brandt and Professor of Sociology Janine Fitzgerald, both ranchers, discussed “zombie agriculture," which raises food from dead soil, on the Radio Cafe's "Down to Earth" podcast.

What are those state-required general education classes good for, anyway? Starting this fall, Fort Lewis College students will be able to find out – and earn a valuable credential at the same time.

The FLC Mathematics Department hosted the Mathematical Association of America, Rocky Mountain Section Meeting April 5 & 6.

Three ceremonies were held for graduates and their families and friends, with commencement speakers FLC alumna Jennifer Trujillo and Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera.

Every year, Fort Lewis College seniors create individual or collaborative projects that operate as proof of learning. In this new film from FLC Marketing and Communications, we have a look at four completely different senior projects.

Associate Professor of Biology Heidi Steltzer has been selected to author a section of an upcoming special report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on climate change in high mountain areas.

President Tom Stritikus announced Brandon Leimbach as the new FLC Athletic Director.

President Tom Stritikus has announced Cheryl Nixon as Fort Lewis College’s new provost.

Three donors were honored for their contributions to the new student-friendly spaces.

Six awardees were chosen for their excellence in the classroom and exemplary service to Fort Lewis College.

This year's Boston Marathon included two FLCers: Associate Professor of Biology Steven Fenster and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Matthew Welz, who finished with times of 2:55:45 and 3:09:27.

A portfolio by Design major and Marketing & Communications intern Christina Lopez that included a brochure promoting FLC's Graduate Studies programs took Best in Show at the AIGA Student & Young Professionals Portfolio Review in Colorado Springs.

This year's Sustainability Initiative Grant awards will improve recycling efforts in student housing, farming practices at the Old Fort, and replace the yellow plastic bags for prospective students with compostable bags.

FLC's ongoing profile series about the students that make us great! In this episode, Japanese exchange student Rinna Azuma shows us how she spends her day.

Cyclist Sarah Sturm (Art, '12) won the pro women's criterium road race at the Sea Otter Bicycle Classic, in Salinas, California.

Long-distance runner Megan Finnesy (Psychology and Exercise Science, '92) was profiled by irunfar.com for her ultra running competition and work, and for founding the 62-mile Silverton Ultra Marathon, which launches this year.

Assistant Professor of English Stacey Sotosky and several of her students helped produce a Rocky Mountain PBS documentary about former Colorado Congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Runner's World featured a story about research by Assistant Professor of Geosciences Mickey Campbell that analyzes crowd-sourced information from Strava users to develop ways to better direct firefighters in the field toward safer evacuation routes.

A collaboration between the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department and Durango’s Powerhouse Science Center gives local children hands-on science explorations and undergraduate scientists teaching experience.

The program brings back alumni to participate in classes, informal discussions, and connect with students and their department for a two-day celebration in conjunction with the Symposium.

The annual event hosted by FLC’s School of Business Administration and Alumni Engagement Office had 19 teams submit business plans.

About 480 students will graduate in three ceremonies, addressed by speakers FLC alumna Jennifer Trujillo on Friday and Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera on Saturday.

Nine students presented at the Rocky Mountain Section of the Geological Society of America meeting, in Manhattan, Kansas, in March. Senior Geology major Connor Broaddus won best poster presentation.

Smoking and vaping were prohibited at FLC beginning January 1 and to help educate campus, 26 public health students have been busy this semester creating campaigns around the policy and the positive health benefits of smoke- and vape-free environments.

FLC was named a "Hidden Gem of the Southwest" by the Online Schools Center for having "passionate and dedicated students" while being "off the beaten path."

Former ASFLC President Connor Cafferty (Business Administration, '17) was recently elected president of the Student Bar Association at the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law.

Assistant Professor of Geosciences Jon Harvey's reasearch on a rockslide north of Durango is helping officials and residents deal with the ongoing geologic problem.

Renowned ragtime pianist Adam Swanson (Music, '14) is now playing live scores to weekly silent films at Durango's Henry Strater Theatre, in addition to his regular performances at the Diamond Belle Saloon.

Shane Benjamin (English, '99) was promoted to deputy editor at The Durango Herald, overseeing the reporting staff.

Doug Landin (Recreation Administration, '88) was named chief information security officer at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, overseeing the law and lobbying firm’s new security team.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol selected Alyssa (Green) Meyers (Business Administration, '13) as the agency's first-ever Agricultural Safety Program Coordinator, a new program to improve agricultural transportation safety in Wyoming.

FLC and Durango were named a Top 50 Bike Friendly College and Town by Great Value Colleges.

19 Skyhawks riders were named to USA Cycling's Fall 2018 class of Collegiate Academic All-Stars for competing in at least one national championship while maintaining a high academic standing.

Professor of Biology Julie Korb will be spending three weeks of her sabbatical, along with her three children and a small group of volunteers, in Nepal, on a three-week trek to eight villages to work with women and girls on women’s health and economic challenges.

Marissa Molina (Political Science, ’14) was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Metropolitan State University of Denver, making her the first DACA recipient to serve on a state board.

Five faculty members traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, to experience firsthand what life is like among the "migrant caravan" seeking refuge in the United States, a trip that affected them all professionally and personally. 

Fourteen FLC students spent their spring break getting some sun – but rather than soaking it up on a beach, they harnessed it to help power a remote community on the Navajo Nation in central New Mexico.

Fort Lewis College is launching a reciprocal program with San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, in Fall 2019, for transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.

FLC was ranked #3 among graphic design schools in Colorado for 2019 by Animation Career Review.

Jonny Radding (Sociology, '95) of Durango Organics has teamed up with Matt Vincent (ATT '91-'95) of Ska Brewing to create Oh Hi Beverages, a line of THC-infused sparkling seltzers.

Professor of Anthropology Kathy Fine-Dare and Board of Trustees member Ernest House, Jr., were interviewed for a Colorado Sun story about the impact of the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act.

Professor of Engineering Laurie Williams discussed her experiences and the future of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in The Durango Herald.

Assistant Professor of Political Science Ruth Alminas published an editorial explaining the legal rights of asylum seekers seeking refuge in the United States.

Artist Tracy Weil (English, '88) was profiled in Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine for using his art to build community.

Don Roberts (Business Administration, '89) talked about Wellness Toolbox, his guide to health and fitness based on his experiences as a personal trainer, nutritional coach, weight management consultant, bodybuilder, and gym owner.

Steve Schwartz, vice president for finance & administration, was interviewed for a story in The Colorado Sun about the unique challenges facing higher education in Colorado.

Professor Emerita of Music Linda Mack Berven, artistic director and conductor of the Durango Choral Society, was named as a judge for the 4th annual Durango Voice singing competition.

The Durango Herald profiled Gender & Sexuality Resource Center Coordinator Nancy Stoffer, telling the story of how she got to FLC and her work helping its diverse student body feel confident and comfortable.

The FLC Marketing & Communications Department won three gold and one silver from the 2018 Collegiate Advertising Awards for excellence in higher education marketing.

Beginning Fall 2019, the new First Year Launch program will boost student success by sparking new students’ intellectual curiosity while growing a sense of belonging and community.

The Theatre Department took 18 students to Los Angeles for The Kennedy Center American College Theater Regional Festival.

Outside magazine featured a video looking at graduate student Anna Ortega (Biology, '14) and her team at the University of Wyoming, who are doing National Science Foundation-funded field research on mule deer migration.

The FLC School of Education welcomed teachers, education officials, and administrators representing more than a dozen public, charter, and private schools in the Four Corners area for students to learn about models of schooling unique to this region. 

Professor of History Andrew Gulliford's book The Woolly West: Colorado’s Hidden History of Sheepscapes was chosen as the Outstanding Nonfiction category winner for the 2019 Western Heritage Awards, from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Richard Julian Martinez III (Sociology & Human Services, '05) was named a fellow in the 18-month Community Leadership Network program by the Center for Creative Leadership and W.K. Kellogg Foundation for his gift of bringing people together.

Ben Burkett (Business Administration, '02) just started a new job as finance director for the town of Cortez, Colorado.

Environmental Studies major Kashia Caljesuseso has been accepted to Global Sustainability Scholars, a highly selective paid, three-year summer experiential learning program held at sites located in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Professor of History Andy Gulliford talked with Carbondale's KDNK public radio about the time Teddy Roosevelt spent in western Colorado on the centennial of the 26th U.S. president's death.[AUDIO]

Mike Boone (Exercise Science, '05) is now the program director of Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Associate Professor of Sociology Ben Waddell published an article in the journal Rural Sociology about discriminatory lending against Hispanic farmers and ranchers in the San Luis Valley, based on fieldwork with undergraduate students in and around Alamosa, Colorado.

The strategic plan for Fort Lewis College was adopted on Friday after a unanimous vote of approval from the Board of Trustees.

Lopez comes with expertise in Colorado public education and systems change for equitable access to academic success.

Check out FLC's new advertisement made specifically for the 2019 XGames held in Aspen, Colorado! Let us know what you think in the comments!

Seth Damon (American Indian Studies and Anthropology, '08) was named to a two-year term as speaker of the Navajo Nation Council in January.

More than 400 students were named to Fort Lewis College's Dean's List for the Fall 2018 semester. These students took at least 15 credits of gradable hours and achieved a 3.60 or higher grade point average.

Assistant Professor of Engineering Christie Chatterley was quoted in an article in Scientific American about the role of behavioral science in clean water programs.

CXmagazine took an in-depth look at the "lucky" bicycle ridden by Sarah Sturm (Art, '12) when the former Skyhawks cyclist won the 2018 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship women’s singlespeed title in Louisville, Kentucky, in December.

A study by Environmental Studies students found that in downtown Durango last fall only 40% of residences and 30% of businesses with bear-resistant trash cans had the bins properly locked, which is leading to calls for the city to increase enforcement.

The (Cortez) Journal profiled two alumni from different generations who are teaming up to keep rural agriculture alive on a working ranch in southwestern Colorado.

A donor-matching grant funds upgrades to the Community Concert Hall’s sound system, installed over the holiday break and debuting this week.

Rocky Schneider (Exercise Science, '99), a Skyhawks Football Hall of Fame and All-Century Team member, was recently hired as principal of Gering (Nebraska) High School.

Don Roberts (Business Administration, '89) has published Wellness Toolbox, a guide to health and fitness based on his experiences as a personal trainer, nutritional coach, weight management consultant, bodybuilder, and gym owner.

The annual Music in the Mountains classical music festival is moving its performances to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College after 32 years at Purgatory Resort.

Denver's Westword magazine profiled Durango-based jam band Elder Grown -- formed by four FLC alumni when they were students -- as a rising star in the Colorado music scene.

Mark Jastorff, FLC's vice president for Institutional Advancement, earned the 2019 Distinguished Service Award from CASE (Council for Adavncement and Support of Education) District VI during its annual conference for his exemplary professional service and outstanding achievement in higher education.

Myron Lizer (Business Administration, '06) was sworn in as vice president of the Navajo Nation alongside new president Jonathan Nez on January 15 at a ceremony in Window Rock, Arizona.

Two new majors launching Fall 2019 in the School of Business Administration aim to arm graduates with the tactical and technical knowhow needed to enter and succeed in the business world.

Interested in how FLC feeds its students? This video takes you behind the scenes to see how Sodexo, our Dining Services partner, creates the foods that fuel the learning, recycles the waste and finds new sources of local, sustainable produce to serve.

Mountain Capital Partners is providing all first-time, first-year students carrying 12-credit hours with free season passes to Purgatory Resort and Hesperus Ski Area.

It’s been only two years since Sitter Family Hall first opened its doors to students and faculty, but the new facility already has transformed the way physics, engineering, and geology are studied and taught at FLC.

Filmmaker Alexandria Bombach (Business Administration, '08) won the National Board of Review's 2018 "Freedom of Expression" award for her documentary On Her Shoulders, about Nadia Murad, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October.