Student Life Leadership Group
Mike Edmonds
V.P. for Student Life/Dean of Students
719-389-6684
medmonds@coloradocollege.edu
Mike Edmonds has been at Colorado College for the past 21 years. In addition to his role as V.P. for Student Life/Dean of Students, Mike is also a faculty member in the theatre and dance department. Prior to joining the Colorado College administration, he was assistant dean of students and adjunct professor of theatre arts at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Edmonds holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master’s, and Ph.D. from Ole Miss. He has completed a post-graduate institute at Harvard University, and he is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership.
Dean Edmonds is very active with civic and charitable organizations and is a presenter at conferences and meetings both locally and nationally. Also nationally, he is a member of the Lott Institute Trustees at the University of Mississippi (where he was a 1984 inductee into the University’s Graduate Hall of Fame) and treasurer of Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha forensics honorary. Regionally, Mike serves as a member of the Great West American Cancer Society board of directors and was appointed by Governor Bill Owens to serve on the fourth district judicial commission of Colorado.
Dean Edmonds has been honored with a number of awards, including the Educator of the Year Award from the Urban League of the Pikes Peak Region; the national St. George Award from the American Cancer Society; the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forensic League; the Citizen of the Year Award from Omega Psi Phi; the Colorado College Center for Service and Learning Award; the Victor Nelson Cisneros Diversity Award, which was presented at the 2010 Colorado College Honors Convocation; and the 2011 Gresham Riley Award, which recognizes faculty and staff of the College who have made a significant difference to the Colorado College community through outstanding service, commitment and accomplishment.
Locally, he is President of the Board of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Pikes Peak United Way Vice Chair, Chair-elect of the United Way Board and past Chair of both the Memorial Health Systems Board of Trustees, where he opened both Memorial North Hospital and the Memorial Children’s Hospital, and the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport Board. Mike is a Silver Lifetime Member of the NAACP.
Rochelle Mason
Associate Dean of Students
719-389-6800
rmason@coloradocollege.edu
Associate Dean Rochelle Mason has a long association with Colorado College. Prior to her appointment as associate dean, she held the position of director of minority student life for 18 years and director of minority and international students for an additional year. Rochelle earned her B.A. in Drama from Colorado College in 1983 and a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Intercultural Counseling from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 1996. Rochelle has lived in Colorado Springs since 1969 and has been very involved in outreach to the greater community during her years at Colorado College. Her recognitions include a Mentor Award, Service Award and the Nelson-Cisneros Award from Colorado College for commitment to diversity and inclusion; an Urban League Service Award for commitment to the welfare of minority students; recognition from the local chapter of the NAACP for co-sponsoring and hosting the City-Wide Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Colorado College; the NAACP Community Award in Higher Education; Citizen of the Year Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Iota Omicron Lambda Chapter; Honorary Chairperson of the Jolly Jills’ Gala Evening; recognition from the African-American Youth Leadership Conference and selection as one of Colorado Springs’ Emerging Black Leaders of 1994. She also served a 6-year term on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan YMCA and is a member of the American Counseling Association.
John Lauer
Senior Associate Dean of Students/Director of Residential Life
719-389-6618
john.lauer@coloradocollege.edu
John Lauer began work at Colorado College in 2007. He has held multiple positions in higher education over his 20+ year career. Prior to CC, John worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, California State University-Chico, and The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from UW-Madison, a Master of Arts degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Student Development from California State University, Chico, and an MBA from the University of Colorado. John has been active in the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I), serving at both the regional and national level. He is also a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). He and his wife Lily have three teenage children who love Colorado and the great outdoors.
Bruce Coriell
College Chaplain
719-389-6638
Bruce R. Coriell has served as Chaplain of Colorado College since 1988, following stints at Vanderbilt University and DePauw University. He teaches courses for the Religion Department, entitled Wilderness & Spirit (in Alaska), Listening to Country: Learning in Aboriginal Australia, and Shamanism. He is co-founder of Pikes Peak InterReligous Clergy Alliance and Pikes Peak Interfaith Council as well as past president of the national organization, Association of College and University Religious Affairs. When he is not off wandering rivers and mountains, he lives here in Colorado Springs with his partner, Ellie Coriell.
Ryan Hammes
Director of Outdoor Education
719-227-8131
ryan.hammes@coloradocollege.edu
Ryan Hammes began working for The Colorado College as the Director of Outdoor Education in 2012. Previously, he was the coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation Program at Sonoma State University in northern California. He has taught courses in outdoor pedagogy and been published for his work in adventure education and rock climbing. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master of Science degree in Adventure Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. His extensive outdoor certifications include: technical rock climbing, avalanche analysis, backcountry skiing, and wilderness medicine. Ryan is active with the American Mountain Guides Association and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. When he is not out exploring the mountains he enjoys time with his wife Amy at their home in Manitou Springs.
Pat Cunningham
Director of Campus Safety
719-389-6707
pat.cunningham@coloradocollege.edu
Pat came to Colorado College as the director of Campus Safety in July 2012 when long-time director Ron Smith retired. He has 35 years of experience in law enforcement, including three years in the US Army Military Police, a year with the Georgetown University campus police, and 31 years with the Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD). He served as a patrol officer, a shift supervisor, the tactical team commander, the operations captain overseeing the 75 officers in the uniformed patrol division, and the captain over emergency preparedness for VUPD. He has been a police instructor in topics ranging from Non-Violent Crisis Intervention to defensive tactics and firearms to the IACLEA Simulation Based Training for Command Post Personnel. Pat has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He is currently working toward completing his master’s degree through the American Military University. Pat has a wife and three children, all of whom attend college in Tennessee.