ºÚÁϳԹÏ

Ed Casias '87   
Dillon, CO
President-Elect 
Governance Committee Chair

Ed is a first-generation college student who feels fortunate to have attended ºÚÁϳԹÏ. At CC, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, the baseball team, and the Business and Economics Student Advisory Board. After graduating, he attended The Council on Legal Education Opportunities (CLEO) program at the University of Arizona College of Law before attending The Ohio State University College of Law. Upon graduation and passing the Colorado Bar exam, he worked for a civil law firm in Denver, then as a prosecutor in the 4th, 9th, and 5th Judicial District Attorney's Offices. Along the way, he was lucky enough to meet his wife and start a family. They have two boys and feel blessed to enjoy the Colorado mountain lifestyle. Since 2000 he has been a Summit County Court judge. He is a trustee on The Summit Foundation Board, a policy council member for Summit County Head Start, treasurer for the Summit Lake Dillon Optimist club, and a lacrosse coach for the Summit Stix lacrosse program. He assists CC by locating highly qualified students from non-traditional backgrounds and from rural areas of Colorado.

Dan Cooper '66 P'96 and Beth Cooper '66 P'96
50 Year Club Co-Presidents

Dan and Beth were classmates at CC in the class of 1966, engaged in May of that year, and married in December, 1966. They spent three years in Berlin, Germany while Dan served in the Air Force, arriving only six years after the wall went up. Daughter Julie was born there. Son, Clay (Class of '96,) was born after they returned to the States. The Coopers lived in the St. Louis area until Clay's senior year in high school, when they were transferred to Brussels. After returning from Brussels, Dan worked in the academic health care field in St. Louis and Philadelphia. They returned to Colorado in 2008, moving to Buena Vista where they started COOPER LLC, their real estate company, which is still active today. In 2020 they moved closer to campus, now living in the Kissing Camels area and enjoying all that CC has to offer, particularly a nationally ranked hockey team.In addition, Beth and Dan continue their international travels, real estate in Chaffee County, and volunteering for Silver Key Senior Services.

Beth and Dan have been active in the affairs of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï since the mid-1970s. In 1995, Dan was asked to join the CC Board of Trustees as a Charter Trustee and now continues as a Trustee Emeritus. They are pleased that they have been able to establish two endowments, The Bethany Anneberg Cooper Endowment in Art History (income provides funds for seniors to go on the annual New York City art trip), and the Marie Coleman Cooper '26 Scholarship for legacy students.
 

Elliott Williams '21
Denver, CO
Scholarship Committee Chair
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee

Elliott Williams came to CC from his small hometown of Norwich, Vermont. He majored in political science and wrote his thesis on the possibility of human happiness in modern society. His fondest CC memories include classroom discussions on justice and free will, cutthroat rugby games and goofiness, participating in Relations the Play, and connecting with CC leadership and alumni through his work as Student Trustee. After completing El Pomar Foundation's Fellowship program in Colorado Springs, Elliott moved to Denver to start Elliott Mitzi Consulting, which supports mission-driven organizations with communications, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. 

Wes Mooney '00
Stevensville, MI
Awards Committee Chair

Wes was a political science major. While at CC, he played football, served as Class of 2000 President, and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduation, Wes worked for Kappa Sigma headquarters for two years, then held a variety of sales and marketing roles with Stanley Black & Decker, Crayola, Whirlpool, and Sun Dolphin Kayaks. He is currently the senior vice president of sales at Kids2, makers of Baby Einstein, Ingenuity, and Bright Starts products for infants, toddlers, and moms. Wes resides in Stevensville, Michigan, with his wife, Shelly, and their kids, Logan (15), Peighton (13), and Carson (10). The Mooneys are planning to relocate to Atlanta, GA in 2020.

Sean Curtis ‘85 
Chappaqua, NY
Scholarship Committee 

Sean was a Physics major at CC and played on the football team for four years. He was senior class president, co-led the student health advisory council and occasionally worked on campus washing dishes. After CC, Sean attended Tufts University School of Medicine where he received a Master of Public Health and a Doctor of Medicine. He trained as an Internist with a subspecialty in Infectious Diseases from Columbia University. Sean works in the pharmaceutical industry today to develop medicines and vaccines that can benefit more patients than he could treat as a physician. He has been married to his wife for 31 years and has two college-age sons.
 

Lynda Duran, Ph.D. '08
Commerce City, CO
Governance Committee
Scholarship Committee

Lynda Duran is a first-generation Chicana MotherScholar and researcher in higher education. She was an El Pomar Scholar at CC where she served as a Public Interest Fellow. She earned a B.A. in psychology from ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï in 2008, a master's in counseling psychology at the University of Colorado Denver in 2012, and a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Denver in 2023. Her research and practices lie in asset-based scholarship that explores institutional and systemic factors that promote or hinder the engagement and inclusion of historically marginalized populations in higher education. Lynda lives in Commerce City with her family and enjoys reading, writing, and playing poker. Her experience at CC has empowered her to advocate for meaningful change through critical dialogue, research, and practice.

Orren Fox ‘20 
Brooklyn, NY 
Awards Committee 
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee

Orren Fox came to CC from Newburyport, Massachusetts in the fall of 2016.  He majored in Economics and was a member of the CC Prison Project, the Conduct Committee, and a captain of the men’s ultimate frisbee team.  Upon graduating in the spring of 2020, he soon moved to New York and began working as a Paralegal at Harry Jho LLC, where he negotiated derivatives agreements.  He later transitioned to Morgan Stanley as an Analyst in the Alternative Investments group.  While not working, Orren can be found road biking, skiing, or in the cockpit working on his pilot’s license.  He is happy to connect with current and former CC students in the New York area and is always willing to help students gain a foothold in financial services, especially at Morgan Stanley.   

Roger Friskey ‘72 
Baltimore, MD
Awards Committee 
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee 

Roger was a Political Science major, was elected to Pi Gamma Mu (the national social science honor society), played on the CC tennis team, participated in the CC music scene, founded the Foster Home coffee house and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity where he served as president for a semester. Roger received his Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He worked as a television reporter in Green Bay, WI, then worked in the field of corporate communications, eventually serving as faculty at the University of Baltimore’s College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communications Design. Roger is a father and grandfather and performs regularly at local music venues. He also enjoys sailing, squash, golf, tennis and, sometimes, pickleball. 

Lisa Hartwell Gardner '90 P'19
Minneapolis, MN
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee

Lisa grew up hearing about ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï from her father, Ken Hartwell '61 and Uncle Ron Hartwell '52, who both played hockey for CC. Lisa met and fell in love with her husband, Anj Gardner '89, while at CC. She was active in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and graduated in 1990 with a degree in theater. After living and working in Boulder, Salt Lake City, and Dallas, they decided to raise their family in Minnesota, where Lisa is from, and have enjoyed living in Edina.

Lisa has been involved in many volunteer opportunities, including the Junior League of Minneapolis, Edina Public Schools, and Colonial Church of Edina. Her passions include traveling, boating, water and snow skiing, as well as attending group fitness classes. She is proud of her three children, Zach, Emily '19, and Abby. It is very special to have a third-generation Tiger (Emily) in the family.

Patrick Gorman '87 P'21
Bethesda, MD
Governance Committee

Patrick Gorman graduated from CC in 1987 with a major in political science and at least a minor in good times. He held executive positions at the Beta House, hosted and participated in campus symposia, and eagerly engaged in community service.

He graduated from the Catholic University School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1991 and continued in community service, developing welfare-to-work opportunities at public housing authorities across the country. In 1999, he founded Gorman & Associates, a public and private sector business development firm in Washington, D.C. Patrick founded the Gunsinger Group, Inc., a Montana-based minerals extraction company focused on restarting operations at historic, former-producing gold mines. Patrick has two boys, Michael (17) and William (15), and lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his brilliant wife, Abigail.

Maria Barsallo Lynch '07
Washington D.C.
Awards Committee

Maria's work has been rooted in seeking systemic change for challenging social issues by leading funding and fundraising strategy in the nonprofit and political arenas. As a Fellow and Program Director at the El Pomar Foundation, Maria coordinated regional programs and served as a regional representative. Maria served as a Colorado Deputy Finance Director for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. After consulting for ºÚÁϳԹÏ, where she coordinated a nationwide alumni re-engagement initiative, Maria joined The Knowledge is Power Program Colorado Schools' team, serving as director of development.

Inspired by her family's humble roots and her experiences as a Panamanian immigrant to the U.S., Maria founded and leads DESDE, a social enterprise that empowers marginalized Latin American artisans by providing them market access and the tools to navigate it. She is an alumna of the International DO School Fellowship and a NextGen Leader for the international FRED Leadership Forum.

She holds a B.A. in political science and history from ºÚÁϳԹÏ. Maria lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Dermot.

Dan Marion '12
Los Angeles, CA
Awards Committee

At CC, Dan was an English major who enjoyed playing intramural sports, leading NSO trips, organizing Shabbat dinners at the Interfaith House, and driving the Safe Ride van for his work study job. He loved his educational experiences, so he dedicated his career to ensuring that others have the same opportunities. After graduating CC in 2012 and getting his Ed.M. in Education Policy and Management, he was a teacher in Colorado, a school administrator in Massachusetts, and a scholarships provider in California. In 2017, Dan reached out to his CC friends and they started a giving circle. Every month, they contribute $75 each, pool their funds, and give to good causes. To date, they have donated nearly $70,000.  

Heather Palmer ‘81 
Middleboro, MA 
Goverance Committee and Alumni and Student Engagement Committee

After four wonderful years at CC where she wrote for the Catalyst and The Colorado Springs Sun, edited Critique, worked at the Fine Arts Center, saw the sunrise from Pike’s Peak eight times, went to every home hockey game, and bought a few hundred books at Poor Richard’s, Heather studied in the UK then received an MA in museum studies and historical editing as a Nourse Foundation Fellow.  She was the Historian at Blair House, The President’s Guest House, for five years, then worked for fifteen years as a Curator or Director at several museum sites before becoming Director of a history press for ten years.  For the last ten years Heather worked full-time as an author producing six history books and one novel.  Lucky for her, CC classes now sometimes read some of the books she wrote and she hs been invited back periodically to teach a block or do a guest turn in a class for a few days, most recently last year. 

Embarking on a diverse journey from ºÚÁϳԹÏ, Sophie graduated with a Biochemistry degree and a minor in French and Music in 2017. While at CC she enjoyed being a part of the Black Student Union, SOMOS, Interfaith, intramural Hockey, among other clubs. After CC, she pursued a Master’s in Molecular Chemistry at Paris Sciences Sorbonne. After that, Sophie ventured into the world of medical research at the NIH in DC. Fascinated by the world of international development, she then served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco until she was evacuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now residing in Jordan, she dedicates her time to English Teaching with Fulbright, and actively engaging in volunteer programs funded by USAID. Passionate about global development, she eagerly contributes to the international community, recognizing the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering positive change. 

Kyle Samuel '92
Washington, DC
Governance Committee

Kyle Samuel graduated from ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï with a degree in economics. At CC he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï football team, and the Black Student Union. Upon graduation, Kyle returned home to Denver, Colorado, where he worked as an underwriter for The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies followed by a long tenure with Aon, plc where he was senior vice president and director of sales in Denver before assuming the same role in Washington, D.C. In 2011, Kyle became managing director of the capital region of Wells Fargo Insurance Services. Kyle is responsible for business development, client service, bank cross-sell, and the overall financial performance of Wells Fargo's insurance operations across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Kyle is a foodie and enjoys travel and playing golf. He is always open to sharing a glass of wine with a fellow Tiger who may be traveling through our nation's capital.

Mark Schlessman '74
Albany, NY
Governance Committee

Mark Schlessman is a member of CC's centennial class of 1974, the class that arrived with the Block Plan. At CC he sang in the college choir, participated in Mountain Club, worked for the SAGA food service, and figured out how to major in biology while his professors were learning how to teach on the Block Plan. After graduation, he earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in botany from the University of Washington, and then joined the faculty of Vassar College, where he taught Biology for 42 years. Both recently retired, Mark and his wife Laura are busy traveling, hiking, cycling, kayaking, and looking after their dogs Loki and JoeJoe. Mark serves on the Board of Albany’s Buckingham Pond Conservancy.

Ben Shellhorn ‘04 
Denver, CO 
Governance Committee
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee
Ben was a theatre major at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï and participated in intercollegiate debate (ranking 11th in the nation!), was an editor of one of the student publications, and directed, acted in, designed and managed student-led theatre workshop productions and theatre department productions, including directing one of the department’s shows his senior year. Ben served as a student-member of the selection committee where Richard Celeste was chosen as President of the college.

After CC, Ben received a Master’s in Media from the New School and then received his JD/MBA at Duke, where he was president of the graduate student body and a young trustee. He is now an attorney at the Denver office of Hogan Lovells. In addition to serving on the CC Alumni Association Council, Ben is the co-chair or the Duke LGBTQ+ Alumni Network board and an active member of Duke’s Colorado alumni board and the Duke Alumni Association board, where he is the co-chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion regional subcommittee.

David Suchman ‘96 
Lee’s Summit, MO
Scholarships
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee
Dave graduated in the Class of 1996 from CC, whose motto was: "no internet, no cell phones, no problem!"  At CC, Dave was a member of the Big Cat swim team, Sigma Chi fraternity, CCCA, Class Officer, and Livesounds Committee.  Upon graduating, he attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry where he graduated with a DDS in 2000.  Following his residency in General Dentistry in 2001, he joined his father's dental practice in Independence, MO, just outside of Kansas City.   

Dave has been heavily involved in the dental community in his over 20 years of private practice, acting as President of the Kansas City Dental Society in 2013, Chairman of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry's Foundation from 2020-2022, and is currently the program planner for the Midwest Dental Conference, Kansas City Dental Society meetings, and the Missouri Dental Association summer conference.  He volunteers his time treating patients from Hope House, a shelter for abused women and their children and also treats medically compromised patients from the Dental Lifeline Network.  In his spare time, Dave enjoys traveling, biking, snow skiing, swimming, going to movies, playing water polo, wake surfing, and watching the KC Royals, KC Chiefs, Sporting KC, and KU Jayhawks.  Dave and his wife Kelly (who is also a dentist) have an 18 year old son named Jacob who is a first year at Davidson College in North Carolina.  Even though Jacob chose Davidson over CC, Dave still loves him! 

Sarah Lee Winstead '08
Minneapolis, MN
Alumni and Student Engagement Committee
Scholarship Committee

Sarah brings a rich and varied background to her volunteer work, including skills and experience in relationship cultivation, project management, editorial writing, and event planning/execution.

After studying theater at CC, Sarah earned a M.S. in marriage and family therapy from Northwestern University and spent several years at a nonprofit psychotherapy practice in Oakland. In 2012, Sarah launched a Bay Area-focused fashion blog before becoming an editor at 7x7 Magazine. Sarah works at Grow Marketing, an experiential/events marketing agency in North Beach.

Sarah serves as social media and events chair for ArtPoint, a young professional arm of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She is a board member of Haight Ashbury Psychological Services, and had hosted fundraisers for Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

When not working or volunteering, Sarah takes advantage of all that the Bay Area has to offer, whether it's hiking in Point Reyes, swimming in the bay, or visiting family. Sarah lives with her husband James and a large collection of Stephen King novels.

Jeffrey Zager ‘10  
Nashville, TN  
Nomations Awards Committee
Scholarships Committee

 At CC, Jeffrey was an Economics major and an English minor, but (like any liberal arts student) he enjoyed taking a variety of classes beyond those fields - Forest Ecology of the Colorado Front Range comes to mind as a particular favorite. Outside of the classroom, Jeffrey served as President of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and President of the Interfraternity Council. He also served on the student conduct committee and was one of two students selected to be part of the Dean of Students Search Committee.   

Following graduation from CC, Jeffrey returned to his hometown of Nashville to attend Vanderbilt Law School, graduating with his JD in 2013. After law school, he spent two years as a judicial law clerk for two different judges before joining the law firm of Neal & Harwell in Nashville where he is now a partner.