2020 District 4 Pacesetter
Dr. Lance Bolton
President
Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs, CO
Dr. Lance Bolton has positioned Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) as not just the most affordable choice in the Colorado Springs region but also the most equitable, the most supportive and the most accessible.
The hallmark of these efforts is the Dakota Promise, a program that offers free tuition and academic support for graduates from the state's most economically challenged school district. Dr. Bolton independently sought out funding to make schooling a reality for those students, and he continually looks for ways to break down obstacles to PPCC students’ success. He provides funding to maintain a food pantry on campus, and he keeps relationships with local resources to support students with food, housing and transportation insecurity.
As the pandemic negatively impacted the college and its sister colleges, PPCC took a leadership role in developing an innovative, collaborative, statewide marketing effort that has mitigated enrollment losses heading into the fall semesters. He speaks with state legislators on behalf of the community college system to ensure continued funding and support for the college and its degree programs.
After George Floyd’s death, many college presidents wrestled with how to respond. Dr. Bolton had no ambivalence, and he insisted the college not release some corporate-sounding, measured response. Instead, he wrote an email to the campus community about why he was marching in the local Black Lives Matter demonstrations and how this reflected the college’s values of inclusion, diversity and anti-racism. He was soon on most of the local news outlets, and, although there was some push back, the vast majority of the community's response was positive.
Dr. Bolton is one of the PPCC marketing team’s strongest supporters. One way he shows this is by regularly sending marketing representatives to NCMPR conferences, covering all expenses. Two years ago, he sent the entire marketing team to the national conference.
“He listens to our ideas, provides funding and is enthusiastic about our campaigns and materials,” says Warren Epstein, PPCC’s executive director of marketing and communication. “He frequently shares his gratitude and praise with our team, creating great morale. He trusts our expertise and doesn’t micromanage.”