Commencement Speakers

Congressman Joe Neguse

Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected in 2018, he became the first Black Member of Congress in Colorado history. In 2022, he was elected Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, marking the first time in over 85 years that a Coloradan has served in a senior elected leadership role in the House. He currently serves on the Natural Resources, Judiciary, and Rules Committees, and is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

 

Recognized nationally for his legislative effectiveness, Rep. Neguse introduced over 100 bills in the 117th Congress, with 22 becoming law. He has received several awards for his bipartisan work, including the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Legislative Action Award and recognition from the Center for Effective Lawmaking and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. His legislative priorities include public lands protection, lowering health care costs, and promoting government accountability.

 

Before Congress, Rep. Neguse served in the Colorado Governor’s Cabinet as Executive Director of the state’s consumer protection agency, where he led efforts to combat financial fraud and expand civil rights protections. He previously served on the University of Colorado Board of Regents and is a proud CU Boulder and CU Law alumnus. The son of Eritrean immigrants, he lives in Lafayette, Colorado, with his wife Andrea and their two young children, Natalie and Josh.

Chancellor Joe Garcia

Joe Garcia is the Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System. Prior to his role at CCCS, Garcia served as President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. 

 

From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Lt. Governor of Colorado and as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. During his time as Lt. Governor, Garcia focused on increasing equity in outcomes for all students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and communities of color.

 

Garcia also served as President of Colorado State University-Pueblo from 2006 to 2010 and Pikes Peak State College from 2001 to 2006.