The Adams State University 2024 Fall Commencement Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in Plachy Hall. Colorado Representative Shannon Bird is the commencement speaker.
Rep. Bird represents House District 29, which includes both the Adams County and Jefferson County portions of the city of Westminster. Originally elected in November of 2018, she is now serving in her fourth term in the General Assembly. Representative Bird is the Vice-Chair of the Joint Budget Committee and Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. She previously served as the Chair of the House Finance Committee and Chair of the Joint Budget Committee. Rep. Bird has also been a member of the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, the Pension Commission, the Pension Review Subcommittee and the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy.
Growing and maintaining a strong state economy, housing affordability and high quality public education are Representative Bird’s three policy priorities. A few examples of her work in these areas include legislation that doubled the state’s annual tax credit for affordable housing, Colorado’s Occupational Credential Portability Program, which allows licensed professionals moving to Colorado to have an easier time transferring their licenses so that they can begin working sooner and the Small Business Recovery Loan Program, which established a $50 million low interest rate loan fund for Colorado small businesses recovering from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic recession.
She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a B.A. in Economics. She later graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver, earning both an MBA and an MS in Finance. Representative Bird completed her education by earning a J.D. at the University of Denver College of Law.
Representative Bird has served her community in numerous ways. She was the citizen chairperson for her school district’s bond and mill levy override campaign; served as board chair of the Five Star Education Foundation and also served on the Westminster City Council just prior to being elected to the Colorado General Assembly. She and her husband David are the proud parents of two children, one who attends CU Boulder and one who attends Adams 12 public schools. Representative Bird also manages a menagerie of cats. In her free time, she is an avid reader, who loves to take long walks with friends and spend time with her family.
During the fall undergraduate commencement ceremony, Adams State will award 266 undergraduate degrees including 28 associates; 45 Bachelor of Arts; 38 Bachelor of Science; and 325 master’s degrees. Duane Bussey will deliver a greeting from the Board of Trustees. Amy Johnson, Ph.D., soprano; Brooke Miller, D.M.A., clarinet, and Anna Hawkins, D.M.A., piano, will perform the special music, Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Op. 129, by Franz Schubert.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed.
