Dr. Donna Lynne, Colorado Lieutenant Governor and Chief Operating Office, will give the undergraduate commencement address at Adams State University in Alamosa on May 13, 2017. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Plachy Hall. Adams State will award 314 degrees, including 252 bachelor’s degrees, and 62 associate degrees.
Lynne was sworn in as Colorado’s 49th Lieutenant Governor and Chief Operating Officer on May 12, 2016.
Prior to assuming her roles in Colorado state government, Lynne served as the executive vice president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and as group president responsible for its Colorado, Pacific Northwest and Hawaii regions. She oversaw an $8 billion budget, 1.4 million members, and 16,000 employees.
She is recognized as one of the top women business leaders in Denver and one of the top 25 Women in Healthcare in the nation. Lynne also spent 20 years working in various positions in New York City government, including First Deputy Commissioner at the Office of Labor Relations, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, and Senior Vice President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from University of New Hampshire, a Masters of Public Administration from George Washington University, and a Doctor of Public Health from Columbia University. In 2014, Lynne received an honorary doctorate of public service from the University of Denver.
Lynne resides in Denver with her husband and enjoys such activities as climbing all of Colorado’s fourteeners, participating in Ride the Rockies, and going on ski challenges around the world. Lynne has three children and two stepchildren.
Dr. Ed Lyell, professor of business will receive recognition as emeritus professor. Arnold Salazar, chair of the Adams State Board of Trustees, will convey the greetings from the board, while Gloria S. Quintana will deliver the 2017 class message. Dr. Matthew Valverde, assistant professor of music, will lead the singing of the Alma Mater.
Family and friends unable to physically attend the commencement ceremony can stream the program live on their computer.
