Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has appointed Alamosa resident Donna Griego to the Board of Trustees for Adams State University. She will fill the seat held by Arnold Salazar, whose term expires December 31. Griego was appointed to a three-year term expiring on December 31, 2021. Reappointed to the board for three-year terms expiring December 31, 2021, were trustees Randy Wright and Kathy Rogers, who serves as vice chair.
"We welcome Donna to the board and look forward to her sharing insights gained through her long association with the university and as a community member," said Cleave Simson, chair of the Board of Trustees.
Adams State President Beverlee J. McClure noted, "Donna will bring a unique perspective to the board, since she is both a former employee and an alumna of Adams State."
"I am honored to have been appointed as a Trustee for Adams State University. I am happy to have been given the opportunity to continue my work serving the university and its students," said Griego.
Having spent a lifetime at Adams State University, Griego’s Great Story begins by having lived in Richardson Hall on the campus. Her family lived in a small apartment above the steam plant; this was part of her father’s employment benefit package. Adams was her home and her playground. Ever since, she’s completed many milestones at ASU.
Griego worked at Adams State University for almost 30 years. Her most recent position was as manager for the Online Master’s Plus and Ph.D. Programs in Counselor Education, managing close to 600 students.
She has extensive experience working in the academic arena with department chairs, deans, and vice presidents in promoting the academic mission of the institution. She was the executive assistant to the senior vice president and provost for 18 years. A few of her duties included managing campus mission-critical initiatives and special projects, as well as designing and evaluating operational processes for the efficient delivery of program services. She also taught the Academic Achievement Strategies freshman experience course.
In 2013, Griego was elected to the Colorado Humanities Board of Directors to serve a four-year term. Colorado Humanities’ mission is to inspire the people of Colorado to explore ideas and to appreciate its diverse cultural heritage. Griego has had the honor of being selected as a Fellow and Leader for the Center for Equity in Learning and Teaching, which has rekindled her passion for diversity and equity. Griego was the co-founder of the SLV Blue Star Mothers of America chapter in the San Luis Valley.
Griego received her Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Management from Adams State University, and she was part of the first group to complete the Master of Arts degree in Higher Education, Administration and Leadership (HEAL). She is a first generation Latina, non-traditional student, and a native of Alamosa, Colorado. Donna and her husband, Joe, have four children, two grandsons, and three granddaughters.
