Summary
Description
About Trinidad State College
Established in 1925, Trinidad State College was the first community college in Colorado. With campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa, Colorado, we provide an affordable and accessible education to students in southern Colorado and beyond. Trinidad State offers unique academic programs in fields such as Cosmetology, Nursing and Welding. They also have an Electrical Line Technician program as well as Art, and Technical Theatre in addition to traditional Arts and Sciences classes and a guaranteed transfer program through a partnership with four-year colleges and universities in Colorado. They are also home to one of the first, and by most accounts, the premier Gunsmithing School in the United States.
Visit trinidadstate.edu
Description of Job
Trinidad State College (TSC) seeks a visionary, authentic, and student-centered leader to serve as its next President. TSC is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities through quality educational experiences and lifelong learning throughout southern Colorado and beyond.
TSC has a students first focus, offering the full college experience in a small-town setting. The next president will keep students’ best interests at the forefront while building upon a legacy of academic excellence and deepening the college’s integration with the communities it serves. This includes championing student success initiatives, ensuring accessible pathways to completion, and maintaining a visible, present leadership style that demonstrates genuine care for student outcomes and the TSC employees. The president will champion both internal organizational health and external community partnerships, ensuring that TSC remains a cornerstone institution for high-quality academic, technical, and workforce education and regional prosperity. The selected candidate will be expected to put down roots in the community and become genuinely involved in the fabric of regional life.
The TSC President reports to the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Chancellor with the autonomy to manage their own institution and the benefit of working within a system. The president is the face of the college and leads, recommends, and executes all functions and activities of the college; establishes strategies and measurable goals to increase enrollment and ensure equity in student access and success; and exercises sound judgment in their fiduciary responsibility and use of all the college’s resources. The president will embrace CCCS’s Together We Can philosophy and collaboratively work together with the Chancellor and 12 other college presidents to develop, support and implement system-wide initiatives.
Applicants should have strong evidence of many, if not all, of the following qualifications, skills and attributes:
- A master’s degree from an accredited institution is required
- Demonstrated ability to provide visionary and forward-thinking leadership while remaining accessible and engaged, actively listening, valuing lived experiences, and empowering others to lead with confidence
- Fiscal and budgetary experience in a resource-constrained environment; appreciation of public finance and the realities of enrollment-driven budgets with a commitment to maintaining low tuition costs
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to establish strong, purposeful relationships with diverse communities; capacity to work closely with and earn the respect and trust of stakeholders both internally and externally
- The ability to build trust through transparency and to energize and inspire students, faculty, staff, alumni, advisory board members, and external stakeholders
- Intercultural competence and demonstrated experience advancing an organization that serves diverse constituencies
- A track record of using data to inform decision-making
- Knowledge of current and emerging opportunities, challenges, trends, and strategies in community college and public higher education and the ability to express the value and essential role community colleges play in advancing economic mobility
- Entrepreneurial and innovative skills; proven ability to build and leverage external alliances and to develop strategic fundraising opportunities and workforce development partnerships
- Ability to work within a system, where heads of institutions have autonomy to manage their institutions but work collaboratively under a central system authority with an overarching Board of Directors
A complete Position Profile with additional information about the College and the responsibilities of the position can be found on the TSC Presidential Search page: https://trinidadstate.edu/event/presidential-search.html.
Supplemental Information
APPLICATION PROCESS
For full consideration, applications should be submitted by March 17, 2026.
Candidates should provide the following:
- Letter of interest addressing the experience and qualifications identified in the position profile.
- A curriculum vitae/resume.
Applicants are encouraged to keep their materials to no more than 10 pages. Application materials should be submitted to RPA Inc. at TrinidadPresident@rpainc.org.
RPA Inc. is assisting with this search. Nominators and prospective applicants may contact Isaac Karaffa, Vice President and Senior Consultant, at TrinidadPresident@rpainc.orgfor additional information.
Position Salary and Benefits:
Presidents of colleges within the Colorado Community College System are provided with comprehensive health and life insurance, generous leave and strong retirement plan options. The anticipated salary range for this position is $200,000 – $220,000. Final salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and applicable internal equity.
TSC is an equal opportunity employer and is seeking individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and work environment.
