Mordecai Brownlee has been named vice president for Denver metro engagement at Colorado State University and executive director of Colorado State University Spur.
In this new role, Dr. Brownlee will chair a new Denver Metro Executive Committee, which will convene senior leaders across CSU to coordinate the university’s Denver-area activities. He will also lead operations for CSU Spur, a new campus where students, families, and local community members can access education and research efforts centered around food, water, health, and sustainability. Dr. Brownlee will assume his new responsibilities on January 1.
“CSU Spur represents the very best of what a modern land-grant university can be – bringing education, research, industry and community together to create opportunity and address real-world challenges,” said Dr. Brownlee. “Spur Start extends that promise by creating a more accessible and affordable pathway for Denver-area students to begin their CSU journey. I am excited to build on that foundation and deepen CSU’s engagement across the Denver Metro region by connecting more learners, employers, community partners and civic leaders to the extraordinary people, programs and research of Colorado State University.”
Currently, Dr. Brownlee is president of the Community College of Aurora in Colorado. Since beginning his presidency in July 2021, the community college has experienced four consecutive years of record enrollment and completions. Dr. Brownlee has overseen the establishment of several new bachelor’s degree pathway programs as well as new workforce education and employer-connected learning partnerships.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Brownlee was vice president for student success at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas. Earlier, he held positions at the University of Charleston in West Virginia, Blinn College District in Texas, and Houston Baptist University.
Dr. Brownlee holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and political science and a master’s degree in human resource management from Houston Baptist University. He earned a doctorate in higher education leadership and administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
