Community College of Aurora president gets his steps in to raise money for students
Community College of Aurora President Mordecai Brownlee walked roughly a marathon a day over three days this week, all for his students.
He trekked the High Line Canal’s 71 miles from Monday to Wednesday to raise at least $40,000. The donations he secured, which the school’s foundation is still tallying, will help provide emergency aid for his students to pay for rent, food, or transportation.
Read this story written by Jason Gonzales with Chalkbeat Colorado by clicking here.
Miles with Mordecai, Day Three: Crossing the Finish Line for Our Students (Day 3)
On October 21, we crossed the finish line of Miles with Mordecai, completing 71 miles along the High Line Canal Trail over three days in support of Community College of Aurora students.
Every mile carried a purpose: raising funds for students experiencing housing, food, and transportation insecurity. Their determination to pursue an education inspired this journey and kept me moving through the final steps.
A special thank-you to Wagner Equipment, our Community Momentum Sponsor, for the wonderful cookout lunch, encouragement, and continued partnership with CCA. To everyone who walked alongside us, donated, cheered us on, or shared our message—thank you for showing up for our students.
These photos capture the joy, exhaustion, and gratitude of reaching the finish line together. I finished this walk with tired feet and a full heart.
The walk is complete, and the opportunity to make a difference continues. Help us reach our $40,000 fundraising goal at ccaurora.edu/miles. ❤️🦊
All photos by Zach Mills.
Miles with Mordecai, Day Two: Moving Forward Together (Day 2)
Day two of Miles with Mordecai brought another 26.2 miles along the High Line Canal Trail—and more reminders of the community standing behind our Community College of Aurora students.
Thank you to Ethan Sewald from the Aurora Economic Development Council, Suzanna Fry Jones from the High Line Canal Conservancy, and Mary Sarah Schweiger from UMB Bank for walking alongside me. Their presence brought encouragement and energy as the miles added up.
We also welcomed CCA student Mady Osborne, a Presidential Scholar and NASA Space Grant Scholar. Having students join this journey made its purpose even more meaningful: raising funds to support students experiencing housing, food, and transportation insecurity.
I’m grateful to every donor, sponsor, and supporter helping us move toward our $40,000 fundraising goal. Every gift helps students overcome barriers and keep pursuing their education.
Enjoy these moments from day two, and support our students at www.ccaurora.edu/miles.
All photos by Zach Mills.
Miles with Mordecai, Day One: Every Step Has a Purpose (Day 1)
On October 19, we began a three-day journey along the High Line Canal Trail with one purpose: supporting Community College of Aurora students experiencing housing, food, and transportation insecurity.
Day one brought encouragement, community support, and meaningful reminders of why this work matters. Thank you to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce for coming out to cheer us on! A surprise visit from Emmanuel Saka, a CCA Presidential Scholar, Dream Scholar, and Computer Science major, made the day especially meaningful. Seeing him on the trail reminded me of the students whose futures inspire every step.
Our goal: walk all 71 miles and raise $40,000 to help students meet essential needs and continue their education. I’m grateful to everyone who walked alongside us, donated, shared our message, or offered encouragement.
These photos capture the beginning of a journey rooted in community and a shared commitment to our students.
Support the campaign at www.ccaurora.edu/miles.
All photos by Zach Mills.
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee to Deliver Keynote at NAHSE Greater Denver Scholarship Gala
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee will deliver the keynote address at NAHSE Greater Denver’s 2026 Caregivers of Tomorrow Scholarship Gala on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Hosted by the Greater Denver Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives, the gala will bring together members, friends, and supporters to celebrate emerging leaders and invest in the future of healthcare through scholarships.
Dr. Brownlee’s keynote will focus on purpose, pathways, and the future of leadership—topics closely connected to his commitment to expanding educational opportunity and empowering others to serve their communities.
The masquerade-themed evening will feature live violin music from Iman Taylor during cocktail hour and dinner, with SugaBear of Rocky Mountain PBS, home of 89.3 KUVO Jazz and THE DROP 104.7, curating the sound throughout the celebration. Guests are encouraged to wear masks.
Community members and organizations are invited to participate in an evening that celebrates achievement while helping create opportunities for tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.
Purchase tickets to the gala.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact nahsegreaterdenver@gmail.com.
A Thank-You Our Family Will Always Treasure
On October 16, my family and I received the Dr. Gwen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award from John Bailey and the Colorado Black Roundtable. It was a deeply meaningful evening, and I want to share why.
As my service as President of the Community College of Aurora approaches its close, I have been humbled by the kindness and gratitude extended to me. Having members of Colorado’s African American community come together to offer their own thank-you touched my heart. Their recognition reminded me how much it means to serve within a community that cares about the work and the people behind it.
What made the evening especially meaningful was that my family was honored alongside me.
Daphne, Mordecai Jr., and Lauren have shared in this journey every step of the way. They have given their time, made sacrifices, and supported me through responsibilities that often extend well beyond the workday. Their love has made my service possible, and I am grateful that this moment recognized them, too.
Thank you to John Bailey and the Colorado Black Roundtable for this honor and for embracing our family with such warmth. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged us throughout this chapter.
I left the evening with a full heart and a renewed sense of responsibility to keep serving. Our family will always treasure this expression of love.
-Dr. Mordecai
A Moment of Gratitude: Dr. Mordecai Brownlee Reflects on His Final In-Person State Board Meeting
A heart full of gratitude. A season I will always carry with me. 🦊❤️
Today was my final in-person State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education meeting as President of the Community College of Aurora. Serving this college, our State Board, and the Colorado Community College System has been an extraordinary honor for my family and me.
Alongside our dedicated CCA faculty, staff, and foundation:
✨ Five years of record enrollment.
🎓 Four years of record student completion.
💰 Multi-year record-breaking fundraising.
🤝 Progress toward more equitable student outcomes.
❤️ Continued work to strengthen social service supports for our students.
Behind those accomplishments are people whose lives and futures remind us why we serve. Thank you to everyone who has poured into this college and its students.
May we use every season of our lives to better the lives of others. May the doors we help open stay open for those who follow. And may the work at CCA continue for generations to come.
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee Receives 2026 Equity Champions Legacy Award
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, president of the Community College of Aurora (CCA), has received the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s 2026 Equity Champions Legacy Award. Presented by Dr. Tricia Johnson, the honor recognizes Coloradans who have made a lasting difference in advancing equity in higher education across communities and the state.
For Dr. Brownlee, this recognition represents a collective achievement—one shaped by the faculty, staff, students, and partners who make CCA’s commitment to opportunity a daily practice. Their shared work centers on removing barriers, supporting student success, and creating pathways to economic mobility.
In announcing the award, CDHE highlighted a 20% increase in completions during Dr. Brownlee’s tenure and CCA’s distinction as Colorado’s first Achieving the Dream institution. Behind those milestones are students reaching their goals and expanding possibilities for themselves and their families.
This honor celebrates the power of a college community united around a shared purpose. It also reinforces the work ahead: continuing to build systems that help people turn their potential into achievement.
When a community commits to removing barriers, the opportunities it creates can reach generations.
Advancing Mission and Opportunity: Keynoting Wallace Community College Selma’s Fall Strategic Meeting
I had the honor of delivering the keynote address for Wallace Community College Selma’s annual fall strategic meeting, joining educators and leaders committed to strengthening their institution and expanding opportunities for the communities they serve.
Strategic planning is an opportunity to connect institutional purpose with meaningful action. Community colleges bring that purpose to life through decisions that support student success, strengthen workforce pathways, and help individuals and families build brighter futures.
My sincere gratitude to President Dr. Donitha Griffin for the opportunity to partner with her and Wallace Community College Selma. I also extend my appreciation to Heather Brown of Paths for Success Foundation for trusting me to provide support and insights to the institution.
It is a privilege to support institutions as they turn mission into action and possibility into opportunity.
-Dr. Mordecai
CCA Sets 43-Year Enrollment Record with Over 10,700 Students
AURORA, Colo. – The Community College o (opens in a new window)f Aurora (CCA) has set a new all-time student enrollment record, with over 10,700 total students enrolled for the fall 2026 semester. This largest learner population in the college’s 43-year history will likely grow as registration for select courses remains open through late October. The milestone continues a period of enrollment growth following record-setting enrollment in spring 2026 (opens in a new window) and fall 2025.
Each successive semester of growth deepens our responsibility to deliver on the promise that brings students to CCA: an affordable, high-quality education that opens doors for them and their families, said Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, president of CCA. (opens in a new window) Behind this record enrollment are people choosing to pursue a degree, preparing for a new career, or returning to a dream they once put on hold. Our faculty and staff make those possibilities real through their teaching, care, and commitment. We celebrate this milestone with our community while remaining focused on what comes next: helping students persist, graduate, and turn their education into lasting opportunity.
CCA leaders attribute the continued enrollment growth in part to administrative improvements that make the college experience clearer and more predictable for students.
Updated academic course maps provide a more accurate picture of the path to graduation while earlier course scheduling fosters a more stable class structure. Redesigned registration and records processes make graduation and transfers more seamless. These all allow students to better plan their courses around work, family, and other responsibilities. The impact of this work is visible not only in record-breaking enrollment, but also in improved graduation rates that have increased 24% in recent years.
Expanded financial aid options also make CCA a top choice for students. The CCA Foundation (opens in a new window) continues raising record-breaking scholarship funds (opens in a new window) through strong community partnerships and grant opportunities. (opens in a new window) Special incentives like the Momentum Scholarship, (opens in a new window) for example, have more than doubled the number of concurrent enrollment students since last year and provided free tuition to about 120 students this semester.
Financial aid application completion rates are also up. This fall, approximately 73% of students completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) compared with just 54% last year.
Historic enrollment is not simply about bringing more students through our doors. It reflects CCA’s commitment to seeing the whole student and responding to what our community needs, said Clair Collins, CCA Vice President of Enrollment Success and Completion. (opens in a new window) We are removing financial barriers and helping more students recognize that college is within reach. At the same time, we are aligning our programs with the workforce needs of our region so that students earn credentials that lead to strong careers, greater economic mobility, and increased long-term earning potential for their families. That is what enrollment growth should mean for a community.
As enrollment grows, so do the services the college offers students. In 2026, the college opened the Wellness Den, (opens in a new window) Foxy’s Fitness Center, (opens in a new window) and the Fitzsimmons Credit Union Success Station. (opens in a new window) CCA’s work to strengthen student support has also received statewide and national recognition, including:
Recognition as a 2026 Leader College (opens in a new window) by Achieving the Dream
Colorado’s Basic Needs Campus Designation at the Comprehensive Tier (opens in a new window)
The 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award (opens in a new window) and 2026 Community College Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award (opens in a new window) from Insight Into Academia.
As the college grows in student population and notoriety, CCA remains focused on what matters most: ensuring students not only access higher education, but succeed in it. With expanded campuses, workforce-aligned programs, targeted financial support, and wraparound student services, CCA is meeting a critical moment for Colorado’s economy and communities. This record-setting enrollment reflects growing trust in CCA as a college built to serve today’s learners and tomorrow’s workforce.
Dr. Mordecai Named 2026 Changemaker of the Year by "Colorado Youth For A Change"
Last night, I had the honor of receiving the 2026 Changemaker of the Year Award from Colorado Youth For A Change!
Thank you to the organization and its leaders for this meaningful recognition and for helping young people reconnect with education, opportunity, and their own potential.
I proudly share this honor with my Community College of Aurora colleagues. Your commitment to our students makes meaningful change possible every day. Celebrating alongside my family made the evening especially meaningful. Their love and support sustain my commitment to this work.
A young person’s circumstances can never tell the full story of their potential. Together, we have a responsibility to see that potential, remove barriers, and help create opportunities for it to flourish.
-Dr. Mordecai
Brand New Episode of "Discovering Your Mission" Now Available
What does it take for community colleges to remain relevant in a changing world? In this episode of “Discovering Your Mission”, Dr. Mordecai sits down with Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor of San Jacinto College in Texas, to explore how listening to communities, strengthening workforce partnerships, and creating a sense of belonging can expand opportunity.
From her unexpected journey into higher education to her personal mission of helping people advance, Dr. Hellyer shares insights for anyone seeking to lead with purpose. Watch our conversation and consider how your leadership can help others see new possibilities for their future.
Celebrating 20 Years of Marriage
