Education Design Lab welcomes innovative ‘giants’ to its board
Wally Boston and Mordecai Brownlee join the board to support the Lab’s mission to innovate more skills-based paths to economic mobility.
Oct. 15, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Education Design Lab, a national nonprofit helping colleges and employers design education toward the future of work, announces two new members who have joined its board of directors:
Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee, President of Community College of Aurora, Colo.
Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee is president of the Community College of Aurora (CCA) in Colorado, which joined the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine in 2022. He previously worked at several public and private higher education institutions, including St. Philip’s College in Texas, the University of Charleston in West Virginia, Blinn College District in Texas, and Houston Baptist University. Brownlee publishes frequently, including in the Community College Daily (published by the American Association of Community Colleges), and he previously served as a columnist for EdSurge, where he wrote about partnering with the Lab to design five behavioral health micro-credential pathways. Brownlee has written over 50 articles on topics involving educational technology, workforce development, and the future of higher education.
Dr. Wallace E. Boston, co-founder, Green Street Impact Partners, and President Emeritus, American Public University System
Dr. Wally Boston has spent more than two decades guiding universities, colleges, and students toward success. In 2022, Boston co-founded Green Street Impact Partners, a private equity fund, investing in edtech startups that can positively impact learners. Boston was appointed President Emeritus of the American Public University System (APUS) after serving as President and CEO for more than 16 years. He is a former member of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which advises the Department of Education’s Secretary on accreditation.
“This expansion of our board will add important leadership perspectives from current and former college presidents who are shaping the future of higher education to serve the needs of New Majority Learners,” said Kathleen deLaski, the Lab’s founder and board chair. “Mordecai leads some of the Lab’s most impactful micro-pathway work statewide in Colorado, navigating employer engagement, leveraging critical partnerships, and ensuring state regulatory alignment resulting in Community College of Aurora being the lead institution in the system’s five behavioral health pathways. Wally built American Public University System into the largest university serving military learners, and he now is backing startups that support new learning technologies. We are privileged to have these giants in the field bringing their wisdom to this exciting moment for the Lab.”
Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee: “It is a profound honor to join the board of directors of Education Design Lab. At a time when America must move with urgency to produce a viable, future-ready workforce, the Lab represents a proven solution — linking innovation, industry demand, and upward economic mobility. I am proud to serve alongside this incredible team, helping to ensure that learners, communities, and industries across our nation thrive.”
Dr. Wallace E. Boston: “I am pleased to join the board of Education Design Lab. As concerns continue about the costs and relevance of traditional college programs, I enthusiastically support the Lab’s focus on innovative solutions that integrate the needs of workers, employers, and communities as well as improve the economic outcomes for all.”
Boston and Brownlee expand the Lab’s distinguished board, whose members include:
Kathleen deLaski, Chair
Kris Clerkin, Vice Chair
Sofia Lopez Nunez, Treasurer
Rufus Glasper
Suzanne Gibbs Howard
Peter Janzow
Lou Pugliese
Yvette Vargas
Education Design Lab (the Lab) is a national nonprofit and intermediary with a mission to co-design an inclusive, skills-based learn+work system that facilitates upward economic mobility and closes opportunity gaps for the New Majority Learner-Earner. Since 2013, the Lab has worked on the ground with over 1,200 colleges + organizations, 1,000 employers, and thousands of learners, who need education programs and pathways that better serve their futures.
Dr. Mordecai is Now a Columnist for Community College Daily!
🚨 The next workforce crisis is already unfolding.
America is facing a growing gap between available jobs and the skilled workers needed to fill them. As the number of high school graduates declines and industries evolve faster than ever, community colleges stand at the center of the solution — reskilling adults, aligning pathways, and redefining what access to opportunity looks like.
In Dr. Mordecai’s latest column for Community College Daily, he explores why this challenge is accelerating and how institutions can lead with innovation, courage, and purpose.
Read “Bracing for Impact”
👉 https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/10/bracing-for-impact/
The Costs Students Don’t See Coming—and Why They Matter
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, President of the Community College of Aurora in Colorado, is walking 71 miles over three days next month to raise awareness of his own college's emergency fund—specifically, to get community members to match a $71,000 donation. The fund started at just $8,000 during the pandemic, Brownlee said, but the college's students frequently face unanticipated medical, utility, transportation, and other costs.
Read more here: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/academic-life/2025/10/07/students-struggle-surprise-costs-dont-know-about-help
Personal Reflections: Leadership Begins at Home
Yesterday, my son and I attended a Mental Health Summit led by the Colorado Men of Color Collaborative — not because I had to be there for work, but because I needed to be there as a father.
It’s important to me that he sees spaces where conversations about healing, growth, and self-awareness are not only accepted but expected. I want him to know that manhood isn’t measured by how much we carry — it’s defined by how well we care.
We talked about life, choices, and what it means to grow into the kind of man who leads with empathy, strength, and intentionality. Because while leadership is often discussed in the boardroom, the classroom, or the community… the truth is, it begins at home.
If we want to raise the next generation of strong, grounded, emotionally intelligent leaders — we must be willing to model it. To talk about mental health. To sit in uncomfortable conversations. To show our sons and daughters that real strength looks like love, honesty, and presence.
Yesterday wasn’t just another event. It was a reminder that the work of building better futures starts with us — one intentional moment, one courageous conversation at a time.
The pathways to opportunity in Aurora just became even stronger.
Yesterday, leaders from Aurora Public Schools, CU Denver, and the Community College of Aurora came together to advance educational access for our students. Through this new partnership, high-achieving APS students—including those enrolled in CCA’s concurrent enrollment programs—will now earn guaranteed admission to CU Denver.
This collaboration serves as a model for what happens when institutions come together around student success. Together, we’re ensuring that every learner can move seamlessly from high school to college and into a rewarding career—right here in our community.
At CCA, we believe that education drives economic
Brand New Episode of Discovering Your Mission is Now Available
New Episode Alert!
I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Matt Daily, Assistant VP & Dean of Students at Idaho State University, for an inspiring conversation on first-generation student success.
We unpack the difference between belonging vs. mattering, explore how identity shapes the student journey, and discuss practical ways colleges can create spaces where students don’t just fit in—they know they matter.
This is a must-listen for higher ed leaders, practitioners, and anyone passionate about student success.
Tune in here: https://youtu.be/w-23JyMEpEs
Dr. Mordecai Joins the EdUp Experience Network
In a world of constant change, one question remains: What is your mission? On Discovering Your Mission with Dr. Mordecai, we bring together trailblazers, thought leaders, and everyday champions to uncover the stories, strategies, and mindsets that fuel purpose-driven lives. Each episode is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you to live boldly, lead with integrity, and impact the world around you.
Learn more here: https://www.edupexperience.com/p/discoveringyourmissionwithdrmordecai/
Aurora’s future runs through its community college
“If Aurora thrives in the next 20 years, it will be because the Community College of Aurora prepared its people — not just for jobs, but for leadership, citizenship, and a shared future.”
To read more, please visit: https://www.denvergazette.com/2025/10/03/auroras-future-runs-through-its-community-college-michael-hancock/
Community College of Aurora Receives Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence
Proud moment for the Community College of Aurora (CCA)!
At the Higher Education Innovation, LLC (HEI) Presidents’ Conference hosted by Florida Polytechnic University, CCA was honored with the 2025 Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence. This recognition underscores our commitment to innovation, student success, and building entrepreneurial pathways that change lives and communities.
The conference also gave us the opportunity to learn from the NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Aircraft Operations Center, deepening our understanding of how precision, strategy, and innovation drive national impact.
At CCA, we believe in transforming possibilities into reality— together.
Introducing the 2025 Community College of Aurora Presidential Scholars! 🎉
📣 The Community College of Aurora proudly introduces the 2025 Presidential Scholars—ten extraordinary students who represent the very best of Aurora’s “world in a city.”
These scholars speak more than 12 languages, come from six countries, and share a common drive: to balance family, education, and leadership on their way to shaping Colorado’s future workforce.
Thanks to the generosity of our partners—Civitas Resources, Nelnet, and Amazon—each scholar receives a $3,000 scholarship, monthly leadership development, and access to professional mentors who are opening doors to new opportunities.
💡 From nursing and computer science to business, engineering, and communications, their journeys remind us that excellence knows no boundaries—and education is the great equalizer.
👏 Join us in celebrating the 2025 Presidential Scholars and the sponsors and mentors who make this transformative program possible.
Dr. Mordecai Featured by CampusWorks
Posted by CampusWorks, Inc:
Thank you, Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, President of the Community College of Aurora, for your column in The EDU Ledger on "No More One-Trick Ponies: Adapt, Evolve, or Step Aside."
In his column, President Brownlee urges his peers in college leadership to "embrace the changes that our institutions must implement," which he understands can be disruptive, but noting it's change that often sparks innovation.
"From coast to coast, from metro to rural, from public to private, and from four-year to two-year institutions, the real power for equitable student success lies in our ability to bring our institutional missions to life in new ways that build bridges to fulfill academic rigor and provide opportunities for the disenfranchised," writes President Brownlee.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4nEBymc
Record-Breaking Enrollment at CCA!
This fall, the Community College of Aurora reached a historic milestone—welcoming more than 9,500 students, the largest fall enrollment in our college’s history.
This achievement is not just about numbers, it is about trust. It reflects the confidence our students place in us to be the bridge to their future. It demonstrates the trust of our donors, who have given at historic levels to support scholarships, crisis grants, and wraparound services. It reflects the trust of our workforce partners, who continue to align with us to expand pathways in healthcare, behavioral health, applied sciences, and many other fields
Most of all, it reflects the relentless commitment of our faculty and staff. This incredible team shows up every day to remove barriers, design high-quality programs, and deliver on our mission of economic mobility.
Together, we are proving that when we invest in people, provide affordable and clear pathways, and walk alongside our learners, lives change—and communities thrive.
I am deeply humbled, proud, and energized by this moment. Thank you to everyone who makes CCA’s story possible. The best is yet to come.
-Dr. Mordecai
Brand New Article From Dr. Mordecai
On this day of remembrance, we honor the lives lost on 9/11, the families forever changed, and the courage of first responders. Their sacrifice reminds us of our responsibility to protect the future of this nation. That future depends on education.
And yet, breaking news reveals that the U.S. Department of Education will end funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions, impacting hundreds of colleges nationwide.
In Dr. Mordecai’s latest article with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, he discusses why dismantling Hispanic-Serving Institutions is a direct threat to the future of America’s workforce.
🔗 Read the full article here: https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15755035/why-dismantling-hispanic-serving-institutions-is-a-direct-attack-on-americas-workforce
On 9/11, we are reminded that America is strongest when we stand united. Education is the foundation of that unity. We cannot afford to let it be dismantled.
🚍✨ Barrier Removed. Access Restored. Future Unlocked.
Today, the Community College of Aurora celebrated the reinstatement of the RTD bus stop at our CentreTech campus. What may seem like a small change is, in fact, transformative—removing a barrier that kept too many of our students from accessing the education they deserve.
This milestone was made possible through the leadership of our Student Government Association, the advocacy of students who spoke up, and the steadfast support of our community.
We are grateful for the contributions of:
Mayor Mike Coffman and the City of Aurora leadership
RTD General Manager & CEO Debra Johnson and RTD Director Kathleen Chandler
Our dedicated CCA faculty, staff, and board members
And the many community leaders and elected officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes
Together, we’ve proven that when we listen to students and act with purpose, we create pathways to opportunity.
Brand New Episode of Discovering Your Mission Featuring Dr. Anthony Cruz is Now Available!
🎙️ Episode 28 of Discovering Your Mission w/ Dr. Mordecai is live—and it’s a masterclass in authentic leadership.
Meet Dr. Anthony Cruz, President of Milwaukee Area Technical College. A first-generation college student who turned personal experience into purpose, Dr. Cruz now leads one of the nation’s most diverse technical colleges with vision, courage, and heart.
💡 In this episode, you’ll discover:
✅ How being first-gen shaped Dr. Cruz’s lifelong commitment to student belonging and success
✅ What it really takes to make the leap from reporting to a chancellor or president to leading your own board
✅ His bold five-year vision for MATC—centered on enrollment, economic mobility, and breaking cycles of poverty in Milwaukee
✅ Why digital presence and authenticity are essential leadership strategies in today’s higher ed landscape
✅ How a paddle and a pickleball court keep him grounded and connected beyond the office
At the core of it all? Dr. Cruz’s simple yet powerful mission: to change lives through education.
🎧 Tune in to hear how one leader is shaping futures, building trust, and reminding us why authentic leadership matters more than ever.
Link: https://youtu.be/CxMh0TcGKOk
Brand New Article From Dr. Mordecai
The world of higher education is changing fast—and leaders who don’t adapt will be left behind.
In Dr. Mordecai’s latest article for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, he challenges colleges and universities to stop being “one-trick ponies.” Survival—and impact—requires innovation, agility, and boldness. In this piece, he unpacks:
Why traditional models of higher ed are no longer enough
How institutions can evolve to meet learner and workforce demands
The urgent call for leaders to either adapt… or step aside
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15751885/no-more-onetrick-ponies-adapt-evolve-or-step-aside
The Community College of Aurora Opens Its Third Campus
Historic day at the Community College of Aurora!
Last week, we officially opened CCA’s Centennial Campus—a milestone made possible by our community’s belief in our mission.
Deep gratitude to Mayor Stephanie Piko, the Centennial City Council, and the dedicated City staff for extraordinary partnership. Thank you to the many elected officials whose support, especially for our inaugural nursing program, expands pathways to high-demand careers and strengthens Colorado’s workforce.
A special shoutout to fellow Colorado Community College System president Dr. Colleen Simpson of Front Range Community College for stopping by and showing support. We appreciate you!
To our remarkable faculty, staff, instructors, and students—your tireless work to prepare, move, stage, and welcome our community turned a vision into reality. You exemplify what it means to put students first.
The Centennial Campus is a promise fulfilled: expanded access, industry-aligned programs, and a learner-centered environment where every student can thrive. We look forward to hosting you for a tour, a class visit, a workforce partnership conversation, or to explore scholarship support through the CCA Foundation.
First Week of Fall Semester at Community College of Aurora
To learn more about the Community College of Aurora, please visit www.CCAurora.edu
Supporting African Leadership Group
