Dr. Mordecai Provides Keynote to City of Denver

Yesterday, I had the honor of delivering the keynote for the City of Denver. In that space, I shared my personal story and journey — the lessons learned, the mistakes made, and the growth gained.

I spoke about the power of living with intentionality, where leadership begins at home and self-care, including mental care, is mission-critical. I reflected on what it means to live a mission-driven life, where our jobs are not our identity, but rather an extension of who we are, not what we are.

A heartfelt thank you to Deputy Mayor Al Gardner for the invitation to represent the Community College of Aurora and share the incredible impact we are making in the lives of our students. It’s always a privilege to speak to the importance of purpose, service, and authenticity in leadership.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Mordecai

Today, I turn 41.

As I pause to reflect on my journey thus far, I am reminded that it is an honor to serve. The greatest gift we can ever receive is discovering our purpose and finding joy in the mission that God has placed in our hands.

If you are reading this, I want to encourage you:

• Stay focused on your purpose, even when distractions call your name.

• Keep your family first, because leadership always begins at home.

• Find peace with the person staring back at you in the mirror. Therapy helped me, and it can help you!

• And when challenges come, and they will, let your mission be the compass that guides your steps.

We are all entrusted with a unique assignment. The joy is not only in fulfilling it but in becoming who we were meant to be along the way.

Here’s to another year of living with intention, leading with love, and serving with gratitude.

Dr. Mordecai Partners With Georgia State University - Perimeter College

Originally published by Georgia State University - Perimeter College

Perimeter College’s Dean’s Leadership Retreat brought together faculty and staff for a highly engaging and enlightening experience. Dean Barbara Johnson provided an informative update on the Perimeter’s Strategic Plan and its alignment with the university’s hashtag#BluePrintTo2033.

A tremendous thank you to Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, President of the Community College of Aurora, for his inspiring presentation and profound knowledge on Adaptive Leadership. His message of aligning all things with our mission resonated deeply with our commitment to student achievement. Dr. Brownlee left campus leaders with more tools for creating and scaling success.

Dr. Mordecai Pens New Article About the Frozen Job Market and Its Impact on Men of Color

When the job market freezes, who gets left behind?

Too often, it’s men of color.

In this video, Dr. Mordecai shares why he wrote his latest article with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education—and why community colleges must rise to meet this moment.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15751690/frozen-job-market-forgotten-students-why-men-of-color-need-community-colleges-now

Dr. Mordecai to Speak at Higher Education Innovation 2025 Presidents' Conference

The future of higher education is NOW! Join the community of innovative leaders at the HEI 2025 Presidents' Conference, where we’ll explore transformative trends and solutions.

Learn more here: https://www.heisuccess.com/2025-presidents-conference

🎉 Legacy. Leadership. Lift-Off. 🎉

Recently, we officially cut the ribbon on our new Community College of Aurora Foundation Conference Room, but this wasn’t just about a room. It was about legacy. It was about honoring the visionaries, founders, and advocates who helped turn the Community College of Aurora from a dream into a driving force for economic mobility and personal transformation.

To stand alongside individuals like Jim Lewien and Molly Link, whose late husband, Bill Wiggins, was a founding board member of the CCA Foundation, was deeply humbling. We celebrated our past, uplifted our present, and looked boldly toward our future.

We heard from incredible voices: John Wolfkill, Mike Hanley, and Jamie Butler, one of our phenomenal CCAF Presidential Scholars, who reminded us all why this work matters.

And here's the impact: This past year, the CCA Foundation raised nearly $900,000 in scholarship and emergency funding to directly support our students. That’s the power of partnership. That’s the heart of CCA.

To our students, alumni, donors, and community: this is your space, your story, and your future. Let’s keep building it—TOGETHER!

Dr. Mordecai Keynotes NASPA SSHE Conference in Denver

What an honor it was to represent the Community College of Aurora as one of the keynote speakers at the closing session of the recent NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Conference on Student Success in Higher Education.

As higher education leaders, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to mission-aligned operations, strategic assessment, and ensuring every effort is deeply rooted in equity.

Student success is not just a buzzword — it's the outcome of intentional leadership, data-informed strategies, and collaborative innovation across our institutions.

Now more than ever, we must ask ourselves:
➡️ Are we assessing what matters?
➡️ Are our operations aligned with our mission?
➡️ Are we centering the lived experiences of our most marginalized learners?

I'm grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with so many leaders dedicated to advancing the future of education. Let’s continue to do the work that makes access and opportunity a reality for every student.

Community College of Aurora Quarter 3 Update Video

The Community College of Aurora Quarter 3 Update is Now Available!

I had the honor of recording our Q3 2025 video update from Heritage Hall, our newly renovated space at the CentreTech Campus that commemorates 41 years of impact and transformation.

From major facility milestones like our Centennial Campus and Center for Applied Science and Technology Building to trailblazing partnerships like BuildStrong Academy and the launch of CCA’s Corporate College, we are driving innovation, workforce development, and learner-centered pathways across Colorado.

Updates include:
💡 New campuses and capital projects
🛠️ Workforce expansion
🎓 Transformative partnerships
❤️ Student-centered progress

CCA is committed to the upward economic mobility of our learners, strengthening our four-year partner pathways, and responding to the workforce needs of our industry partners.

Brand New Episode is Now Available!

Episode 27 of Discovering Your Mission w/ Dr. Mordecai is live—and this conversation is one of the most inspiring we’ve ever shared.

Meet Diane M. Simard, a breast cancer survivor who transformed her trauma into purpose. From the corporate boardroom to founding the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence (COPE), Diane has made it her mission to address the mental health crisis facing cancer patients and survivors.

In this powerful episode, Diane opens up about:
💡 What it means to become “Diane 2.0”
💡 How cancer became her “unlikely gift”
💡 The hidden psychological impact of facing mortality
💡 Why emotional wellness should be part of every workplace
💡 Her message for anyone going through adversity

Her story will move you to see your own challenges through a new lens of healing, courage, and hope.

🎧 Tune in now here: https://youtu.be/z3i-PFZW3qg

Happy 4th of July

Yesterday, our incredible Strategic Communications team and I recorded Community College of Aurora’s Quarter Three Update video in Heritage Hall, the beautifully renovated space at our CentreTech Campus, designed to visually celebrate 41 years of our institutional impact.

I can’t wait to share all the exciting progress we’re making together, from new facilities and partnerships to expanded opportunities for our students and community.

Wishing everyone a safe, joyful, and restorative 4th of July holiday!

Building an Executive Communications Strategy : A Playbook for the Next Generation of Leaders

To read this article, head over to the Published section!

Dr. Mordecai Speaks at Aurora (Colorado) State of the City Address

Yesterday, the Community College of Aurora was honored to once again serve as a lead sponsor for the City of Aurora’s State of the City Address, hosted by the Rotary Club of Aurora and featuring Mayor Mike Coffman.

As Aurora continues to grow and evolve, CCA remains deeply committed to being a responsive, engaged, and equity-driven partner. One that listens to the needs of our community and ensures our learners are not just attending college, but realizing upward economic mobility through real opportunity.

A Brand New Article With Dr. Mordecai is Now Available

Head over to the published page to read now!

Dr. Mordecai Received Education Advocate Award From the Colorado Men of Color Collaborative

🎉 Deeply Honored. Deeply Grateful. 🙏🏽

As various Juneteenth and Afrocentric celebrations echoed across Colorado over the past several days, honoring freedom, culture, and progress, I was humbled to receive the Education Advocate Award from the Colorado Men of Color Collaborative (CMOCC).

During my keynote, “One Vision, One Community: Strategy to Inspire Hope and Unity,” I reminded us that hope is not just an emotion but a strategy. Unity is not passive; it’s a choice we make daily.

Let us keep choosing unity, leading with purpose, and building what we’ve never seen but always needed.

Thank you to the CMCC for this incredible honor.

Standing room only. Students carrying chairs into the room just to listen.

Standing room only. Students carrying chairs into the room just to listen.

That’s what it looked like at today’s GlobalMindED Conference session, “Addressing Violence, Mental Health, and Addiction: Models of Hope, Healing and Transformation.”

The stigma surrounding mental health is real, but so is the growing hunger for truth, healing, and solutions.

Together with Kathryn L. Goetzke, MBA, Laura Green, and student advocate Darius Kendrick, we had the privilege of exploring how trauma, care, and community transformation intersect and what models of recovery and prevention look like when grounded in real hope.

What inspired me most? The students. The turnout. The passion. The urgency.

Mental health is not a niche issue—it’s a community issue. An education issue. A human issue. And the next generation is making it clear: we can’t afford to whisper about it any longer.

Celebrating Our Community College of Aurora Alumni

On behalf of the Community College of Aurora, I am extremely proud of you, Mr. Michael Bonsu. Michael recently graduated from our institution as a concurrently enrolled student. This past weekend, he received a scholarship from the Alpha Phi Alpha George E. Hailey Scholarship Endowment.

This fall, Michael will be attending American University. Congratulations, Michael! The best is yet to come for you and your family.

Brand New Episode is Now Available!

🎙️ Episode 26 of Discovering Your Mission w/ Dr. Mordecai is now live!

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Tonjua Williams, the first African American and female president of St. Petersburg College—a trailblazer whose leadership has transformed lives and communities across Florida.

Dr. Williams shares her incredible journey, from overcoming adversity to leading one of the nation’s most impactful community colleges. With nearly four decades of experience, she offers unmatched insight on what it means to lead with integrity, accountability, courage, and compassion.

In this episode, we dive into:

✅ The power of representation and resilience in leadership

✅ Her mission to break cycles of poverty and build generational change

✅ Advice for aspiring college presidents and bold changemakers

✅ Transformative programs for underrepresented students

✅ Why courage and compassion must walk hand in hand in leadership

From national recognition to community transformation, Dr. Williams is a force for good—and her story will inspire you to lead with purpose, no matter the obstacles.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 26 and discover what it truly means to lead with heart and transform through hope.

Watch now in the videos section!

Credit Union of Colorado CEO Phil Smith recognized for extraordinary leadership as board president of the Community College of Aurora Foundation

Gratitude. Leadership. Impact.

Recently, the Community College of Aurora had the honor of recognizing Phil Smith, CEO of Credit Union of Colorado, for his extraordinary leadership as board president of the Community College of Aurora Foundation.

Over the past three years, Phil has helped lead a philanthropic charge that resulted in:

✅ Nearly $4 million raised for scholarships and student priorities

✅ Over $17 million secured for critical capital projects

✅ More than $2 million awarded directly to students through scholarships and emergency assistance

These aren’t just investments in a college—they are investments in people, in potential, and in a more equitable future for Colorado families.

As president of CCA, I’ve witnessed firsthand how business and industry leaders can shape the trajectory of student lives when they choose to lead with purpose. Phil’s servant leadership reminds me that when business and education work together, the possibilities are transformational.

Thank you, Phil, for believing in our mission and modeling what it looks like to lead with heart and vision.

Let’s keep building. Together.

The City of Commerce City and Community College of Aurora Partner to Remove Barriers to Career Pathways Thanks to Rocky Mountain Partnership Cradle to Career

As part of their commitment to the region’s shared goal of helping 71,000 more young people reach economic and social mobility, the City Government of Commerce City and the Community College of Aurora (CCA)—both proud Target Champions—are teaming up to remove barriers and expand access to career pathways for local residents.

The Commerce City Promise is a transformative initiative offering free, short-term credential programs to all Commerce City residents through a partnership between the City of Commerce City and the Community College of Aurora (CCA). This program aims to eliminate common barriers such as cost and access, enabling residents to pursue meaningful career paths in high-demand industries.

Key Features:
• No-Cost Training: Residents can access credential programs in sectors like information technology, construction, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and English as a Second Language (ESL).

• Automatic Enrollment: Any Commerce City resident accepted into an eligible CCA program is automatically enrolled in the Commerce City Promise—no additional application or cost required.

• Support Services: Participants receive support through CCA’s education and career services and the city’s Community Well-Being Division.

Funded through the city’s Advancing Commerce City Together (ACT) initiative, which utilizes federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, this program is designed to meet the needs of Commerce City’s growing business community while investing in residents' futures.

Learn more: https://www.redefiningcommerce.com/living-lifestyle/workforce-pathway/commerce-city-promise

Congressman Jason Crow Talks Workforce and Legislative Bipartisanship at CCA Town Hall

AURORA, Colo. — The Community College of Aurora was pleased to host Congressman Jason Crow for a recent town hall event where the congressman discussed his work in Washington, D.C., and took questions from attendees.

CCA students, faculty, and staff participated in the conversation, during which Congressman Crow spoke on topics ranging from CCA’s frontline efforts in workforce development to his ongoing work crafting bipartisan legislation alongside colleagues from both sides of the political aisle.

Congressman Crow said he chose CCA for this town hall in part because of the college’s strong role in serving underserved communities, a population he said he prioritizes and advocates for in Congress.

“Nearly 20 percent of my constituents were born outside the United States, and over 130 languages are spoken in this district,” Crow said. “There is nothing I take more seriously than protecting my constituents. And if people come after our families, our children, and our neighbors, they have to go through me.”

Congressman Crow, who has represented Colorado’s 6th Congressional District since 2019, said he reached out to CCA to engage in dialogue with college personnel who work directly with many underserved populations, including undocumented families and individuals from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

CCA President Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee welcomed Congressman Crow with opening remarks, saying the event offered a valuable opportunity to spotlight issues important to the institution. He also praised the congressman’s ongoing outreach and commitment to the community.

Dr. Brownlee thanked Crow for his support in securing federal funding for the college and noted his continued advocacy for additional resources.

“To have this time with our congressman speaks volumes about how he values the Community College of Aurora,” Dr. Brownlee said.

During the event, Congressman Crow answered a range of questions from the audience, discussing his legislative accomplishments and providing insight into how he works across the aisle, highlighting his reputation as one of Congress’s most successful bipartisan lawmakers.

CCA stands as a strong example of Congressman Crow’s priorities in action. The college continues to lead Colorado in workforce development, with several new initiatives aimed at preparing students for careers in high-demand technical and healthcare fields.

This fall, CCA will open the new Center for Applied Science and Technology, as well as the Centennial Campus for Healthcare and First Responders. These facilities will offer students hands-on training in critical sectors of Colorado’s economy.

To learn more about how CCA is advancing career-focused education in Colorado, visit https://ccaurora.edu. For a list of Congressman Crow’s legislative priorities, visit https://crow.house.gov/.