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
Last night, Dr. Mordecai and his wife, Daphne, represented the Community College of Aurora at the 10th Annual African Leadership Group’s Afrik Impact Gala. To learn more about the African Leadership Group, please visit: https://usalg.org/
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
