Rhonda Epper named Provost/VP of Academic Affairs, Bob Browning, VP for Administration/CFO
The Community College of Denver (CCD) is pleased to welcome Dr. Rhonda Epper as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Robert “Bob” Browning as Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer.
Dr. Rhonda Epper returns to CCD after serving as Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer at the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE).
In that role, she managed policy development and implementation on behalf of the state in areas such as transfer/articulation, new program approval, remedial education, concurrent enrollment, supplemental academic instruction, admissions, extended studies, educator preparation and prior learning assessment. Dr. Epper also managed several large federal and state programs, including Colorado GEAR UP, the Colorado Challenge and the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative.
Prior to serving for CDHE, Epper was with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education; and was with the Colorado Community College System for 12 years in various roles. Those roles included assistant provost, where her responsibilities included development of academic innovations across the system’s 13 community colleges, major grant initiatives, and policy direction for online learning, curriculum management, and research/planning for academic affairs.
“Rhonda brings a wealth of experience in higher education from her work at multiple levels – campus, system, state, regional, and national,” says CCD President Dr. Everette Freeman. “More importantly, she began her community college career right here at CCD and therefore in returning as Provost has been able to hit the ground running.”
Dr. Epper was also awarded the Richard Jonsen Award by the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET), which is awarded to a WCET member whose career has been committed to improving postsecondary educational programs and services through innovative uses of technology as well as for exceptional service to the cooperative, WCET.
Bob Browning has had a distinguished career working with the Colorado Legislature, Joint Budget Committee, school faculty, advisory committees, executive committees, Department of Higher Education, elected officials, and other education stakeholders.
Browning has served as administrative and financial manager supporting higher education in Colorado for multiple schools including the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, Auraria Higher Education Center, University of Denver, and Teikyo Loretto Heights (Colorado Heights) University.
He has also served as director of administration and finance for Colorado’s largest public health department that serves Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties, with the State of Colorado Personnel System, the Attorney General’s Office and in the private sector.
“I am delighted that Bob has joined our executive team. His varied career makes him a great fit for CCD,” said Dr. Freeman. “He also started his post-secondary education at University of Toledo Community College (UTCC) and therefore has directly experienced the value of a community college education.”
After completing UTCC, Browning transferred to the University of Toledo’s College of Business where he received a degree in education with an emphasis in business.
Browning received his teaching certification and taught high school business subjects in a Toledo inner city high school. He continued his education at the University of Colorado Denver where he earned a master’s in business administration, majoring in finance.
With nearly 8,000 students, the Community College of Denver is located on the vibrant Auraria Campus in downtown Denver. As a leading point of entry to higher education for the city and county of Denver, CCD offers small-class sizes and flexible schedules, career and academic programs, award-winning professors, extensive advisory and support services, world-class facilities, easy access via RTD light rail, and affordable tuition. CCD is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution and is one of 13 community colleges in the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). Learn more at www.CCD.edu.