Colorado College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Colorado College, a private liberal arts college situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has fostered a rich tradition of academic excellence and personal growth since its founding by Civil War veteran General William Jackson Palmer. The college's unique Block Plan, where students immerse themselves in a single course for three and a half weeks, encourages deep exploration and allows ample time for extracurricular activities. This distinctive approach, coupled with a vibrant campus community, has produced a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions across various fields.
Academics and Campus Life
Colorado College offers 42 majors and more than 30 minors, providing students with a wide range of academic options. In addition to its undergraduate programs, the college offers two master's degree programs in teaching. The institution maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, fostering close interaction between students and professors.
The college's campus boasts more than one hundred clubs and student groups, catering to diverse interests and passions. Most students live on or directly adjacent to the college campus. Many of the earliest campus buildings, including Bemis, Cossitt, Cutler, McGregor, Montgomery, Palmer, and Ticknor Halls, are on the National Register of Historic Places, along with Shove Memorial Chapel and the William I. Spencer Center.
Since the mid-1950s, newer facilities include three large residence halls, Worner Campus Center, Olin Hall of Science and the Barnes Science Center, Honnen Ice Rink, Boettcher Health Center, Schlessman Pool, Armstrong Hall of Humanities, and the El Pomar Sports Center. The face of campus changed again at the beginning of the 21st century with construction of the Western Ridge Housing Complex, which offers apartment-style living for upper-division students and completion of the Russell T. Tutt Science Center. Colorado College's Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, completed in 2008 and located at the intersection of a performing arts corridor in Colorado Springs, is home to the college's film, drama and dance departments and contains a large theater, several smaller performance spaces, a screening room, the I.D.E.A. Space gallery, and classrooms, among other rooms. The Ed Robson Arena is a 3,400-seat ice hockey arena on the campus of Colorado College.
Politics and Public Service
Colorado College has a strong tradition of producing leaders in politics and public service.
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Elizabeth Cheney, a graduate of Colorado College with a Bachelor of Arts, served as a U.S. Representative. Known for her vocal opposition to Donald Trump, she is currently a professor of practice at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Ken Salazar, another prominent alumnus, served as the United States Ambassador to Mexico and previously as the 50th United States Secretary of the Interior in the Obama administration. He also served as a United States Senator from Colorado.
Diana DeGette has represented Colorado's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House since 1997.
Lori Garver served as the Deputy Administrator of NASA.
Arts and Entertainment
Colorado College has nurtured the talents of numerous individuals who have achieved success in the arts and entertainment industry.
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Dean Winters is an accomplished actor known for his roles in television series such as Oz, Rescue Me, 30 Rock, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as his portrayal of "Mayhem" in Allstate Insurance commercials.
Marc Webb is a filmmaker and music video director known for directing 500 Days of Summer and The Amazing Spider-Man films.
Arden Myrin is an actress and comedian who has appeared in television series such as Insatiable, Insecure, and Grey's Anatomy.
Dee Bradley Baker is a prolific voice actor known for his work in animated series such as Adventure Time, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Abigail Washburn is a banjo player and singer who performs as a soloist and with various bands.
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Jeremy Zucker is a singer-songwriter known for his songs "Comethru" and "You Were Good to Me."
Kaui Hart Hemmings is a novelist and short story writer.
Edward K. Reginald McKnight is a short story writer and novelist.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Colorado College alumni have also made their mark in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Gregor Robertson is a Canadian businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Jayne Hrdlicka is an American-Australian business executive who served as the CEO of Virgin Australia.
Science and Academia
The college has also produced influential figures in science and academia.
James Heckman, a Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, is a professor at the University of Chicago known for his work in econometrics and microeconomics.
Donna Haraway is a professor emerita at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a prominent scholar in science and technology studies.
Marcia McNutt is an American geophysicist and the president of the National Academy of Sciences.
Terry Allen Winograd is an American computer scientist. He is a professor at Stanford University, and co-director of the Stanford Human-Computer Interaction Group.
David Tab Rasmussen is Professor of Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis.
Athletics
Colorado College has a strong athletic tradition, particularly in ice hockey. Over 170 Colorado College alumni have gone on to play professionally, including over 30 current and former NHL players.
Jaden Schwartz is a professional ice hockey player for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Curtis McElhinney is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Jaccob Slavin is a professional ice hockey defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Mark Stuart is an American ice hockey coach and former professional defenseman.
Peggy Fleming is a retired figure skater and Olympic gold medalist.
Other Notable Alumni
The college also counts among its alumni:
David Malpass, an American economic analyst and former government official who served as President of the World Bank Group.
Timothy Michael Tymkovich, an American lawyer who has served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit since 2003
Pete Nelson is an American master treehouse builder, author, and host of the Animal Planet television show Treehouse Masters.
Mary Cheney is involved with a number of political action committees.
Stuart Stevens is an American author and political consultant.
Liang Shih-chiu, a renowned Chinese educator, writer, translator, literary theorist and lexicographer.
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