Vice President of Advancement and Foundation CEO, Colorado Mountain College

Kristin Heath Colon

Kristin Colon was named Foundation CEO & Vice President for Advancement of Colorado Mountain College (CMC) in September 2015. CMC is an eleven-campus enterprise covering 12,000 square miles of Colorado’s Western Slope; offering bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as certificate programs.

In her role at CMC, Kristin oversees fundraising, marketing, communications and alumni relations for the college and serves on the President’s executive leadership team.

Prior to her role at CMC, Kristin served as the President & CEO of the Denver Public Schools Foundation from 2009-2015.  Under Kristin’s leadership, the DPS Foundation’s support of DPS students and the district grew exponentially with revenue increasing by 125% from $6.6M to $14.9M. This growth earned the DPS Foundation national prominence. In February 2012 the DPS Foundation was ranked the #2 public school foundation in the country in a national study by Dewey & Associates.

While at Denver Public Schools she partnered with CareerWise Founder & President, Noel Ginsburg, to support the creation of the DPS CareerConnect program; providing high school students with concurrent opportunities to earn college credit and gain valuable industry experience via internships and apprenticeships.

Kristin’s fundraising background is rich in support for public education. She spent 14 years at the University of Colorado (CU) Foundation, where she held multiple leadership roles in support of Colorado Athletics and student athletes from 1992-2006.

Kristin is a past Chair of the Colorado School Foundations Association, former member of the Board of Directors for the Denver Afterschool Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado and the Young Philanthropists Foundation and the Colorado Women’s Forum. She is a proud 2009 recipient of the “Torch of Liberty Award” from the Mountain States Office of the Anti-Defamation League and was named one of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s “Top 25 Most Powerful Women” in 2015.

Kristin graduated from Scripps College in Claremont, CA.