This week on SA Voices From the Field we interviewed Dr. Mordecai Brownlee about his journey to become the President of the Community College of Aurora.

Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee became the sixth president of the Community College of Aurora (Colorado) on August 2, 2021. With campuses in Aurora and Denver, CCA is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) and Hispanic-Serving institution (HSI) providing instruction to over 10,600 students throughout its 350-square mile service area. Prior to his presidential appointment, President Brownlee served as the vice president for student success at St. Philip's College, the only college in the nation federally designated as both a historically Black college (HBCU) and a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), located in San Antonio, Texas. During his tenure as vice president, Dr. Brownlee led St. Philip’s to record enrollment of over 13,500 students and the college’s four largest degree and certificate awarding classes in its 124-year history.

One of the youngest presidents in the country at 37 years old, Dr. Brownlee continues his work as a higher education columnist for EdSurge and a writer for several other publications. In 2020, Dr. Brownlee was featured by EdTech Magazine as one of the 30 most interesting voices in higher education who are shaping the conversation around IT and EdTech. In 2022, Mordecai was featured by Diverse Issues in Higher Education Magazine as a “New School” leader representing the next generation of college presidents. 

Please subscribe to SA Voices from the Field on your favorite podcasting device and share the podcast with other student affairs colleagues!