DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced that Dr. Angie Paccione is moving on from her position as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). Dr. Paccione has served in this role since the beginning of the Polis administration in 2019, and her last day will be January 9, 2026. Governor Polis will make an announcement on the next Executive Director prior to Dr. Paccione’s final day on January 9. Dr. Paccione is the second longest-serving executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Dr. Paccione will be returning to the private sector.
“Dr. Paccione has been an incredible leader in higher education for Colorado, and her passion and expertise will be missed dearly. Under her leadership, Colorado has made major progress in breaking down barriers to help more students from all backgrounds access the training and education needed to succeed and drive our economy forward. Angie’s hard work and dedication has created a foundation that we will continue building on for learners and workers at all levels. While Angie’s shoes will be difficult to fill, we look forward to finding the next great leader to continue moving our state forward for higher education and training,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“For me, this work has always been about activating the potential in every student. Over the past seven years, we have expanded opportunity, strengthened workforce readiness, and unlocked personal fulfillment for Colorado’s learners,” said Dr. Paccione. “I am deeply grateful to the Governor for the opportunity to serve and to the many educators, institutions, and partners who share a belief in the promise of Colorado’s learners.”
During Dr. Paccione’s tenure, Colorado expanded access to higher education, improved affordability, increased degree attainment, and made significant progress in closing equity gaps for students of color. Under her leadership, Colorado became the first state in the nation to allow its four-year institutions to confer associate degrees to students who complete at least 70 credits—helping thousands of students gain a meaningful credential and increase their earning potential.
Colorado also established full scholarships for youth formerly in foster care and for high school students experiencing homelessness, further advancing the state’s commitment to educational opportunity.
Dr. Paccione has more than 27 years of experience in secondary and postsecondary education. She was a high school teacher, coach, and administrator at Smoky Hill High School in the Cherry Creek School District before earning a Ph.D. in education and human resource studies from Colorado State University (CSU). There, Dr. Paccione served on the CSU faculty for nine years as a teacher educator in the “Project Promise” program, a nationally recognized program of excellence in teacher preparation for mid-career professionals. She also conducted research in the teacher education field, examining educators’ life events that led them to become committed to issues of diversity and inclusion. Her findings informed a teacher preparation program and were later published in Teacher’s College Press, which has been cited in over 75 academic papers.
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