Key points:
- Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee is the sixth president of the Community College of Aurora (CCA) in Colorado. He also publishes frequently, serves as a columnist for EdSurge, and speaks as a national and international keynote.
- Throughout his career, Dr. Brownlee has played critical roles in several multi-million-dollar capital construction projects that support academic instruction, student support services, and collegiate sports programs, totaling over $215 million.
- Dr. Brownlee says, “The responsibility of educators to ensure learners’ pathway towards equitable economic mobility of educators serving in the post-pandemic era of higher education is perhaps the greatest that has ever been in our lifetime.”
Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee is the sixth president of the Community College of Aurora (CCA) in Colorado and an inclusive educator who champions student success. Under his impressive leadership, he has transformed CCA by enhancing student advocacy and support services, expanding academic pathways, and initiating the first capital project in 24 years. In addition, he is a prolific writer, a columnist for EdSurge, and a regular speaker at national and international events.
Since taking office two years ago, Dr. Brownlee has achieved remarkable results at CCA. He has raised record-breaking capital and scholarship funds, hired the largest and most diverse faculty in the college’s history, increased student completions by more than 20%, achieved the third largest enrollment in college history, and made CCA the first Achieving the Dream institution in the State of Colorado.
Throughout his career, Dr. Brownlee has played critical roles in several multi-million-dollar capital construction projects that support academic instruction, student support services, and collegiate sports programs, totaling over $215 million. He is a transformative leader who embraces institutional advancement by cultivating relationships, opportunities, and resources for the college and leading by example in internal and external giving.
Moreover, Dr. Mordecai serves in various local, state, and national organizations, such as JFF, AABHE, WCET, and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and the Rotary Club. He has received many honors, such as 40 Under 40, Community Leader of the Year, and LMI Alumni Award. He was also featured as a “champion” by the U.S. Department of Education.
In this interview, Dr. Brownlee shares his insights on the most critical trends, challenges, and opportunities in the education sector, especially in the post-pandemic era.
(The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.)
TEM: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Brownlee. To start with, could you please tell us about the most critical trends in the education sector that are shaping the future of higher education?
Dr. Brownlee: Thank you for having me. I think there is a convergence of four critical trends in the United States that is changing the landscape of higher education for the foreseeable future. Those factors include:
- A decline in the U.S. population means fewer students entering the higher education system and more competition among institutions for enrollment and retention.
- Reduced public trust in higher education, is reflected in the declining public funding, increased scrutiny, and higher expectations for accountability and outcomes.
- A shrinking native workforce in the U.S. creates a skills gap and a demand for more educated and diverse workers in the global economy.
- An increasing rate of youth living within the poverty index poses significant barriers to access and success in higher education and exacerbates the social and economic inequalities in our society.
Those are indeed critical and interrelated issues. I believe it is the responsibility of educators to ensure learners’ pathway towards equitable economic mobility and social justice; serving in the post-pandemic era of higher education is perhaps the greatest that has ever been in our lifetime.
TEM: Could you please walk us through your educational/professional journey?
Dr. Brownlee: I was raised by a single mother who was a K-12 educator, and I am a proud product of community college. When I started college, I tested at developmental levels in math, and I never imagined that one day I would become the president of a community college.
My journey to the presidency began as a work-study student at Lone Star College. From there, I served several institutions in various teaching and administrative roles, including Houston Christian University, Blinn Community College District, University of Charleston, St. Philip’s College, Morgan State University, Lamar University, and now the Community College of Aurora.
TEM: Brief us about the establishment of the Community College of Aurora. What are the academic programs/courses offered by the institute?
Dr. Brownlee: Established in 1983, the Community College of Aurora (CCA) is a public community college in Aurora, Colorado. It is part of the Colorado Community College System, which comprises 13 institutions across the state. CCA serves over 10,000 students annually at its CentreTech Campus in Aurora, Lowry Campus at the former Lowry Air Force Base, and through online classes.
In addition, CCA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has the distinction of being a federally designated Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution. CCA’s mission is to provide high-quality instruction and support services to prepare students for transfer and employment.
TEM: What are the academic programs and courses offered by CCA? How do they align with the current and future needs of the workforce and society?
Dr. Brownlee: CCA offers more than 60 degrees and certificates in various fields of study, such as behavioral health, business, biology, chemistry, criminal justice, education, engineering, health sciences, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and more.
CCA’s core classes are guaranteed to transfer to Colorado public colleges and universities, and students can also benefit from the Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree program, which provides a seamless transfer process and scholarship opportunities to four-year institutions. CCA also has partnerships with local employers and community organizations to provide students with hands-on learning experiences, internships, and career pathways.
One of the areas that we are particularly proud of is our behavioral health program, which is designed to meet the growing demand for qualified and compassionate professionals in this field. The program offers a micro-credential that can be completed in less than a year and prepares students for entry-level positions in behavioral health settings. The micro-credential also stacks into an Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health, which will be launched in Fall 2024. The program is supported by more than $50,000 in scholarship dollars and is aligned with industry standards and expectations.
TEM: What are some of the most common obstacles students face, and how does CCA help them overcome them?
Dr. Brownlee: One of the most common and serious obstacles many students face is food insecurity. According to a 2023 needs assessment, 64.1% of CCA students identify as experiencing food insecurity, which can negatively affect their health, well-being, and academic performance. To address this issue, CCA has taken several tangible steps to provide food assistance and resources to our students, such as:
- Creating four free snack stations across campus and a mobile snack unit launching this fall.
- Hosting Foxy’s Mobile Market (FMM) bi-weekly. FMM is a free food market designed to stock a student’s pantry for at least a week.
- Organizing a free Farmers Market event, funded through the Food Pantry Assistance Grant, which featured Colorado-grown produce available for the campus community during the Week of Welcome in August.
- Working to become a SNAP Peas registered site, which will help students enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with the assistance of licensed CCA staff.
- Receiving a hunger-free designation from the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
We believe that no student should go hungry or worry about their next meal. That is why we are proud to offer these services and support to our students, and we are always looking for new ways to improve and expand them.
TEM: Being at the helm of the institute, what are your prominent roles and responsibilities? How do you ensure an inclusive and collaborative environment?
Dr. Brownlee: As the president of the Community College of Aurora, my primary responsibility is to ensure an inclusive and collaborative environment where the mission of CCA can be fulfilled daily. Our institutional mission is to serve our diverse community by providing high-quality instruction and support services to prepare students for transfer and employment.
Additionally, I am responsible for fostering a culture that is centered on the mission and focused on the vision. The vision of CCA is to aspire to be the college where every student succeeds. To achieve this vision, we need to provide a student experience that is relevant, inclusive, barrier-free, and transformative. It is an honor to hold this responsibility and a joy to work with many dedicated educators who embody the spirit of CCA.
TEM: Community colleges play a crucial role in providing accessible education. How do you ensure the CCA remains accessible and inclusive for diverse learners from different socioeconomic backgrounds?
Dr. Brownlee: As I wrote in my 2023 article “The Power of Microcredentials and America’s Higher Education Dilemma” published by EdSurge, community colleges have historically served as comprehensive institutions that offer associate degrees with transfer agreements to four-year colleges. They have also served as workforce drivers through their educational credit and non-credit courses.
However, with the convergence of four critical trends that I mentioned earlier in the article, community colleges are being called upon once again to lead the latest credentialing revolution. They can do this by streamlining the K-12 to post-secondary credit pipeline increasing equitable student attainment and creating more diverse pathways to economic mobility.
CCA recently launched its first-ever multi-language website. The ambitious project started in August to live up to CCA’s reputation as Colorado’s most diverse college. Unlike other schools that have only parts of their websites available in English and Spanish, CCA’s leadership boldly decided to translate the entire website. This way, we can reach and serve more students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
TEM: Many parents face challenges like limited resources or competing priorities. What are your top three pieces of advice for parents to support their children’s educational journey, from early to higher education?
Dr. Brownlee: My first piece of advice is to increase their level of intentionality in supporting the overall development of their children. In today’s society, life demands often create barriers to parental engagement, and the long-term impact of failed engagement can have negative consequences.
Secondly, I encourage parents to regularly dialogue extensively with their children on topics like economics, politics, environmental issues, and life experiences. Doing so widens their children’s understanding and promotes critical thinking.
Thirdly, I encourage parents to grant their children access to witnessing them process through frustrations and disagreements. While it may be in our nature to shield our children from those times, I believe it is essential that our children observe those crucial moments where listening, reasoning, and emotional intelligence are most critical for a productive life.
TEM: How do you ensure your work-life balance? What are your hobbies and interests?
Dr. Brownlee: Rather than work-life balance, I commit myself to living a life that honors work-life integration. Previously, I have attempted “balance” and have failed drastically. Instead, I place family above all and then work to integrate other critical elements of my life (and responsibilities) that support my ability to care for my family.
When speaking before crowds or participating in podcasts, I regularly challenge the audience never to do more or provide more for their institutions or organizations than they do for their families. It is critical to live life and make decisions in such a manner.
As for hobbies, I thoroughly enjoy RVing with my family, reading, fishing, playing golf, writing articles, and hosting various web series published on my website www.ItsDrMordecai.com.
TEM: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers, perhaps a message of inspiration or a personal anecdote that encapsulates your leadership philosophy?
Dr. Brownlee: As a community of educators, workforce partners, governmental agencies, and legislators, we have a great responsibility to work together to develop seamless academic and career pathways for more students, as the future of America depends on it.
Through collaboration, we can collectively envision new partnerships and synergies to unlock upward social and economic mobility for our youth and working adults. Failure is not an option, and America depends on us to succeed.
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Also Read: The 10 Inspiring Education Leaders, 2024
