Susan Bross, Executive Director, College Summit-Colorado – A graduate of Baylor University (B.A., in Communications, 1993), Susan grew up in Colorado.  For six years before joining College Summit-Colorado, Susan worked with non-profit organizations committed to social entrepreneurship, in the areas of fundraising, community relations, marketing communications, and strategic planning.  Before joining College Summit-Colorado, Susan helped launch New Profit, Inc., a venture philanthropy fund in Boston.  While with New Profit, she served as Assistant Director of Development, Director of Communications, and Assistant Portfolio Manager.  She is currently focused on engaging with new school district partners, developing strategies to bring College Summit to more communities in Metro Denver and throughout Colorado, establishing additional funding opportunities and creating (more) community partnerships.                              

Dr. Heather Riley, Program Director, College Summit-Colorado – A graduate of Wesleyan University (B.A. in English, 1990), Heather grew up in Colorado, and is an alumnae of Denver Public Schools. Heather holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a Doctorate of Philosophy, in Education, Equity and Cultural Diversity from the University of Colorado - Boulder.  Recently, Heather received her School Principal License from the University of Denver, Morgridge School of Education. Heather brings a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, school administrator and university instructor.  Her primary career focus has been on bilingual and multicultural education, most recently, as an ELA Secondary Consultant in Aurora Public Schools. She has also worked in Denver Public Schools & Boulder Valley Public Schools. In her role at College Summit, Heather is responsible for engaging with new school district partners, managing college relations and overseeing program implementation in the region.

Theresa Gatewood, School Partner Manager, College Summit-Colorado – a graduate of University of Northern Colorado (B.A. in Communications, 2004).  Theresa is a College Summit Alumna, having participated in College Summit in 1999 while a student at Manual High School in Denver.  Additionally, Theresa was a Daniels Fund Scholar.  A leader among her peers, Theresa served as a college prep and scholarship program intern at the Daniels Fund for two consecutive summers while pursuing her bachelor’s degree and as co-president of the Thurgood Marshall Club at University of Northern Colorado.  In this role, Theresa will expand on the strong relationships she built over the past year with counselors and teachers in our partner high schools.  Theresa will provide extensive support to these individuals as they implement the College Summit Curriculum throughout the school year.

Sara Spanier, Development Manager, College Summit-Colorado – A graduate of University of Wisconsin – La Crosse (B.S. 2002).  Sara comes to College Summit-Colorado through the AmeriCorps VISTA program.  Before joining College Summit, Sara spent two years with the Minnesota Department of Health where she worked in the areas of community engagement strategies, policy/research on social and economic determinants of health and implementation of county and state health collaborations.  Sara is responsible for managing the grants process, directing the fundraising activities for the local fund development committee and increasing the community visibility of the organization.

Colorado Regional Advisory Board

Carol Abrams
Community Leader and Former Educator

Jill Barkin
Vice President, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Relations, JP Morgan Chase

Gwen Brewer
Community Leader and Former Educator

Charlotte Ciancio
Superintendent and Mapleton Public Schools

Elaine Gantz Berman
1st Congressional District – Denver and Colorado State Board of Education

Paul Mesard
Community Leader and Former Financial Advisor

Kevin O’Shaughnessy
Principal, Growth Catalysts, LLC

Van Schoales
Executive Director, Education Reform Now

Jennifer Stern
Executive Director, Janus Education Alliance, Denver Public Schools

Alexie Tune
Partner, Deloitte Services, LLP