Fort Lewis College Hires New President

Dr. Stritikus’ resume tells of a life dedicated to education and creating opportunities for students. He is coming to FLC from his position as deputy director of K-12 Education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he has led funding initiatives in teacher prep, innovation and education. Previous to the Gates Foundation, Dr. Stritikus was dean of the College of Education at the University of Washington (UW), where he also taught. When he left UW in 2014, the College of Education was ranked as the sixth best program in the nation, according to US News & World Report, up from 16th just

From Fort Lewis College:

The Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College (FLC) has named Dr. Tom Stritikus as the next president of Fort Lewis College. Dr. Stritikus will take over for current FLC President Dr. Dene Thomas who is retiring this summer.

“I am eager to partner with FLC’s faculty and staff to build upon the institution’s rich history and maximize its potential to serve students and the needs of the Four Corners region,” Dr. Stritikus says. “My family feels fortunate to be joining such an amazing community. We were struck by the integrity and authenticity of everyone we met at FLC and in Durango.”

“The trustees appreciate the efforts of the search committee and the input from all those who participated in the candidate forums leading to the selection of an exceptional new president for Fort Lewis College,” states Steve Short, chair of the FLC Board of Trustees. “Dr. Stritikus dedicated extensive time researching both the College and the Durango area prior to and during his campus visit. His interest in the unique attributes and opportunities Fort Lewis College currently enjoys, in combination with his impressive background experiences, will make it possible for Dr. Stritikus to address, in a timely manner, the challenges facing the College. We are fortunate to be able to draw on his leadership skills.”

“Fort Lewis College has made an inspired choice,” adds Dr. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, the nation’s coordinating body leading efforts to improve access to education and student success. “Tom Stritikus is an extraordinary leader, committed to diversity and passionate about promoting student success. He will build a culture of inclusive excellence on campus and connect the College to the community in authentic and engaged partnerships. I can’t think of a better match.”

Dr. Stritikus’ resume tells of a life dedicated to education and creating opportunities for students. He is coming to FLC from his position as deputy director of K-12 Education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he has led funding initiatives in teacher prep, innovation and education. Previous to the Gates Foundation, Dr. Stritikus was dean of the College of Education at the University of Washington (UW), where he also taught. When he left UW in 2014, the College of Education was ranked as the sixth best program in the nation, according to US News & World Report, up from 16^th just four years earlier.

He is a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1993 before joining the Teach for America program and teaching elementary school in Baltimore. In 1997, he entered graduate school at the University of California-Berkeley where he earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in Education in Language, Literacy and Culture.

“Throughout my career, I have championed affordable, accessible and excellent education for all students,” Dr. Stritikus explains. “Fort Lewis College lives these principles, as evidenced by its dedicated faculty and commitment to Native Americans and diverse students. I see tremendous potential for growth and impact in the Four Corners and beyond.”

Dr. Stritikus joins Fort Lewis College at a pivotal time in the school’s 107-year history. Despite dealing with enrollment and budget challenges shared by other colleges and universities, Fort Lewis College enjoys a number of exciting opportunities to grow and thrive. The College recently completed Sitter Family Hall, a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility, complete with labs and equipment that would compare favorably with much bigger universities. This new facility houses FLC’s geosciences, physics and engineering programs, which are among the College’s strongest degrees.

Looking to the future, FLC is in line to receive funding from Colorado to begin designing a new health sciences and athletics complex on campus. This building would support the College’s exercise science and other health-related programs in anticipation of the increasing need for graduates trained in healthcare fields. The complex would also enhance the Skyhawk Athletics’ facilities.

FLC is unique in the U.S. in its history and commitment to Native American education. Over a century ago, the federal government turned over the Fort Lewis Indian School (formerly the Fort Lewis military fort) to Colorado with the stipulations that Fort Lewis remain an institution of learning and “…that Indian pupils shall at all times be admitted to such school free of charge for tuition and on terms of equality with white pupils…” (36 Stat. 273, chapter 140, p. 274). Fort Lewis College and the University of Minnesota-Morris are the only two colleges in the country with this type of agreement.

Today, FLC enjoys a student body that is over one third Native American and Alaska Native, something that is unusual for a non-tribal college. The College continues to offer a tuition-free education to Native Americans and Alaska Natives through the Native American Tuition Waiver program, and FLC is one of the top producers of Native American graduates in the country. Increasing the number of Native Americans with college degrees is one of Colorado’s goals as laid out in the Colorado Rises plan.

FLC’s retiring president, Dr. Dene Thomas, made over 100 visits to Washington, D.C. to advocate for a partnership with the federal government to help support the tuition waiver program. Colorado Representative Scott Tipton and Senator Cory Gardner currently have bills in the House (H.R.1528) and Senate (S.660) that would make that partnership a reality. Both bills have bipartisan support.

Dr. Stritikus was one of three finalists considered by the Board of Trustees following an exhaustive search committee process that reviewed 120 candidates. All three finalists visited the campus to meet with students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members. Participants were encouraged to provide feedback through an online survey and a public comment session, and the Board reviewed a summary of the input as part of its deliberations.

“The three strong candidates presented to the Board for consideration were the result of a robust search process that provided a diverse, experienced field for our search committee to consider,” said trustee Richard Kaufman, who chaired the 13-member search committee. “I want to thank each member of our search committee for their time and commitment to this lengthy process. Their strong support of the process – and the candidates submitted to the board for consideration – played a significant role in identifying such compelling candidates.”