Jessica Morrison, Executive Director
Jessica joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative as the founding Executive Director in June of 2021. With a background in career and college preparation and a focus on equitable education, Jessica brings over twenty years of educational experience to the designing and building of this new collaboration. Prior to this role, Jessica has been an AmeriCorps NCCC volunteer, taught philosophy in Honduras, led prevention programs for youth with Full Circle of Lake County, was an Academic Advisor for TRiO Talent Search, and held the Director of Career and College Counseling role at Animas High School. She is excited to draw on her experience, relationships, and community involvement to bring career and college opportunities to all students who live in the Southwest region of Colorado.
Jessica graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2004 with a B.S. in Secondary Education, and in 2015 from Fort Lewis College with an M.A. in Education, Teacher Leadership. She is an alumna of Semester at Sea, Class of 2003, and is a Leadership La Plata graduate with the Class of 2019.
When Jessica is not working to help build a strong community focused on career and college education, she can be found traveling to new places, skiing, backpacking, canning, gardening, and hiking with her husband, Casey, and their dog Olive.
Patrick Fredricks, Deputy Director
Patrick Fredricks joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative in January 2024. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, he brings a breadth and depth of experience around student recruitment/engagement, event planning, project management, and leadership development. Prior to joining the Collaborative, Patrick worked at Fort Lewis College for over 11 years in the Admission Office as well as the Leadership Center. In the Admission Office, he oversaw all the campus visit programs for prospective students and their families. While working in the Admission Office, Patrick also taught a class for students who were undecided in their major and career path which is where his passion for student career exploration began. While in the Leadership Center, Patrick was responsible for student leadership development programs, advising student organizations, and New Student and Family Orientation. By juggling all those items, he was able to build relationships with students and grow their skills of communication, teamwork, resiliency, and problem solving. Patrick is also a Clifton Strengths Coach where he helps people identify their unique strengths and how to implement them in their work and personal life. His Top 5 Strengths are Relator, Responsibility, Consistency, Adaptability, and Belief. Patrick is excited to impact the local region through career pathways while building a strong team for the Collaborative.
Patrick graduated from Central Michigan University in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Sport Management and then from Western Carolina University in 2012 with a master’s degree in Education (College Student Personnel).
Since moving to southwest Colorado, Patrick has been in awe of the beautiful environment, the rich and diverse history of the region, and the hospitable people. He truly believes this is a hidden gem in the US and is proud to build roots here. When not working with the Collaborative, he is spending time with his wife (Amber), their three children (Kierstin, Emersyn, and Greyson), as well as their two dogs (Sophie and Cooper). Patrick enjoys listening to music, watching movies, traveling, hiking, and volunteering for his fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Steve Otter, Counselor Coordinator
Steve is excited to be working in a regionally collaborative position that is connected to our area's school districts. Steve's work represents a corp value of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (SWCEC) by partnering with the San Juan BOCES (SJBOCES) to support our region's educators through partnership. Within that context he is looking to support access to and opportunities for all students within their educational setting. Specifically he is focused on activities and supports that develop resilience and autonomy within the communities that he works with. The SWCEC provides Steve with the opportunity to have a combination of community work within educational settings and direct support of students' success.
Chad Wheelus, Sector Convenor
Chad Wheelus works in conjunction with the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative team through a grant from the Colorado Workforce Development Council. His role as an industry convener is the culmination of over three decades of community building work and a commitment to living in Southwest Colorado. Chad has lived in Dolores, Colorado for over thirty years and crafted a long career in education and public service. He has been a teacher, educational leader, coach, mentor, public servant, grant coordinator and volunteer. Many of these roles have been overlapping and intertwining. Chad has come to realize the power and importance of strong relationships and the value of the history and diversity of the Southwest community.
Chad is honored to work across the Southwest region to build a strong network of partners that work together to address workforce issues and build a more connected and collaborative community for all.
Tai Rogers, Career and College Coordinator: Hospitality and Tourism - Dove Creek, Dolores, Montezuma-Cortez, Mancos
Tai joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative as the Western Career and College Pathways Coordinator in July of 2023.
Most recently, he worked at Colorado GEAR UP, assigned to Montezuma-Cortez High School, as their Pre-Collegiate Advisor. Before that Tai worked in a variety of settings, from the Shop Coordinator at Indiana University’s School of Art, Architecture,& Design, to years with the USFS as a wildland firefighter, to living in Jamaica during a stint in the Peace Corps.
Originally from the SouthEastern US, Tai moved a lot as a child, but has found his home in SW Colorado. Tai has a BA from Eckerd College, 2001, and an MFA from Indiana University, 2015.
Mollie Lewis, Executive Financial Administrator
Mollie joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative as an Executive Assistant and Accounting Clerk in August 2023. Prior to this role Mollie worked for seven years at Young Life in Colorado Springs as an Administrative Assistant and as the Manager of Camping Administration. Mollie is passionate about organization and thinking strategically so that people and systems align. Mollie graduated from Auburn University in 2013 with a degree in Social Work. After graduating, Mollie worked for a year at the Dale House Project, a group home for at-risk teenagers. Mollie saw first hand how a lack of education and career resources can leave teenagers stranded. Mollie is excited to join the team that helps get those opportunities!
Outside of work Mollie can be found exploring her new home of Durango, hiking, reading, or traveling!
Dusty Grannis, Program Operations Manager
Dusty grew up in Chicago, IL and the surrounding area. Upon moving to Durango, CO in 2001 he commenced his studies at Fort Lewis College and graduated with a BA in humanities. Dusty also took classes at San Juan Basin Technical College where he received IT certification. His passion for technology landed him as the IT specialist and coordinator at Animas High School where he worked for 9 years. During those 9 years at AHS Dusty’s position grew into many different positions including but not limited to operations manager, and registrar and testing coordinator. Outside of work you can find Dusty pursuing his other interests - mountain biking, snowboarding, river sports, performing music, and international travel.
Katrina Christensen, Career & College Coordinator: Health Sciences and Building Trades - Archuleta, Bayfield, Ignacio
Katrina Christensen joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative as Operations Manager in March 2023. Katrina comes to us with an eclectic experience as owner of Denver Birth Services for 8 years, where she mentored new doulas, attended over 100 births, and served as President of the Colorado Doulas Association. She worked for United Airlines operating ground equipment and brings equipment maintenance and as a Procedures as a Quality Assurance Associate for AspenBio Pharma.
Katrina is excited to bring her perspective to the Collaborative and support the mission of serving students furthest from opportunity.
Katrina graduated from Colorado State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. Katrina holds a CAPPA birth doula certification and Hypno-Babies doula certification. Katrina volunteers for Rainbow Youth Center in Durango and serves on the Board of Directors for the Durango Area Youth Hockey Association.
Katrina designed and constructed her tiny home on wheels in 2018 and is always excited to share about that journey. Katrina has called Durango home since 2019. Since moving to Durango, she’s discovered a love for river rafting and can be found on the Animas much of the summer. Outside of work you’ll find Katrina adventuring the area with her 4 children, taking a child to hockey practice, and traveling.
Katie Miller, Industry Partnership Intern
Katie joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative as Industry Partnership Intern in January 2024 and is thrilled to be a part of the amazing team at SWCEC. She joins us after having spent the last 9 years in education in various roles, working as an AmeriCorps, school-based mentor for at-risk youth, a special education para, a tutor and most recently, a classroom teacher. Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, she knew she found her home in the SW corner of the state after attending Fort Lewis College, earning her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and Policy in 2014.
Katie has always felt that her life calling is in education and she is passionate about this opportunity to continue supporting students in the region through the Career Launch Southwest online platform. In her free time, she enjoys running trail ultras (her favorite local finish being the Ouray 50 miler), hiking, backcountry skiing, expanding her education on avalanche safety and awareness and taking advantage of the endless adventuring the San Juans have to offer with her husband, son and dog.
Camela Manheimer, Communications Intern
Yá'át'ééh! (Hello)
Camela is excited to intern at Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (SWCEC). Her position is the Communications intern who manages the social media and website and creates visual designs for SWCEC.
Camela graduated with a BA in Communication Design and a minor in Gender & Sexuality Studies from Fort Lewis College (FLC) in spring 2023. She had also earned her Digital Marketing Certificate in fall 2023 at FLC. During her undergraduate studies, Camela had studies abroad and earned college credit in Greece in summer 2022 to learn about the culture and art history. In Fall 2022, she had the opportunity to study abroad again in Japan for the whole semester to further earn college credits for her Art Degree and Gender Studies minor.
Camela is affiliated with the Navajo Tribe (also known as Diné). She grew up on the Navajo reservation and moved off the reservation for college. Interning at SWCEC had been an honorable opportunity for hands-on experience and a launch to her Communication/Graphic Design career
MJ Hartweg, College and Career Pathways Intern
MJ is originally from Chicago, IL where they grew up in the Northwest suburbs before moving to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College. They are in their junior year pursuing a double major in Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies and plan to get a master's in social work to achieve their goal of becoming a high school social worker. Their passion for helping others and working with youth helps drive them towards their goals.
MJ joined the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative as the College and Career Pathways intern in April 2024 and is so excited to be a part of such an amazing team. As an intern, MJ works closely with the team to utilize data, engage with programming, and most importantly, learn more about the Collaborative and the wonderful community.
When not working with the Collaborative or in classes, they can be found working for the Boys and Girls Club, spending time with friends, at the gym, reading, or on Facetime with any of their 5 younger siblings.