Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent of Durango 9-R, Board Chair

Karen Cheser, Ed.D., is Superintendent of Durango School District 9-R in Durango, CO and was previously superintendent of award-winning Fort Thomas Independent Schools and Deputy Superintendent/ CAO of Boone County Schools, both in the Northern KY/ Cincinnati area.

Prior to working in education as a teacher, coach, literacy and math specialist, principal, state Distinguished Educator and district administrator, Karen worked for Procter & Gamble Inc. in sales management. Karen has been instrumental in bringing innovation, student agency, and a focus on future workforce to the regions in which she has worked.

Karen earned an Ed.D. (Educational Leadership and Business Informatics) from Northern KY University and has presented at numerous conferences on topics such as designing innovation, strategic planning, process improvement, student empowerment, global competency, 21st century skills, dispositional hiring and leading higher academic standards. Karen is mom to two college-aged sons, wife to an entrepreneur/ woodworker, loves to travel, and coaches robotics in her spare time.

Leon Handhart, Superintendent of Bayfield School District, Board Member

Chris deKay, Superintendent of Ingacio School District, Board Member

Dr. Jenni Trujillo, Dean of School of Education, Fort Lewis College, Board Member

Dr. Jenni Trujillo has worked as a bilingual multicultural educator for 25 years serving in English Learner education--ranging from classroom teacher to EL/Bilingual Director to college professor to author. Her publications include several articles and an EL literacy program consisting of four student textbooks and their accompanying teacher’s guides. The National Geographic series was the most widely adopted ESL textbook in the nation for students in grades 4-12 (2010) and was used to teach English in 26 states, Mexico, China, Canada, and Costa Rica. She has conducted multiple academic presentations promoting effective education of English Learners at a variety of conferences at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. She served as an advisory board member of Teaching Tolerance (part of the Southern Poverty law Center) where she focused on culturally responsive instruction and social justice in education. Dr. Trujillo also worked with teachers and students in the Southwest and the Navajo Nation for over two decades through the Native American Teacher Education Outreach Program at Fort Lewis College, as well as teaching in the on-campus program in the Teacher Education Department. In addition, she taught in a Service-Learning Program in Bahía de Kino, Sonora, Mexico and has also worked with the Ute tribes in Indigenous language revitalization. She was the National Director of English Language Acquisition for Pearson Education where she worked with educators in 40 states and 11 countries. She later served as the Director of English Language Learner Initiatives at Learning in Motion in Santa Cruz, CA. In that role, she worked on a variety of initiatives including the development of a tablet-based literacy program, collaboration on a large-scale research project in math with the American Institutes for Research, and a STEM curriculum with Stanford University. Most recently, she co-authored four textbooks and a curriculum for EL newcomers at the early elementary, elementary, middle school and high school levels with Vista Higher Learning. She returned to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado in 2020 where she currently serves as Dean of the School of Education. In that role, she has been very involved in rural education, as well as state and national initiatives on diversifying the educator workforce.

Gina Schulz, Parent Representative, Board Member

Gina Schulz has been an active member of the Southwest Community for 25 years. A resident of Ignacio, she is a mother and grandmother and was a licensed Therapeutic Foster Parent for at-risk adolescents from across the 4 Corners region.  She has been working with youth and families in and out of schools as an Advocate, Coach, Tutor, Teacher, Aide and Volunteer Coordinator since 1996. She has served on numerous local Boards, Advisory, Accountability and Policy Committees through the years always with the same end goal - empowering and engaging the community for success. She has applied her degree in Communication Studies in the business sector as a Marketing & Sales Manager as well as National & International Business Development in Finance.

When not involved in and supporting activities with her husband and children she enjoys reading, ministry and cuddling the family pets. One of her favorite quotes and guiding principles is from Aristotle, "Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort and intelligent execution."

J.J. Desrosiers, Industry Representative, Board Member

J.J. Desrosiers is a dedicated professional working at the intersection of economics, non-profits, and community development. He is an active Board Member of the First Southwest Community Fund and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, representing industry interests in the region.

Education has been a cornerstone of J.J.’s journey. In 2023, he graduated with honors from Fort Lewis College, earning dual majors in Economics and Business Analytics. His academic and professional achievements reflect a strong commitment to fostering economic growth and educational opportunities in Southwest Colorado. In his free time, he is also an Eagle Scout, Raft Guide, and Dance Instructor.

J.J.'s contributions to youth development are particularly noteworthy. He has been recognized numerous times for his exceptional work with young people, positively impacting the next generation’s lives. He has spoken extensively about strategies for achieving a debt-free college experience, and his published work includes an environmental impact study on creative parking solutions in an academic journal. His strategic insight and passion for education make him a valuable advocate for both students and industry within the Collaborative.

Joe Claunch, Tribal Representative, Board Member

Lisa Jacket , Tribal Representative, Board Member

I’m a member of Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and live on the reservation. I attended school in a rural area where most students are bussed 15 miles to Cortez, Colorado to attend public school, and it took me off to other avenues to seek my education. It felt important to embrace my heritage. I also attended other schooling - a boarding school in Oklahoma. My family strives for education as a main priority and to bring back knowledge and to use what we achieved in our degree to help people in all avenues to advocate for the Membership. 

I manage to utilize the skills I obtained in my education. I received my GED and kept going to receive my Associates in Business and managed to maintain my GPA at the Southwest Community College/ Pueblo Community College. I was inducted into PHi Theta Kappa.

I am currently a homemaker and share a home with my companion. I have 5 adult children and 7 grandchildren. I enjoy and teach the importance of education. 

I seek the opportunity of a position with the SWCEC board and be the voice and advocate for a strong voice for UMUT in education

Dr. K. Kevin Aten, Interim Campus Administrator, Pueblo Community College, Board Member

Kevin Aten is a lifelong resident of Southwest Colorado, and currently serving as the interim Campus Leader of Pueblo Community College Southwest.  Kevin is also teaching at Fort Lewis College and Minot State University in North Dakota with coursework centering on education, leadership, and data-driven instruction.  

He earned his Doctor of Education in Education Studies, Change, and Reform from the University of Northern Colorado. He has traveled all over Western America as an educational consultant helping districts and K-12 schools reach consensus to establish safe and welcoming environments for staff, students, and families. In his free time, he has been a youth sports official for over 40 years. He and his wife Betty, a retired 33-year National Board Certified high school English teacher, are the proud parents of two sons, William, 33, and Alexander, 31.

Joe Theine, MHCDS, MBA - CEO, Southwest Health System, Board Member