PCC President Patty Erjavec, first woman president of the college, announces retirement

Pueblo Community College President Patty Erjavec will be retiring at the end of the spring 2024 semester, PCC announced Monday.

Erjavec became the first woman to serve as president of PCC on June 1, 2010. Prior to becoming PCC's 13th president, she was appointed by Colorado Gov. Bill Owens to serve on the State Board of Community Colleges. She served on the state board for eight years, chairing the board for two of those years.

Erjavec also was the the Colorado Community College System's interim president for nine months before being hired at PCC.

"After 14 years, I believe that it's time for a change... I want to spend more time with my husband, relax and enjoy the rest of my life," she told the Chieftain.

Erjavec 'poured her heart into PCC'

In a joint news release with PCC, CCCS Chancellor Joe Garcia said Erjavec "poured her heart into PCC" during her time as president.

"Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Erjavec has opened beautiful new learning facilities and pioneered many of our system's most innovative work-based learning models," Garcia said. "On behalf of CCCS and our state board, I commend her extraordinary service to Pueblo and Colorado and wish her the best of luck in retirement."

During Erjavec's 14-year tenure as president, over 31,000 students graduated with either a degree or certificate from PCC. Seven bachelor degree programs and almost 30 associate degree programs were adopted by PCC under Erjavec's leadership.

Other traditions and programs developed at PCC during her tenure include the campus-wide Celebration Walk to kick off the beginning of each academic year, customized training for businesses through Pueblo Corporate College and the Return to Earn scholarship program providing personalized support to students.

Erjavec's efforts also helped create the college's Teaching and Learning Center at St. Mary Corwin Hospital. The Teaching and Learning Center is home to PCC's nursing and allied health degree programs.

'I will remain their biggest fan'

Erjavec's time as president of PCC officially ends on May 31. While she said she will continue to be a supporter of the college, she does not have any plans to be directly involved post-retirement.

"I will remain their biggest fan — I know that, but at this point I have no plans," Erjavec said. "It will really be important for the new president to be able to charter their own territory and while I would be supportive, I do not expect that I would interfere or influence in any way."

The search for PCC's next president will be carried out by CCCS. Details about how the search for the new president will be carried out and how community members will be involved will be released in coming months, according to the news release. Erjavec said she will not be involved in the search process.

"We just have eight more months to do good work and that's what I intend to do," Erjavec said.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: PCC's first woman president Patty Erjavec set to retire after 14 years