The 2024-2025 CASFA/FAFSA are open; please expect intermittent FAFSA access.

 
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2022 COSI Symposium Program

Welcome to the 2022 COSI Symposium! This program is your guide to the schedule and events. You'll find more detailed information on the sessions and the speakers in the tabs below.

                  Quick Overview of the Schedule

Thursday, July 21, 2022 (Pre-Symposium)

Time

Event

Location

1 pm - 4pm

Pre-Symposium Session

Breakout rooms (see session details for room number)

4 pm – 6:30 pm

Happy Hour

Manning's Steaks & Spirits

11100 West Alameda Ave Lakewood, CO 80226

Friday, July 22, 2022

Time

Event

Location

8 am – 9 am

Check-in & Breakfast

Community Room

9 am – 9:30

Welcome

Community Room

9:45 am – 10:45 am

Session 1

Breakout rooms (see session details for room number)

11 am – 12 pm

Keynote Address

Community Room

12 pm – 1 pm

Lunch

Community Room

1 pm – 2 pm

Session 2

Breakout rooms (see session details for room number)

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

Session 3

Breakout rooms (see session details for room number)

3:30 – 4 pm

Closing

Community Room

 

COSI Symposium Overall Evaluation

Thanks for joining us for this pre-symposium day! We will have an afternoon session with two presentations to select from, followed by a networking happy hour. See the tabs below with more details on each event.

1pm - 4pm Pre-Symposium Session 
 

Holistic Student Support Programming for Returning Adults

Speaker: Kris Hoffhines, Senior Advisor, One Million Degrees

Room: Greys and Torreys

Description: Adult students who return to college require unique support in order to achieve their academic goals. This interactive session will explore the various components of the unique holistic student support model of One Million Degrees.  Specific strategies for recruiting adult learners, creating a community that fosters academic, personal & professional success, and effective case management approaches will be provided. 

Evaluation

Supporting Undocumented Students – Best Practices & Updates from MSU Denver’s Immigrant Services Program

Speakers: Gregor Mieder, Director of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver; Estéfani Peña Figueroa, Student Success Specialist of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver; Nayeli Sanchez, Peer Mentor of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Room: Community Room

Description: This interactive workshop will focus on developing welcoming, safe, and effective learning spaces for DACA and undocumented students and adult learners. Specifically, the workshop will review:

Current local, state, and federal data on and relevant information about undocumented students and communities General information about and practice activities relating to various pathways to Permanent Residency and citizenship

 

  • The current state of DACA and recent legislative developments in Colorado impacting undocumented/non-work-authorized individuals
  • Using inclusive language when working with or alongside undocumented folks
  • Best practices from Metropolitan State University and beyond to supporting DACA and undocumented youth and adult learners
  • Resources regarding financial aid, prof. licensure, scholarships, in-state tuition, CASFA, and more
  • Hear directly from an immigrant college student about their experience, challenges, and sources of strength and support
  • Through practice activities and many opportunities to ask questions and provide your own insights and tips, this training hopes to be collaborative, engaging, and informative!

Evaluation

4 pm - 6:30 pm Networking Happy Hour

Join us for a Networking Happy Hour! COSI will provide light appetizers and drinks are on your own. This is an informal event to connect and network.

 Thursday, June 21

4 - 6:30 pm

Manning’s Steak & Spirits

11100 West Alameda Ave Lakewood, CO 80226

Visit Website

Sign and front doors of building.

 

 

 

Welcome to the COSI Symposium! You can check in at the registration table in the community room starting at  8 am. A breakfast and coffee bar will be available during that time. Please view the drop-down options below for details on the schedule and sessions. 

9 am - 9:30 Welcome

Welcome

Speakers: Angela King, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Foundation & Advancement Team; Dr. Angie Paccione, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education: Dr. Cynthia Armendariz, Senior Director of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative

Room: Community Room

Description: Welcome and overview of the day.

Photo of angie

Dr. Angie Paccione

Executive Director

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Dr. Angie Paccione (Pah-CHŌ- nēē) is the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. She has been a professional athlete, a high school educator, administrator, and coach, a university professor, a state legislator, a global corporate consultant, and an award-winning author. Through all the work she has done, Dr. Paccione continues to be committed to activating the potential of others.

photo of Cynthia Armendariz

Dr. Cynthia Armendariz

COSI Senior Director

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Dr. Cynthia Armendariz has worked in the higher education field for over 15 years, serving traditional, non-traditional, and transfer students focusing on access and student success. She received her bachelor's degree in business management from the Metropolitan State University of Denver, her master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her Ph.D. in education and human resource studies/higher education leadership at Colorado State University. Cynthia's passion and research are focused on developing programs and strategies to increase enrollment, persistence, and credential completion of underserved students.

9:45 am - 10:45 am Session 1

In this hour, you’ll have 5 sessions to choose from. Please note that some sessions are available in more than one time slot. Sessions will be limited to 20 - 25 attendees.

Leveraging equity-focused, career-connected pathways to transform education-to-workforce systems.

Speaker: Kelly Mitchell, The Attainment Network

Room: 2301

Description: The Attainment Network is built on the powerful shared principle that education fuels our country’s economic engine. Together, we are mobilizing a network of partners to dramatically increase the number and diversity of Colorado learners who earn a degree or another educational credential that leads to family living wage employment. Much of our previous work has been in building partnerships between school districts, post-secondary institutions, and various state agencies, and we are now working to establish a scalable and replicable model that will positively impact communities across Colorado and the nation. Over the course of this 50-minute presentation, we will introduce our career-connected pathways model, spotlight some of our partners’ successes, and present opportunities to engage in this exciting work.

Evaluation

Financial Aid: FAFSA Toolkit

Speaker: Fernando Gomez, Financial Aid Manager of Work-study and Customer Service from Red Rocks Community College

Room: 2307

Description: This session provides insight into the FAFSA completion process. It will provide best practices on completing the FAFSA. It will also dive into sections where errors and confusion most occur. We will take a quick look at the similarities/contrasts between the FAFSA and CAFSA. And we will go over upcoming changes for the overhauled financial aid application that takes effect for the 2023-2024 award year.

Evaluation

Branding and Social Media

Speaker: Edward Quinones, Communications Specialist, Colorado Department of Higher Education

Room: 2315

Description: A brief overview of branding guidelines, efforts, and how to use social media to boost the COSI program for their organization

Evaluation

How Colorado Mountain College Implements COSI Grants

Speakers: Brandy Baze-Ballard (she/her/hers), Director of Strategic Initiatives, Cinthia Nevarez Ruiz (she/her/ella), Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives, & Joshua Robinson (he/him/his), Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives

Room: 2305

Description: Colorado Mountain College currently has over 30 active COSI grants, including Back to Work, Finish What You Started, Matching Student Scholarships, CPP Postsecondary & Precollegiate, and Workforce Scholarships. We’ll discuss our departmental structure, collaborations with Institutional Research, Admissions, Financial Aid, and campuses to support students and create institutional change. We’ll also go over our application and awarding process (hint: it’s not the Foundation), our Statements of Work, and how we approach applying to COSI grants!

Evaluation

Chat with COSI

Room: 2303

Description: Have a COSI question or just want to chat with staff? Stop by and meet with some of the team. During this time, Mariana DelMonte-Gladstone, Jacquie Granados, Michael McArthur, & Maria Snow will be available. 

 

11 am - 12 pm Keynote Address
Keynote Address

Speaker: Dr. Roberto Montoya, Chief Educational Equity Officer, Colorado Department of Higher Education

Room: Community Room 
Photo of Roberto Montoya

Dr. Montoya has worked and researched at all levels of the educational system. He began his career as a diversity recruiter for Colorado Mesa University and traveled across the state and Southwest to recruit students from diverse populations. He worked in enrollment at Regis University, and more recently, at the University of Colorado Denver as an instructor and on various research projects and grants that focused on educational equity and justice in public PK-12 schools and higher education. He also worked in the private sector for two different Fortune 500 companies. In these roles, he led dynamic and diverse teams that focused on equity initiatives and advocacy programs. He served as the manager of diversity and engagement for the City and County of Denver at the Denver International Airport. Most recently, he worked at Race Forward as the west regional manager for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity. In this role, he was responsible for working with, coaching, and guiding mayors, city managers, city councils, and appointed officials in crafting, establishing, implementing, and honing policies, practices, procedures, and legislation that focused on equity.

In August 2021, The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) hired Dr. Montoya, to take on the new position of chief educational equity officer. The new position supports the Department’s diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity (DIJE) goals and promotes the vision of a Colorado higher education community that is inclusive and deliberate in erasing the persistent equity gaps in educational attainment across all student demographic categories. The chief educational equity officer serves as a catalyst and advocate for educational equity initiatives and systemic change at Colorado’s institutions of higher education to develop quick and sustaining results that support historically racialized, underrepresented, and marginalized students.

Dr. Montoya has numerous peer-reviewed publications, and his research focuses on LatCrit, educational equity, speculative race fiction, and teacher education. He holds a B.S. in political science from Colorado Mesa University, an M.A. in ethnic studies from Regis University, and a Ph.D. in urban education from the University of Colorado Denver. Forged in the barrios of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dr. Montoya is committed to community, praxis, and elevating BILPOC epistemologies. He is a father, partner, scholar, educator, and self-proclaimed jazz and hip-hop head.

12 pm - 1 pm Lunch

Lunch will be provided by Strawberries Catering and served in the community room.

1pm - 2pm Session 2

In this hour, you’ll have 5 sessions to choose from. Please note that some sessions are available in more than one time slot.  Sessions will be limited to 20 - 25 attendees.

Financial Aid: FAFSA Toolkit

Speaker: Fernando Gomez, Financial Aid Manager of Work-study and Customer Service from Red Rocks Community College

Room:2307

Description: This session provides insight into the FAFSA completion process. It will provide best practices for completing the FAFSA. It will also dive into sections where errors and confusion most occur. We will take a quick look at the similarities/contrasts between the FAFSA and CAFSA. And we will go over upcoming changes for the overhauled financial aid application that takes effect for the 2023-2024 award year.

Evaluation

Creating a Volunteer Professional Coaching Program to Support FWYS Students

Speakers: PuraCarina Gonzalez, Director of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives OMD; Kris Hoffhines, Senior Advisor OMD

Room: 2301

Description: Professional volunteer coaches are a critical part of an effective holistic student support model. These volunteers provide essential support and guidance that FWYS Scholars need to achieve their personal and professional goals. This session will provide an overview of the key components of an effective coaching program and some quick tips on how to create your own volunteer professional coaching program.

Evaluation

Supporting Undocumented College Students – Overview and Updates

Speakers: Gregor Mieder, Director of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Estéfani Peña Figueroa, Student Success Specialist of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver, & Nayeli Sanchez, Peer Mentor of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Room: 2303

Description: The session will focus on current local, state, and federal data on and relevant information about undocumented students and communities. Learn the current state of DACA and recent legislative developments in Colorado impacting undocumented/non-work-authorized individuals. Learn how your programs can support DACA and undocumented youth and adult learners (financial aid, scholarships, in-state tuition, CASFA, and more).

Evaluation

Operationalizing Equity

Speaker: Dr. Roberto Montoya, Chief Educational Equity Officer, Colorado Department of Higher Education

Room: 2305

Description: Participants will strengthen equity practices for themselves and their organizations and institutions. This session will strengthen participants' collective analysis of operationalizing equity while providing useful tools and frameworks to shift power within groups, institutions, and other formations seeking to advance equity during these difficult times.

Evaluation

Leading Learners to Their Future in the Workforce

Speakers: Susan Paulsen, Consultant-Digital Tools, Colorado Workforce Development Council

Room: 2315

Description: Discover how Colorado learners can explore postsecondary training options aligned with their unique interests. My Colorado Journey empowers case managers and career counselors to assist students as they learn about occupations, career pathways, and related education requirements. This fun, interactive session will demonstrate how you can connect students with a self-guided process that provides personalized recommendations for what they may like to pursue, and presents outcomes, goals, and steps to learn more about themselves and their paths of interest. As students identify interests and potential programs, you can suggest additional activities, monitor their progress, and gain insight into support services they may need, many of which are available directly through My Colorado Journey. My Colorado Journey is a free resource from the State of Colorado that centralizes the state’s most powerful career, education, and human services resources in one user-friendly online platform.

Evaluation

 

2:15pm - 3:15pm Session 3

In this hour, you’ll have 5 sessions to choose from.  Sessions will be limited to 20 - 25 attendees.

Operationalizing Equity

Speaker: Dr. Roberto Montoya, Chief Educational Equity Officer, Colorado Department of Higher Education

Room: 2305

Description: Participants will strengthen equity practices for themselves and their organizations and institutions. This session will strengthen participants' collective analysis of operationalizing equity while providing useful tools and frameworks to shift power within groups, institutions, and other formations seeking to advance equity during these difficult times.

Evaluation

Branding and Social Media

Speaker: Edward Quinones, Communications Specialist, Colorado Department of Higher Education

Room: 2315

Description: A brief overview of branding guidelines, efforts, and how to use social media to boost the COSI program for their organization

Evaluation

Creating a Volunteer Professional Coaching Program to Support FWYS Students

Speakers: PuraCarina Gonzalez, Director of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives OMD; Kris Hoffhines, Senior Advisor OMD

Room: 2301

Description: Professional volunteer coaches are a critical part of an effective holistic student support model. These volunteers provide essential support and guidance that FWYS Scholars need to achieve their personal and professional goals. This session will provide an overview of the key components of an effective coaching program and some quick tips on how to create your own volunteer professional coaching program.

Evaluation

Supporting Undocumented College Students – Overview and Updates

Speakers: Gregor Mieder, Director of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Estéfani Peña Figueroa, Student Success Specialist of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver, & Nayeli Sanchez, Peer Mentor of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Room: 2303

Description: The session will focus on current local, state, and federal data on and relevant information about undocumented students and communities. Learn the current state of DACA and recent legislative developments in Colorado impacting undocumented/non-work-authorized individuals. Learn how your programs can support DACA and undocumented youth and adult learners (financial aid, scholarships, in-state tuition, CASFA, and more).

Evaluation

Chat with COSI

Room: 2307

Description: Have a COSI question or just want to chat with staff? Stop by and meet with some of the team. During this time, Carla Castillo, Mariana DelMonte-Gladstone, Jacquie Granados, & Kolby Knupp will be available.

3:30pm - 4pm Closing

Closing. Please join us to wrap up the day and for a drawing to win professional development funds of up to $1,500!

 

Photo of Brandy

Brandy Baze-Ballard

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Colorado Mountain College

Session: How Colorado Mountain College Implements COSI Grants

Brandy Baze-Ballard has been in her role at CMC since 2020. She has over 12 years of experience in higher education including software implementations, college athletics, undergraduate, graduate, and medical school recruitment and admissions. She came to CMC from Front Range Community College where she led the implementations of EAB Navigate Explore & Strategic Care as well as FRCC’s Online Student Orientation. She graduated with her M.A. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Missouri – Kansas City after she completed her B.S in Physical Education at the University of Arkansas. Brandy's primary role is to manage the implementation of strategic initiatives related to student success initiatives, typically Student Affairs related. Current projects include the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) and CMC's new online orientation. 

Bio photo

Estéfani Peña Figueroa

Student Success Specialist of the Immigrant Services Program, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Session: Supporting Undocumented College Students – Overview and Updates

Estéfani Peña Figueroa (She/Her/Ella) was born in Guatemala and came to the United States when she was 7 years old. She is a recent MSU Denver alumna, class of 2020. She is a Student Success Specialist with the Immigrant Services program, supports TheDream.US scholars, and is an advisor for RISE student leadership. As a DACA recipient and first-generation student, she is very passionate about advocating and supporting her immigrant community. Estéfani enjoys swimming, dancing, singing, exploring the outdoors, cooking, and taking care of her plants.

Photo with man with microphone and script

Fernando Gomez

Financial Aid Manager of Work-study and Customer Service

Session: Financial Aid/FAFSA Toolkit

Fernando Gomez (he/him) is a Financial Aid Manager at Red Rocks Community College. He has over 15 years of Financial Aid experience that ranges from private universities, medical schools, and community colleges. BA education was provided by the University of Texas at Austin, and Master in Creative Writing by the University of Denver. He is finishing up an

additional Masters in Nonprofit Management focusing in Advocacy and Outreach. He recently

completed a fellowship with CDHE regarding the social determinants that affect student success. His interest look to cultivate connections and advocate for education in communities of all kinds.

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Dr. Kris Hoffhines

Senior Advisor

One Million Degrees

Session: Creating a Volunteer Professional Coaching Program to Support FWYS Students

 Dr. Kris Hoffhines is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience as a counselor, community college administrator, and social justice educator.  Dr. Hoffhines most recently served in the role of Associate Dean of Student Development & Advising Services, and Director of the President’s Leadership Academy at Harper College in Palatine, IL. Prior to her most recent roles, she served as the Founding Director of One Million Degrees at Harper College. As the OMD Director, she successfully implemented a customized version of OMD that met the needs of the Harper community while maintaining the integrity of the OMD model.  Since the program’s inception in 2014 with 40 students, OMD @Harper has grown to support 200 low-income students each year to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.

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Gregor Mieder

Director of the Immigrant Services Program

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Session: Supporting Undocumented College Students – Overview and Updates

Gregor Mieder moved to the US when he was 21 years old; over the past 15 years, he has lived in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Colorado. Utilizing his MA in Applied Linguistics, he has been working for and with a number of refugee and literacy programs as well as ESL college programs, writing centers, and student support program. Since 2015, he has worked as the Coordinator and subsequently Director of the Immigrant Services Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is passionate about educational access, especially for students who often are not provided or receive information that is central to successfully entering, paying for, and graduating from college.

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Kelly Mitchell

Pathways Director

The Attainment Network

Session: Leveraging equity-focused, career-connected pathways to transform education-to-workforce systems

Kelly Mitchell is a Pathways Director with over a decade of experience in K-12 education, workforce development, leadership, and improving equitable outcomes with communities. Kelly’s relationship and partnership building skills, along with skills in strategic planning, project management, and human and equity centered leadership help her to lead in this crucial space of driving transformation in American education to career systems.

Previously to her work at The Attainment Network, Kelly was the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Coordinator for the state of Colorado. In that role she supported connections between industry and education and the development of work-based learning programs in K-12. Prior to her work at the state level, Kelly was a teacher, math intervention program manager, and administrator in K-12 schools.

Kelly was born and raised in Colorado and earned her bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Colorado State University and her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Denver. As part of her work, Kelly leads utilizing the perspective of her spirited elementary schooler, Hazel.

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Cinthia Nevarez Ruiz

Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives

Colorado Mountain College

Session: How Colorado Mountain College Implements COSI Grants

Cinthia Nevarez Ruiz graduated with a BS in Human Services from the University of Northern Colorado. As a student at UNCo she found her passion in higher education while working at the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center. Cinthia joined CMC in 2018 as a TRIO Upward Bound West Garfield intern and then transitioned to the Upward Bound administration. Cinthia’s primary role is assisting with the implementation of college-wide programs and initiatives such as the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) and Fund Sueños. 

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Susan Paulsen

Consultant-Digital Tools
Colorado Workforce Development Council

Session: Leading Learners to Their Future in the Workforce

Susan Paulsen serves as a consultant for digital tools at the Colorado Workforce Development Council, with a focus on the successful implementation of the My Colorado Journey platform. Susan works with a variety of stakeholders to advance the development of My Colorado Journey in support of talent development, identification of career pathways, and expanded connections among employers, job seekers, and students.


Susan previously worked in public education at the district and state levels in roles related to communications and information technology. She enjoys diving into data to discover how digital tools can strengthen personal connections and lead to opportunities for Coloradans within all walks of life.

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Edward Quinones

Communications Specialist

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Session: Branding and Social Media

Edward joined the CDHE team in August 2021. Born and raised in Denver, Edward experienced first-hand the educational inequities. As the son of a single mother who immigrated from Mexico in her teens, Edward became the first in his family to graduate from college in 2011 and started his career in Communications at the Alzheimer’s Association. Thereafter, he felt a need to continue to make a difference, but this time in education. Edward joined DSST Public Schools and worked his way up to be a Dean of Students. After nearly a decade working in middle school and high school settings, he wanted to see his impact reach beyond the confines of school buildings and decided to return to his college passion of communications. He was fortunate enough to find a position in CDHE, which blends both his passions of education and communications.

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Joshua Robinson

Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives

Colorado Mountain College

Session: How Colorado Mountain College Implements COSI Grants

Joshua Robinson has over four years of experience in higher education in the areas of pre-collegiate student support, living-learning communities, advising, research support, and grant implementation. He came to CMC from Colorado State University Pueblo, where he served as the COSI advisor and led COSI programs and initiatives. He received his MS in Higher Education Administration from St. Cloud State University after completing his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. Joshua most recently was accepted to DU’s doctoral program. Joshua’s primary role is assisting with the implementation of college-wide programs and initiatives such as the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI).

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Nayeli Sanchez

Peer Mentor of the Immigrant Services Program

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Session: How Colorado Mountain College Implements COSI Grants

Nayeli Sanchez was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco and came to Colorado with her mom and older sister when she was only 2 years old. She graduated high school and was unsure if she wanted to go to college, but with encouragement of her family, she decided to attend MSU Denver. There she received a full ride scholarship her sophomore year and has exceed since. She is a Peer Mentor at the Immigrant Services Program and starting on her 4th year this upcoming semester pursuing a bachelor's in business management. She enjoys helping her immigrant community because she understands the struggles of the unknown and giving back some of the help she has received. 

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