I am writing to share that Ryan Simmons will be departing as Colorado College’s Vice President for Human Resources. His last day with the College will be July 1.
I am deeply grateful for Ryan’s leadership of the Office of Human Resources over the past four years. As a member of Cabinet, Ryan helped guide the College through significant changes while championing a workplace where employees feel supported, valued, and able to thrive.
Under Ryan’s leadership, the College implemented a new compensation philosophy focused on internal and external equity, market competitiveness, and a commitment to paying a living wage to all benefits-eligible employees. He led a comprehensive role assessment and re-banding initiative, expanded and clarified employee benefits, and prioritized programs and policies that center employee wellbeing and professional growth.
Just as importantly, Ryan proactively advanced Human Resources’ role as a true campus partner with a broad vision of the employee experience. To achieve this, he assembled and developed a talented team of HR professionals with the expertise to serve as trusted resources and advisors. Together, the division modernized key operations, freeing up capacity for broader employee engagement; expanded leadership development and supervisor support; and built a more responsive and employee-centric approach to HR. Thanks to his efforts and those of the team he’s built, the College’s employee turnover rate decreased from nearly 25% to 17% during his tenure.
Moving forward, Human Resources will be led by an Associate Vice President reporting to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Lori Seager. This adjustment reflects both the strength of the Human Resources team and the vital work of realigning resources in moments when organizational transitions create opportunity.
Thanks to the strong foundation Ryan has built with his team, Human Resources is well positioned to continue supporting our staff and faculty through CC’s next chapter. Additional information about the AVP hiring process will be available in the coming weeks.
I know I speak for many when I say that Ryan’s leadership, strategic partnership, and presence on campus will be missed. Please join me in wishing him every success in the next chapter of his career.
With appreciation,
