Dr. Dustin Eicke named next president of Trinidad State College

Trinidad State College has its next president, and the choice lands at a moment when the school’s reach stretches well beyond campus walls in Trinidad and Alamosa. Dr. Dustin Eicke was named to the post after a nationwide search, with the college and Colorado Community College System pointing to the role Trinidad State plays in workforce training, student access and local economic stability across Southern Colorado.

Eicke is scheduled to begin June 15, taking over from Dr. Rhonda Epper, who left Trinidad State in December to become president of Colorado State University Pueblo. The selection followed a process that included public feedback sessions in Trinidad and on the Valley Campus in April, a sign that the college wanted input from the communities most affected by who leads it.

That matters in Las Animas County because Trinidad State is not just a symbol of higher education, it is a local pipeline for jobs, dual enrollment, technical training and college access. Established in 1925, the college is described by the Colorado Community College System as the first community college in Colorado. It serves campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa, and the institution says it awards more than $500,000 in scholarships each year while fielding 17 athletic teams that help keep students connected to campus life.

Eicke arrives from Laramie County Community College, where he serves as vice president of performance and planning and accreditation liaison officer. LCCC’s cabinet roster lists him in that role, and the college said in 2022 that he had joined the school as a vice president. His background includes institutional planning, accreditation, assessment, analytics, strategic initiatives, sponsored awards, strategic enrollment management, budget planning and governance, all responsibilities that could shape how Trinidad State recruits students, supports programs and aligns training with employer demand.

The search centered on those kinds of priorities. Trinidad State said Eicke was chosen from a competitive pool that drew input from stakeholders across the college and surrounding communities. Chancellor Dr. Marielena DeSanctis said she expects him to bring strategic leadership, partnership building, enrollment growth, data-informed decision-making and community engagement, while staying visible in the communities the college serves.

Eicke said he is honored to join Trinidad State and serve Southern Colorado, calling the college’s history, community roots and mission important for students and the broader region. For Trinidad and Las Animas County, the appointment now shifts the focus to what comes next: whether the new president can strengthen enrollment, deepen local partnerships and keep Trinidad State central to the county’s workforce and educational future.