Trinidad State College announces finalists in nationwide presidential search
Trinidad State’s nationwide presidential search put three finalists in front of Las Animas County, with open forums set for both campuses and a $200,000 to $220,000 salary range.
Colorado Community College System Chancellor Marielena DeSanctis named three finalists for the next president of Trinidad State College, a decision that reaches well beyond campus leadership in Trinidad and Las Animas County. The finalists were Dr. Dustin Eicke, Dr. Lisa Rhine and Shane Hamil, and the search was described as nationwide as the college looked outside southern Colorado for its next leader.
Trinidad State said the finalists were scheduled to visit both campuses April 15-21, 2026, with open forums for faculty, staff, students and community members. That matters in a county where the college is tied to workforce training, dual enrollment, student retention and the local talent pipeline that employers depend on for nurses, trades workers, transfer students and adult learners.
The job itself carries the scale of a major public executive post. A Colorado state job bulletin listed the Trinidad State College president’s salary range at $200,000 to $220,000 a year, with the primary physical work address at Trinidad State College, 600 Prospect St. Suite A in Trinidad. The bulletin opened Feb. 3, 2026 and closed March 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain.
Trinidad State’s presidential search page invited people from across the college community to meet the candidates and offer feedback, underscoring how closely the next president’s decisions will shape daily life in Las Animas County. The college’s role is not limited to academic transfer work. Its website identifies Trinidad State as granting baccalaureate degrees, reflecting an expanded mission that now stretches into more career pathways and higher-level training.
The leadership shift also marks the end of one era and the start of another. Trinidad State’s presidential welcome page featured Dr. Rhonda Epper, while the college’s administration page now lists Dr. Dustin Eicke as president. That transition shows how quickly a presidential search can move from finalist interviews to a permanent appointment at an institution that sits at the center of Trinidad’s public workforce and educational infrastructure.
For families, schools and employers from Trinidad to the rest of Las Animas County, the next president will help determine whether Trinidad State keeps more students close to home and keeps local training aligned with the region’s economic needs.
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