Joe Garcia serves as chancellor of the Colorado Community College System. Previously, he was president of WICHE. Garcia left his dual role as Colorado lieutenant governor and executive director of the state’s Department of Higher Education and served as the seventh president of WICHE since its founding 62 years ago.
Before his inauguration as lieutenant governor in 2011 and re-election in 2015, Garcia was president of Colorado State University-Pueblo. During his four-year tenure there, he helped the institution overcome financial difficulties and stagnant enrollment, and enhanced its reputation through aggressive marketing and nontraditional solutions. Previously, he was president of Colorado’s second-largest community college, Pikes Peak Community College, overseeing three campuses serving more than 16,000 students a year.