NEWS

CSU Pueblo President Timothy Mottet to depart from university in December

James Bartolo
The Pueblo Chieftain
Colorado State University Pueblo President Timothy Mottet talks about his first few weeks in Pueblo in this Chieftain file photo from 2017. CSU Pueblo announced Monday that Mottet will leave the university at the end of the year.

After six years leading Colorado State University Pueblo, President Timothy Mottet is on his way out.

CSU Pueblo announced Monday that Mottet will be leaving the university after Dec. 31.

"It is with an enormous sense of gratitude that I am announcing my departure from Colorado State University Pueblo," Mottet said in a news release. "Though we have made many positive strides since 2017... it's time for CSU Pueblo to take the next steps in the journey to become the people's university."

In July 2017, Mottet succeeded Lesley Di Mare to be the 15th president in CSU Pueblo's history. Mottet had previously held positions at Texas State University, the University of Texas-Pan American and Northwest Missouri State University. At CSU Pueblo, he oversaw the creation of several graduate and post-graduate programs, an over $75 million investment in capital projects and the securing of over $23 million in external funding.

CSU Pueblo commencementPhotos: CSU Pueblo Class of 2023 commencement ceremony

Under Mottet's leadership, CSU Pueblo's response to the COVID-19 pandemic received a 2021 Excellence and Innovation Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

In 2022, Mottet and CSU Pueblo rolled out the Colorado Promise Scholarship — an initiative that paid tuition for first-time college students with gross family incomes of $50,000 or less. This fall, the scholarship was extended to benefit students with family incomes of $70,000 or less.

Colorado State University Pueblo President Timothy Mottet speaks to graduates during the school's commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

A joint statement from CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank and Board of Governors chair Armando Valdez credited Mottet with strengthening the school's financial accountability, expanding private fundraising efforts and working to ensure student success.

"Despite our efforts to persuade him to stay, we understand this is a personal decision based on what he and Rick want to accomplish in the next chapter of their lives," the joint statement said. "And so, we join all of you in wishing them both the very best — and thanking Tim for his strong, thoughtful and steadfast leadership of the campus during an extremely complex and challenging time."

Plans to conduct a search for Mottet's successor will be discussed by the CSU Board of Governors in the following weeks. Plans will incorporate the CSU Pueblo community and other stakeholders, according to the Board of Governors.

"We need to ensure strong, engaged, and innovative leadership to keep CSU Pueblo moving steadily ahead," the statement said. "To that end, the Board will work with President Mottet over the intervening months to assure that CSU Pueblo continues to move forward, setting the stage for the next President. We have every confidence that Tim will continue to provide thoughtful stewardship for CSU Pueblo."

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com.

Sturm Collaboration CampusCSU Pueblo celebrates first graduating class from Castle Rock campus