Whitney Pratz
Program Director
Email Whitney
970-903-7754

Colleges/Universities Attended: Colorado State University

Favorite thing about the college(s) you attended? An affordable option with a beautiful campus – I loved when all the leaves were green and gold in the fall. I also was able to go to school and be close to my friends.

Hobbies: Yoga, being an aunt, reading, doing puzzles, and mellow nature walks.

Favorite Quote:  “Everyone you ever meet will know something you don’t.” – Bill Nye (my former boss)

Whitney Pratz

Peyton Deal
Office Manager, Academic Advisor
Email Peyton
970-903-7753

Schools Served: Ignacio Middle School, Ignacio High School

Colleges/Universities Attended: Colorado Mesa University, Universidad de Murcia

Favorite thing about the college(s) you attended? My favorite part of CMU was the size of the university. It was big enough that something was always happening but small enough that it was easy to find your community. The smallness of the university made it easy to plug into/take advantage of opportunities that interested you, like studying abroad, joining clubs, and attending events. It also meant that class sizes were small, so I could develop strong relationships with my professors who have carried on past college.

Hobbies: Reading, cooking, running, traveling, yoga, spending time with loved ones, and anything that involves laughter and being in the sunshine.

Favorite Quote:  “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” -Jackie Robinson

Peyton Deal

Amanda Vodicka
Academic Advisor
Email Amanda
970-903-0180

Schools Served: Mancos Middle School, Mancos High School, Cortez Middle School, Cortez High School

Colleges/Universities Attended: Fort Lewis College

Favorite thing about the college(s) you attended? My favorite part of Fort Lewis was the mountains and getting to know my professors.

Hobbies: Exploring nature, playing music, crafting, reading, and volunteering. I love to paint watercolor scenes of rivers I visit and am usually singing to myself or other people.

Favorite Quote:  “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time” - Bertrand Russell

Amanda Vodicka

Eli Robinson
Academic Advisor
Email Eli
970-903-0431

Schools Served: Pagosa Springs Middle School, Pagosa Springs High School

College/University Attended: Whitman College, Central Washington University

Favorite thing about the college(s) you attended? I loved all of the outdoor opportunities and making close lifelong friends. Staying up late chatting and being nerds with friends and roommates. The 1:1 attention of professors you get at a small school.

Hobbies: Anything related to the outdoors! Skiing and biking and fishing. Love cooking and trying new foods too.

Favorite Quote: "But I didn’t die, I had crystallized, and now I’m a glamazon ----- ready for the runway" - Kennedy Davenport

Eli Robinson

Colton Walker
Academic Advisor
Email Colton
970-903-8688

Colleges/Universities Attended: West Virginia University, Liberty University

Favorite thing about the college(s) you attended? Home football games and the weather

Hobbies: Coaching women's basketball, fishing, hiking, and watching college football

Favorite Quote: “A person is a person through other persons” – Desmond Tutu

Colton Walker