Dr. Marielena DeSanctis has been named the next president of the Community College of Denver (CCD).

She succeeds Dr. Everette Freeman, who retired on Dec. 31. DeSanctis will assume the role on Jan. 15.

CCD is located on the Auraria Campus, 777 Lawrence St. in Denver, and shares the campus with Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado-Denver.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. DeSanctis and are confident that she will provide the right energy, expertise and collaborative leadership for CCD,” said Joe Garcia, chancellor of the Colorado Community College System, in a news release. “With six years of experience as an engineer for a top manufacturing company and over 22 years as a leader in education, Dr. DeSanctis exemplifies deep understanding of issues facing students and higher education, a bold vision for the future, and the executive experience to manage the intersection of sustaining financial health and innovation.”

A news release states that DeSanctis “has led academic, equity and innovation programs in various roles, (and) brings demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing access to higher education, increasing student success and closing equity gaps.” She comes to Colorado after most recently serving as the provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Broward College in Florida.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected by the (Colorado Community College System’s) chancellor to take on this important role for both the college and the surrounding community,” DeSanctis said in a news release. “With over 50 years of rich history, CCD is an incredibly strong and vibrant institution, and it will have an enormous impact on the future of the city and state. The CCD community has done a lot in recent years to prepare for the next chapter and I am excited to become a part of this transformative work.”