Search Committee Chooses Two Finalists For President at CSU-Pueblo

Pueblo- A presidential search committee has recommended two finalists for the Colorado State University-Pueblo presidency to the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System.

They are Joseph Garcia, president of Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, and David Soltz, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for Central Washington University.

"We are confident that Mr. Garcia and Dr. Soltz understand the needs of the Pueblo community and the challenges facing higher education in Colorado," said Diane Evans, a member of the board of governors who served as chairwoman of the search committee.

The board of governors in February appointed a presidential search committee comprised of community, faculty, staff, student and administrative representatives. A search firm, A.T. Kearney, also assisted in the process.

In May, the committee named four finalists for the post; the last of the candidates completed visits with campus and community leaders in Pueblo last week. Also seeking the position were Jonathan Lawson, professor of the doctoral program in educational leadership at Idaho State University and former vice president for academic affairs, and Herman Lujan, provost and vice president for academic affairs for California State University, Los Angeles.

Lujan withdrew his name from consideration on Tuesday.

Garcia has served as president of Pikes Peak Community College since 2001. He previously worked as the Rocky Mountain States representative for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and a partner in the Colorado Springs office of law firm Holme Roberts & Owen. He obtained his law degree from Harvard Law School and his bachelor's degree in business from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Soltz has been provost and a professor of biology at Central Washington University since August 2001. Before joining the university, he served as dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences at California State University in Los Angeles and chairman of the biological sciences department. He obtained a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of California-Berkeley, and a doctoral degree in biology from the University of California-Los Angeles.

CSU-Pueblo President Ron Applbaum announced in October that he would resume his career as a faculty member following completion of his four-year contract in July.


Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.