Three regents take their oaths of office
Three members of the Board of Regents on Tuesday took their oaths of office during a ceremony at CU Denver’s Student Commons Building, formally beginning their six-year terms.
Taking part were the victors of three races decided last November: Board of Regents Vice Chair Ken Montera, who was reelected to his seat in District 5; Elliott Hood, elected by voters statewide as the board’s at-large member; and Ray Scott, elected in the 3rd Congressional District.
Unexpected circumstances led to only one of the three, Scott, being able to attend in person. Montera’s travel from his Colorado Springs home was thwarted by winter weather, while Hood was ill with COVID. Both took their oaths and spoke to the audience remotely via Zoom.
Monica M. Márquez, chief justice of Colorado’s Supreme Court, led the swearings-in at the event, which was attended by numerous CU leaders including President Todd Saliman, Board of Regents Chair Callie Rennison and Regents Nolbert Chavez, Wanda James, Frank McNulty, Ilana Spiegel and Mark VanDriel. CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz, CU Denver Interim Chancellor Ann Schmiesing and CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman also were on hand. Like Montera, UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet was unable to travel to the event due to weather.
Ken Montera, R-Colorado Springs, has represented the 5th Congressional District since being appointed to the board by Gov. Jared Polis in December 2021; voters returned him to the board in 2022.
Since becoming a regent, Montera has been elected vice chair unanimously three times. He also serves as chair of the Investment Advisory Committee and vice chair of the Regents Finance and University Affairs committees. A Pueblo native and graduate of the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business, Montera spent over 30 years as a senior executive in four Fortune 200 companies.
Elliott Hood, D-Boulder, is an education attorney who advocates for schools and educators across the state. A CU Boulder alumnus, he previously worked as a teacher, then as an education nonprofit director. Hood also has served on and helped lead public and nonprofit boards.
Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, served in the Colorado legislature from 2011 to 2023. Born in Ohio, he grew up in Rifle, Colorado, where he worked on farms and ranches with his family. He has founded several businesses in the energy sector, land development, logistics, sports, software and construction. He currently serves as president of the Adams County-based Industrial Property Owners Consortium.
Hood succeeds Regent Lesley Smith, D-Boulder, who did not run for a second term as regent at large; she is the newly elected representative of Colorado’s House District 49. Scott succeeds Regent Glen Gallegos, R-Grand Junction, who represented the state’s 3rd Congressional District beginning in 2013 and was term limited. In remarks, President Todd Saliman thanked both for their service, and expressed congratulations to the three newly sworn-in members of the board.
Regents are elected to six-year terms, which are staggered. Eight of the nine seats are assigned to Colorado’s congressional districts; the final at-large seat is elected by voters statewide.
The board meets today and Friday in Denver for its winter retreat.