Díaz Bonacquisti joins Prosperity Denver Fund board of directors
Judi Díaz Bonacquisti, vice president for collaboration at CU system administration, is a new appointment to the board of directors of Prosperity Denver Fund, a nonprofit that champions postsecondary education access for Denver students.
Prosperity Denver Fund provides financial reimbursements to eligible Denver nonprofits, increasing access to college, apprenticeships and other credential programs for Denver students. Since 2018, the fund has supported programs working with more than 37,000 students and reimbursed $48 million to nonprofits in Denver.
“Our mission at Prosperity Denver Fund is to ensure that every student in Denver can access the resources they need to get to and succeed in postsecondary education,” said Rebecca Arno, CEO of Prosperity Denver Fund. “Dr. Díaz Bonacquisti’s extensive experience in higher education and commitment to equity will be invaluable to our work.”
Díaz Bonacquisti, whose nomination was advanced by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and approved by City Council, will serve on the board through April 2028.
For more than 25 years, Díaz Bonacquisti has developed programs and policies to expand college access and advance students toward college-degree completion. She has served as senior student affairs officer, senior enrollment officer and senior diversity officer. She has a track record for advancing equity in education, particularly for students of color, first-generation students, undocumented students and students from low-income backgrounds.
Díaz Bonacquisti has served at public and private colleges and universities with a range of academic offerings, admissions selectivity and student populations. She was appointed by then-Gov. Hickenlooper to serve on the Educational Leadership Council and was nominated and jointly appointed by the State Board of Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to serve on the Educational Success Task Force.
A native of Pueblo, Díaz Bonacquisti earned a doctorate in education in leadership for educational equity from CU Denver, a master’s in business administration from UCCS and a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Colorado State University. She earned certificates from Harvard’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education and Leadership in Enrollment Management from the University of Southern California.
Denver voters in 2018 passed a ballot initiative known as Prosperity Denver, calling for a 0.08% sales tax (less than one cent on $10) dedicated to support Denver students as they pursue college and career opportunities after high school. Prosperity Denver Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, manages and distributes this funding, contributing millions each year to eligible organizations.