Veteran Denver education and nonprofit leader to guide the 22-year-old college access program as it expands support for students into college and beyond
Minds Matter Colorado is thrilled to welcome Chad Cookinham as our new Executive Director. Chad brings more than two decades of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, and he joins us at one of the most exciting moments in our 22-year history.
A leader who believes in students’ potential
Chad says his career rests on a simple conviction: “talent and drive are distributed equally, but opportunity is not.” He shared that he’s excited to work alongside our team and, above all, the students and families we serve, and that he’s grateful to join an organization that has done this work well for more than 20 years.
About Chad
Chad started out as a high school teacher in the U.S. and Ecuador, then went on to coach school and district leaders, design educational programs, and build partnerships that opened new doors for students. Most recently, he led the Corporate Work Study Program at Arrupe Jesuit High School. There, he grew the program to more than 125 corporate partners, giving upward of 430 students each year hands-on professional experience.
Throughout his career, Chad has focused on building strong teams, developing the people on them, and strengthening the systems and finances that let programs grow and last. That experience makes him the right leader for our next chapter.
A track record worth building on
Today, Minds Matter Colorado serves 114 students from 24 high schools across the Denver metro area. In 22 years, 100% of our students have graduated high school on time and been admitted to four-year colleges with scholarships.
Here’s how it works. Beginning in 10th grade, each student is matched one-to-one with a college-educated volunteer mentor for three years. Students meet every Monday night for a research-backed curriculum that covers communication and identity, test prep, college essays, financial aid, and applications. Every student also attends two fully funded summer programs on college campuses, which helps combat “undermatching,” when talented low-income students apply to schools less selective than their records would support.
Our program is roughly 98% volunteer-driven, with more than 180 volunteers and a small staff, so every donor dollar goes further. We’re also the third-oldest of 14 chapters in the national Minds Matter network.
What’s next: support through college
Getting into college is a huge milestone, but it isn’t the finish line. That’s why we’re expanding from a three-year program into a seven-year model that supports students all the way through college. The first step, our College & Career Success pilot, is already supporting 10 alumni at CU Boulder. Chad will lead this growth so our students have the people and resources they need to graduate college and launch their careers.
Join us in welcoming Chad
Please join us in giving Chad a warm Minds Matter welcome!
This announcement was also covered by The Colorado Gazette. Read the coverage here.
