Denver Board Co-Chair Named Head of Colorado Department of Higher Education

D. Rico Munn has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education by Governor Bill Ritter. Mr. Munn, who is the Co-Chair of the Denver Urban Debate League Advisory Board, has served as Executive Director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) since 2007 and assumed his new duties on November 2, 2009. In his new position, Mr. Munn will oversee 27 institutions of higher learning with a total enrollment of 220,000 students. The Colorado Department of Higher Education also oversees a number of student loan programs.

Mr. Munn debated in high school in Colorado Springs as well as in college at Midland Lutheran College. He credits his past debate experience for “teaching him the formal process of how to make a successful argument.” He also champions debate as “great preparation for many professions” due to its ability to “expose students to the important skills of research and argumentation.” His belief in the value of debate makes him a strong champion for Urban Debate Leagues.

Mr. Munn has long contributed to improving education systems. He majored in education in college and served from 2002-2007 on the Colorado Board of Education, which oversees the state’s K-12 system. He also has served as an adjunct professor of law at University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1996 as a Chancellor’s Scholar. In his new position, Mr. Munn will focus on decreasing the achievement gap among students in Colorado, among other priorities.

As Executive Director of DORA, Mr. Munn was responsible for the business face of Colorado's government. DORA is composed of the Divisions of Real Estate, Insurance, Banking, Securities, Financial Services, Civil Rights, Registrations, the Public Utilities Commission and the Office of Consumer Counsel. In this role, Mr. Munn was praised for rebuilding Colorado’s Division of Civil Rights. Prior to that, Mr. Munn worked in the private sector as a corporate and commercial litigation partner at a national law firm.

The NAUDL congratulates D. Rico Munn, and wishes him well in his new endeavor.