ENMU-Ruidoso Goals Strengthened by AACC Appointments
ENMU-Ruidoso Administrators Appointed to American Association of Community College Commissions for Three-Year Terms
ENMU-Ruidoso President Dr. Ryan Trosper and Chief External Affairs Officer Dr. Robin DeMott were appointed to the American Association of Community College (AACC) Commissions. Trosper was appointed to the Commission on Institutional and Financial Resilience and DeMott was reappointed to the Commission on Research, Data and Strategic Narrative. The three-year appointment terms are from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028.
AACC’s redesigned commission structure reflects the evolving needs of community colleges and the leaders who serve them. Grounded in the Resilient by Design framework, the commissions provide strategic, future‑focused guidance on the most critical challenges and opportunities facing the sector—strengthening institutional resilience, advancing student success, aligning education with the future of work, and building leadership capacity for long‑term impact.
ENMU-Ruidoso President Dr. Ryan Trosper
“These appointments are an opportunity not only to contribute to the national conversation about the future of community colleges, but also to bring innovative ideas and best practices back to ENMU-Ruidoso,” said President Trosper. “Our students and communities deserve access to the strongest educational opportunities possible, and participating in AACC commissions helps ensure we remain forward-thinking, responsive to workforce needs, and committed to creating pathways that improve lives and strengthen our regional economy.”
Trosper previously served on the Small and Rural College Commission. His term ended June 30, 2025. The charge of Trosper’s new Commission on Institutional and Financial Resilience is to advise AACC on strategies to strengthen colleges’ ability to withstand demographic decline, financial volatility, and operational disruption. The commission will recommend frameworks for business model innovation, risk management, and infrastructure modernization, ensuring institutions remain agile and sustainable.
Trosper currently serves as the fifth president to lead ENMU-Ruidoso. During his six years as President, the college has expanded credit course offerings and non-credit training opportunities to assist the region. Additionally, he currently serves as the President of the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges.
ENMU-Ruidoso Chief External Affairs Officer Dr. Robin DeMott
DeMott previously served on the Commission on Public Relations Advocacy and Advancement. That commission was recently redesigned and renamed Commission on Research, Data and Strategic Narrative. The charge of DeMott’s Commission is to advise AACC on elevating the national narrative about community colleges by leveraging research, data, and strategic storytelling. The commission will recommend forward-thinking advocacy strategies, meaningful performance metrics, and cohesive messaging that highlight community colleges as future-ready institutions indispensable to national progress.
DeMott has worked in higher education for over 30 years at four community colleges and three universities in Kansas, Illinois, Texas and presently New Mexico. Her experience includes strategic planning, board and legislative relations, crisis communication, brand development, major event planning, recruitment, enrollment management, fund raising, as well as resource, facility, and program development and expansion.
