Your Board of Trustees
We have our arms around the valley.
John Singletary
Accepting a position on the Adams State University Board of Trustees was an easy choice for John Singletary, who felt connected to the campus and its community. “Adams State is important for southern Colorado and the San Luis Valley. It is the rock that holds the valley together.”
Having started his term in 2015, Singletary has been through several changes on campus. He was very pleased when Adams State was re-accredited and appreciates the leadership stability of President Cheryl D. Lovell.
“The University is an important institution,” he says. “It provides opportunities for so many students who couldn’t afford to go elsewhere.”
In a changing world Adams State is keeping up with new directions. “We can take it from where we are now by capitalizing on our strengths and keeping our eyes open for new and exciting possibilities.”
Those possibilities won’t be restricted to just traditional students. Singletary believes Adams State is the vehicle for many to improve their quality of life and increase their learning. “We want to open as many doors as we can; for all ages throughout the San Luis Valley and southern Colorado.”
A native of Pueblo, Colorado, Singletary is a real-estate broker and developer, farmer, and consultant. He served three Colorado governors on a variety of State Commissions, including Parks and Wildlife, Department of Agriculture, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, and COGO. He has been a member of several organizations including the Colorado Cattleman’s Association, Pueblo County Planning and Zoning Commission, Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, and the Farm Bureau.
Singletary is not resting on the past accomplishments of the Board of Trustees, but is looking forward to meeting the future well-prepared and ready to establish new opportunities. “We can look at opportunities for what tomorrow’s students need to be successful.”
He believes a degree in higher education brings more than just better career prospects. “The changes in my lifetime have been exponential and more and more a college degree means a better quality and appreciation of life and makes one a better person. Besides, it is fun to learn and you feel better when you know more about the world.”
Adams State’s role as a Hispanic Serving Institution reflects the institution’s commitment for its community. “It is a great honor to be a HSI institution and to be a big part of southern Colorado,” Singletary says. He says the valley is a unique place and it brings its own set of challenges, like water conservation, and advantages, like the surrounding mountains and the agricultural component. “Adams State serves all of the regions and the community looks to us for sanctuary. We welcome taking advantage of our facility. We have our arms around the valley. We are all in this as one big family and we want to help.”
He uses his influence at the State Capital to benefit Adams State because he understands how it can be hard to compete with the larger state universities that have a lobbyist in the Capital full-time. “We make a significant impact on our students and their futures and I am willing to demonstrate that at the state level.”
