Otero College in Colorado Has Appointed Kimberly Zant as Its Sixth President

Kimberly Zant has been chosen as the sixth president of Otero College in La Junta, Colorado.

Otero is a two-year, public educational institution located east of Pueblo. It enrolls just under 1,200 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 59 percent of the student body.

“Growing up in West Texas, I come from a farming and ranching community and deeply believe in the transformative power of rural colleges,” Dr. Zant said. “I am also a former business owner and keenly aware of the challenges facing industry leaders, especially in remote areas. Working together, we can ensure Otero College honors the traditions of the region while becoming more flexible, adaptable, and resilient in meeting local workforce needs.”

Dr. Zant has been serving as vice president for academic affairs at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas. Earlier, Dr. Zant served in workforce development roles with the Grossmont/Cuyamaca Community College District in El Cajon, California.

Dr. Zant is a graduate of Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where she majored in business education. She holds an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and a doctorate in higher education administration from Southwestern College.