Who actually runs the school? The board of trustees has overall authority and responsibility for governance at the university. The board consists of 11 members that are appointed by the governor and approved by the state senate. There is also a faculty trustee appointed by the faculty and a student trustee elected by the students. The board appoints the president of the school who then reports to the board.
Betty Bechtel is the chair of the board. She gave the mission statement of the board, which states their purpose is “providing a dynamic learning environment that offers abundant opportunities for students and the larger community to grow intellectually, professionally, and personally. By celebrating exceptional teaching, academic excellence, scholarly and creative activities and encouraging diversity, critical thinking and social responsibility. We believe CMU advances the common good of Colorado and beyond.”
Bechtel, as chair, has her own sets of duties on the board.
“My official duties on the board are to study the issues, select and provide guidance to the president, attend board meeting and vote my position on issues of governance,” Bechtel said.
She also frequently serves on board committees and serves as a board representative to other organization at various events.
“Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of being a trustee is the opportunity to interact with faculty, staff and students,” Bechtel said. “I love participating in graduation ceremonies, attending Maverick events and showing off our beautiful campus to friends, family and visitors.”
Bechtel was born in St. Helena, California and raised on the Rocking R Dairy in Napa Valley until she was 10. Then, in 1956, her family moved to Greeley, Colo.
“I was unhappy about leaving the dairy until I met my future husband, Joel Bechtel, in 9th grade biology class at College High School,” Bechtel said.
They married six years later while both attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. She graduated with a B.S. in business. After graduations in 1967, she worked for Mountain States Telephone Company as a statistician for four years while Joel attended CU Medical School. After he graduated they left Colorado for nine years. They moved around from Los Angeles, Florida, Maine, Spain and Bermuda which was part of her husband’s tour of duty in the Navy. After his Naval service ended, they moved to Portland, Oregon with their two sons, Barrett and Adam.
“While tagging along during Joel’s military service, I developed a desire to become a lawyer,” Bechtel said. “I had never known one, but had always enjoyed speech and advising others. My goal was to become a labor lawyer and serve the working man.”
Once in Oregon, she got her chance and enrolled in law school at Lewis & Clark. She did two jobs, working as a mom during the day and going to school at night. Her husband was completing his medical education at this time, but they moved again to Ann Arbor Michigan where he could finish his medical education.
“I completed my law school at University of Michigan, graduated and landed my dream job in the Labor Law Section of Dykema Gossett law firm in Detroit,” Bechtel said.
The Bechtel family returned to Colorado in 1980 and settled in Grand Junction. Bechtel and Michael Santo formed their own boutique employment law firm, Bechtel & Santo in 2005.
“Bechtel & Santo continues, but I retired in 2011, to practice grandmother-hood on our four grandchildren, and pursue my interest in art, as well as community service,” Bechtel said.
The Colorado legislature expanded the number of governor-appointed trustees from nine to 11 around the same time she retired from her law practice.
“As a lover of education and a long-term resident of Grand Junction, I’ve always felt that CMU is the heart of our region,” Bechtel said. “I eagerly applied for one of the openings and was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to a three year term, and then reappointed to a second term for four year.”
Along with being chair of the board she serves on many nonprofit boards and also is active in the community. Art is another hobby of hers.
“I consider myself a “would-be” artist with modest talent and an underused art studio in my basement,” Bechtel said.
There is also her family that she dedicates her time to. She explained how she and her husband have been married for 51 years and because he is an athlete and traveler, she has found a passion for biking and traveling to places.
“I spend as much time with my grandchildren and their parents as they can tolerate,” Bechtel said. “I enjoy making them smile with warm chocolate chip cookies, cherry pie and banana shakes on demand.”
Bechtel believes that higher education can make a difference in one’s life. She explained that education opened doors for her that otherwise would have been locked and allowed her to make a living doing things she enjoyed.
“I consider it a great honor to serve on CMU’s board of trustees,” Bechtel said. “We want CMU to be the best it can be. This is why neither I, nor my fellow trustees, take our responsibility lightly.”
