Dr. Leah L. Bornstein has dedicated more than 30 years to higher education in a variety of leadership and management roles. Dr. Bornstein, with degrees from Bradford College, the University of Vermont, a doctorate from University of Denver, and an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University, is a prominent advocate for student success, quality instruction, increased access to education, and strong strategic and tactical planning.
Dr. Bornstein was named the sixth president and CEO of Aims Community College on August 1, 2015 by the Aims Board of Trustees. Aims Community College is a public, fully accredited, two-year college with multiple campuses in northern Colorado. The 175-acre main campus has been centered in Greeley, Colorado for over 50 years with satellite campuses in Fort Lupton, Loveland, and Windsor. The College, with more than 1,200 full-time and part-time employees, offers 200 degree and certificate programs and serves 9,000 students annually.
Since joining Aims Community College, Dr. Bornstein has led the College through the creation and implementation of a five-year aggressive strategic plan; continued accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission; celebrated the College’s 50th anniversary; developed new partnerships with business and industry; established Aims2UNC transition program; and supported design and construction projects including the Public Safety Institute, Applied Technology & Trades Center, Flight Training Center, Welcome Center, Student Commons, and classroom buildings to house expansion of programs such as aviation, public safety, agriculture, and commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Dr. Bornstein participates in national boards and commissions where she has held officer and leadership positions with the Alliance for Innovation and Transformation (AFIT), American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), Office of Women in Higher Education (ACE-OWHE), and Western Interstate Commission of Higher Education (WICHE).
A native New Englander, Dr. Bornstein’s lifelong commitment to higher education has included serving as CEO/President of Coconino Community College in Arizona and CEO for Colorado Mountain College—Summit County Campus—in Colorado. She also served as Chief Academic Officer at Lamar Community College in Colorado, Vice President of Instruction at the Higher Colleges of Technology—Center for Education Research and Training in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), and Vice President for Academic Affairs at University College, University of Denver in Colorado.
As an avid world traveler and outdoors woman, Dr. Bornstein has lived in or visited more than 45 countries. Some of her more remote adventures include: kayaking Antarctica and the Arctic Circle and trekking the Himalayas, China, Egypt, Africa, Europe, and New Zealand. She and her husband, Joe Findley, enjoy exploring the globe, its people, and its nature and wildlife through photography.