Debra DeMuth, the director and chief executive of Colorado’s nonprofit CollegeInvest, is leaving the organization to accept a position as vice president and chief financial officer of the Colorado Trust, a Colorado foundation working to improve access to health care.
CollegeInvest is a not-for-profit division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Since 1979, the division has provided college savings plans, information and planning tools.
DeMuth has held her position since March 2000 .
According to CollegeInvest, DeMuth’s leadership was the catalyst behind a wave of growth, driving the college savings program to become one of the largest 529 organizations in the country with more than $4 billion in assets.
DeMuth was credited with leading programs that reinvested more than $180 million back to Colorado students through reduced loans, loan forgiveness programs, financial aid and scholarships.
“Debra has been an invaluable asset to CollegeInvest and the entire higher education community in Colorado,” said Matt Gianneschi, deputy executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. In his statement, Gianneschi said DeMuth will be greatly missed.
Colorado Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, has named Angela Baier as interim executive director. Baier is currently CollegeInvest’s chief marketing officer and will lead the organization’s day-to-day business operations until a permanent successor is appointed.
The announcement said DeMuth will leave CollegeInvest effective today.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com or twitter@HowardPankratz
