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Colleen Walker, CEO of the Auraria Campus, to Keynote the Women of Cherry Creek Power Lunch
At next week’s Power Lunch: Women of Cherry Creek Edition, Colleen Walker will share the defining lessons from her leadership journey—what it takes to learn, grow, and lead in male-dominated fields, how to navigate the intricate world of politics and decision-making, and the complexities of leading large organizations with purpose and conviction.
Beyond titles and boardrooms, Colleen is passionate about the power of learning. An avid reader, she will reveal her “Top 8” must-read books for leaders at any stage of their career—offering insights that have shaped her path. She’ll also share the wisdom that guides her daily decisions and why she believes joy and happiness are not just nice-to-haves, but essential—and sometimes elusive—cornerstones of leadership.
With more than 20 years as a CEO, Colleen has learned that progress isn’t accidental—it’s built with intention. She will leave attendees with a powerful perspective on how to forge ahead, create the world you want to live in, and lead with both resilience and heart.
Her message is clear: Stay committed to your mission. Be relentless in the pursuit of excellence. Invest in your people. And never underestimate the impact of bringing joy and levity into your work.

Colleen Walker was named Chief Executive Officer of the Auraria Higher Education Center in July 2019, overseeing Colorado’s largest higher education campus, which serves 45,000 students, faculty, and staff. Previously, she was Vice President for University Partnerships at Academic Partnerships and served as CEO of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, where she led major initiatives, including acquiring the Columbian mammoth Ellie May and launching the Kosmos Energy STEM Teacher Institute. As CEO of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, she unified three councils, led a national strategy team, and launched a STEM Center of Excellence that became a national model.

A passionate advocate for STEM education, Walker founded Engineers of Dreams in 1996 to promote math and science literacy for young students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MBA from Harvard University, where she was awarded the Horace W. Goldsmith Fellowship. She serves on the National Endowment for Financial Empowerment Board of Trustees and the Miss America Foundation board. Recognized for her leadership, she has been named a Top 25 Female Business Leader by the Dallas Business Journal and Woman of the Year by the Women’s Council of Dallas. Walker has been married to Felipe Gumucio for 27 years, and they have two children, Isabella and Jacob.