Gov. Hickenlooper appoints University of Colorado regent

Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed Irene C. Griego today, Nov. 18, to fill the vacancy on the University of Colorado Board of Regents created by the resignation of Monisha Merchant.

Griego, a Democrat, is the director for the office of diversity and inclusion and the interim community superintendent for the Jefferson County Public Schools. She has 38 years of experience as a teacher, school principal, community superintendent and university instructor.

Griego worked as a community superintendent in Jeffco Public School from 2000 to 2010. She was responsible for general administration and supervision of schools, instructional and administrative staff in 37 K-12 schools in Arvada, Golden, Jefferson and Wheat Ridge. Prior to the superintendent position, Griego worked as part-time faculty at the University of Colorado Denver, 1997-2000, and as the program coordinator and part-time faculty for the Teachers for Colorado Program at Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1993-1995, and as a teacher and principal in several schools.

Griego earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a doctorate from the University of Colorado Denver.

Griego will hold office until the next general election in 2012 and until a successor is elected. She told Boulder Weekly that she intends to run for election at that time.

"I really believe in collaboration and inclusion," she said in a phone interview.