Roberto Montoya, PhD, is the Vice President for Student Services at Colorado Mesa University, where he leads with a commitment to ensuring every student feels welcomed, supported and inspired to thrive. A proud CMU alumnus who grew up in the barrios of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Montoya has dedicated his career to expanding opportunity and breaking down barriers in higher education.
Before returning to his alma mater, he worked at the Colorado Department of Higher Education and served as Colorado’s first Chief Educational Equity Officer and co-founded the Colorado Hispanic Serving Institution Consortium. He also led national student success efforts at InsideTrack, partnering with Hispanic Serving Institutions to strengthen student retention and build comprehensive data-driven support systems that center belonging and success.
Montoya holds a PhD in Education and has taught at the University of Colorado Denver, where he has mentored future educators and leaders committed to educational dignity. His research and advocacy are driven by the belief that all students deserve a dignified, purposeful and empowering educational journey. He views leadership as a form of service rooted in relationship, accountability and excellence. Guided by CMU’s core values — love, dignity, courage, humility, resilience, curiosity and power — Montoya strives to create a culture where students are not only supported, but seen, valued and inspired to reach their full potential.
