CMU Alumnus Ryan Hess has been appointed to the Mesa County Court in the 7th Judicial District
On Feb. 4, Colorado Mesa University alumnus Ryan Hess was appointed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to the Montrose County Court in the 7th Judicial District. Hess graduated from CMU with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminology in 2008. He later pursued a master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Justice Studies and Criminology from the University of the Rockies and his Doctor of Law studies through Purdue Global Law School in 2020. Leading up to this recent appointment, Hess’s education and career path have taken him on a winding road full of diverse experiences and new knowledge.
During his time at CMU, Hess valued his personal connections with the professors who made the material applicable and relevant, further piquing his interest in his chosen degree path. He remembered many class conversations that were energetic and thought-provoking.
Hess still references one of the books his class read, The Processes is the Punishment, by Malcom Feely. The research performed in the book explored how the pre-trial process in lower courts often outweighs the severity of the final sentencing. Now in his role as a judge in Montrose County, he expects to find the book even more of a relevant resource as he works on the rural western slope, where resources are limited.
What makes Hess’s career path interesting is that it has been nonlinear. He has worn many hats throughout the years, including mayor of Craig, Colorado, jail administrator at the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, state trooper, private attorney, deputy district attorney and most recently, detective for the Montrose Police Department. His transition into the role of judge has been a long time in the making. His path through law school, in particular, came with its own set of challenges and roadblocks.
Because he attended a law school in California that was not accredited in the state of Colorado, he was not allowed to sit for the Colorado bar Exam, which would permit him to become a certified attorney in his home state. By filing through an exemption process and being permitted an exception, he was finally granted the opportunity to sit for the Colorado bar exam by the Supreme Court in 2022. Hess’s determination and clear vision allowed him to remain persistently motivated toward his end goal.
Throughout his career, Hess has faced decisions to remain in law enforcement or pursue a dream. When building up the courage to change careers, he saw academics as a way to advance forward and then the pieces started to slowly but surely fall into place. Hess’s words of encouragement for current CMU students stem from his personal experience that a path forward does not have to be clearly laid out or easy to navigate.
“You can have momentum, but if you don’t have direction that you’re moving that momentum towards, you don’t know where you’re going. But if you have a goal, or somebody you want to be, every step you take that goes towards that goal is a step worth taking,” said Hess.
Hess is looking forward to continuing learning in his new role and is grateful for both his academic and professional experiences that have led him along his ever-winding path.