Mesa State College Leaders
Kasia Iwaniczko MacLeod and Josh Penry were both prominent student leaders at Mesa State College in the 1990s.
Iwaniczko MacLeod was the first female Student Body Association (SBA) president. She also served on the Colorado Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights during this time, becoming the youngest person ever appointed to this position. Two years later, Penry was elected Associated Student Government (ASG) president following the governing body’s name change. During his senior year, he was named the National Scholar Athlete of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
This much, they have in common. Yet their backgrounds could not be much more dissimilar. Iwaniczko MacLeod is a Polish immigrant from the Front Range who “followed a boy” to Mesa State College. Penry is a football hero who followed his NCAA Division I dreams to Colorado State University before returning to his hometown and Mesa State.
Today, they are highly successful professionals living in the Denver area. Iwaniczko MacLeod is a corporate executive and entrepreneur with a strong commitment to philanthropy and advancing opportunities for women in business. She is currently secretary of the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees and is the first alumna to be appointed a trustee. Penry is a public policy professional and former elected official with an influential advocacy firm. He is the father of four children who are just getting to the ages when they will begin their college journeys.
In 2025, they came together to talk about their experiences at Mesa State and how their choice to become Mavericks has shaped their lives.
The Importance of Mentors
Iwaniczko MacLeod arrived at Mesa State as a first-generation student who needed a job. One of the work-study positions she received was serving as the athletic representative to the SBA. In this capacity, Iwaniczko MacLeod met a lot of people who were interested in public affairs and political science. Dr. Jose Peer, a political science professor, became an important mentor. “He taught me how to think for myself,” she explained. “He taught me about politics.”
Penry pointed to the “entire political science department,” but especially Dr. John Redifer, for piquing his interest in student government and public service. Redifer encouraged Penry to accept a legislative internship with Senator Tilman “Tillie” Bishop. This experience opened his eyes to the possibilities of politics. “You know, when you’re not in elected office, it’s like boy, I could never get there. But when you see it up close and in person, it’s like, these people are smart people, but they’re regular people. If I build a plan, a working plan, maybe I can get there as well,” said Penry.
Amplifying Student Voices
As SBA president, Iwaniczko MacLeod and her team raised student fees. A new residence hall was under construction, and the SBA was advocating for increased fees to fund renovations to the student recreation facilities at Saunders Field House, which was controversial. “It’s like raising taxes,” she explained.
Other controversies during her tenure included alleged censorship of The Criterion and a proposal from the college administration to cut student funding. These issues led to campus protests. “We were very young, impressionable individuals and we believed in this cause,” Iwaniczko MacLeod shared. “Our only way of really getting our point across was by being vocal and causing some disruption,” adding that times were different and the college president at that time was unapproachable.
Two years later, Penry faced different challenges. At that time, there was a Fee Allocation Committee that determined student fee allocation. Penry and his team believed that the student government should have this power and made the convincing argument that “the people who are elected should have the authority” to budget and spend the fees. “In terms of bringing people along, tackling issues, building constituencies, it was obviously a very formative experience,” he recalled.
The Maverick Community
Following graduation, both Iwaniczko MacLeod and Penry moved to Washington, DC. Penry served as a legislative aide, and then press secretary, for Colorado Representative Scott McInnis. Iwaniczko MacLeod took a corporate job that led to positions in government relations, community engagement, and strategic leadership. Penry returned to Colorado and was elected to the Colorado legislature in 2004. Iwaniczko MacLeod returned to Colorado after ten years and immersed herself in local philanthropy and advocacy while continuing to advance professionally.
Summing up, both Iwaniczko MacLeod and Penry point to community—serving it, building it, and preserving it. This rings especially true when they talk about Colorado Mesa University.
“One thing I’ve taken away from [CMU] is that sort of intersectionality between government and education and community. All of those three things have to be in sync and work together,” Iwaniczko MacLeod explained, noting that this understanding informs her work as a CMU trustee.
For his part, Penry sees community in the type of student CMU attracts. “The students who go to CMU are different. They cut a slightly different path. They don’t need to follow the crowd. They are looking for a different experience. They want to go to a different place,” he stated.
In short, just like Iwaniczko MacLeod and Penry, they are Mavericks.
A Story 100 Years in the Making
Want to learn more about CMU's history? Purchase Colorado Mesa University - A Century of the Maverick Spirit, written by Amber J. D'Ambrosio and Kristen Lummis. The 192-page book chronicles CMU's 100-year journey of growth, resilience, and community impact, celebrating the people and moments that shaped our Maverick history.
CMU's Century Project honors one hundred years of Colorado Mesa University's rich history - celebrating the people, milestones and spirit that have shaped our enduring legacy. As we reflect on this meaningful milestone, proceeds from the commemorative Century Book and events throughout the year will benefit the Century Scholarship, ensuring that future generations of CMU students can continue to grow, learn and carry the CMU legacy forward.