My name is Julie Bruggenthies and I am a COSI (Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative) Advisor at CMU. I grew up in the Midwest and graduated from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. After graduating from college, I obtained a management position in Anchorage, Alaska and eventually transferred to a Spokane, Washington store with that company. I returned to school at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington where I obtained a M.Ed., in Guidance and Counseling. While in Spokane, I was an instructor at a minimum-security prison in Medical Lake, Washington. I did educational outreach for Planned Parenthood and was an adjunct professor at Spokane Falls Community College. My family then relocated to Colville, Washington where I was the Health Educator for NE Tri County Health District in three rural counties. This was during the era of AIDS and Washington State had mandatory HIV education in all schools from 5th grade and up. I did HIV education along with Family planning, bloodborne pathogens and injury prevention. I am a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), which I am still passionate about. My family then moved to Arkansas and while at Henderson State University I was introduced to TRiO and directed the Educational Talent Search program for 600 low income, first generation students in 6th- 12th grades. For some reason I thought I needed to return to the Midwest – the land of endless winters, below zero windchills, and tons of snow. I directed a TRiO Upward Bound program at UW Stout for 50 low income first generation high school students. I loved the program and my students. We traveled to NYC, Washington D.C., San Antonio, Texas, South Carolina and went on endless college visits, Broadway musicals and a yearly trip to an environmental camp for a week as part of the six-week summer programming. When that grant ended, I managed the job center in Menomonie, Wisconsin for many years. Knowing I couldn’t bear another Wisconsin winter and missing my children that were in Boulder and Salt Lake City, I applied for the COSI position at CMU and landed here in August of 2021. I love hiking, running, camping, gardening, reading, quilting, traveling and exploring the National Parks with my family. Welcome to CMU!
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