(DENVER) - Two new directors are joining the Caring for Colorado Foundation Board of Directors at the appointment of Governor Bill Ritter.  Dr. Cynthia M. Stevenson of Boulder and the Honorable Michael A. Gonzales of Alamosa were appointed to the Board in December 2009. Stevenson and Gonzales replace outgoing members Ellen S. Robinson of Denver and Michael L. Maestas Jr. of Alamosa, respectively.

Stevenson is currently Superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, and has served in that capacity, overseeing the education of 86,000 students in 146 schools since the year 2002.  She has worked in Jefferson County school administration since 1995, and prior to that, served as principal in both elementary and middle schools and as a classroom teacher.  Stevenson has extensive experience in staff development and educational leadership. She earned her undergraduate and advanced degrees from the University of Colorado including a Ph.D. with a major in Administration, Supervision and Curriculum Development and a minor emphasis in Research and Evaluation.

The Honorable Michael A. Gonzales is the County Court Judge in Alamosa and has served in that capacity since 2007. Gonzales also served as the 12^th Judicial District Chief Deputy District Attorney for six years. For more than a decade, he has provided Law Enforcement Training through Trinidad State Junior College. He has also operated his own law practice and worked for the Legal Aid Defender Program. His community work includes volunteer activities for youth and in the legal profession.  Gonzales earned his undergraduate degree in both science and history from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and his J.D. from the University of Colorado in Boulder School of Law. He is originally from Cortez, Colorado.

"I am looking forward to the expertise that Dr. Stevenson and Judge Gonzales will bring to our board, both in terms of the geographic areas they serve, as well as the specific populations of Coloradans that they have come to know so well; children and the people of the southwest area of our state. Our Foundation works statewide to improve the health and health care of all Coloradans," said Foundation President and CEO, Chris Wiant. Caring for Colorado is a non-profit foundation celebrating ten years and more than $50 million in grants to serve the health care needs of the underserved in Colorado. For more information, visit the foundation website at http://www.caringforcolorado.org/