Meet Our Team
Andy Long
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Long has dedicated his career to expanding educational access, fostering student success, and driving community development. With over two decades of leadership spanning higher education administration and regional economic strategy, Andy brings a proven track record of collaborative, data-driven leadership to his role as Chief Executive Officer of Peak Education.
Andy’s career in education began as a high school social studies teacher and basketball
coach in Nebraska. He subsequently spent 15 years in senior collegiate leadership roles—including Director of Outreach, Dean of Enrollment Services, and Vice President of Student Services—at Northeastern Junior College (Sterling, CO), Mid-Plains Community College (McCook, NE), and Central Arizona College (Coolidge, AZ). Throughout these tenures, he consistently drove measurable growth in student enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.
In addition to his academic leadership, Andy spent three years spearheading regional progress as the Executive Director of the McCook Economic Development Corporation.
In this role, he championed vital workforce development initiatives, including expanding
quality early childhood education, improving regional workforce housing, and aligning
youth with local career pathways.
A staunch believer in civic engagement, Andy has served on the boards of Chambers of
Commerce in Sterling, McCook, and most recently Casa Grande, Arizona, where he served as Board Chairperson. His extensive volunteer leadership also includes the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee, The Norris Institute, and Cultivate Rural Leaders. Andy holds a Master of Science in Child, Youth, and Family Studies with an emphasis in Family Financial Planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is married and the proud father of four children.
Jasmine Rainey
Director of Postsecondary Access and Success
​Jasmine is a graduate of Colorado State University. She comes from a low-income, first-generation background, which contributed to her passion of empowering and helping students from similar backgrounds. Jasmine was a recipient of the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and became the first DSF scholar to work for the organization. During her time at DSF from 2011 until May 2020, she served in a variety of roles, working as a TRIO advisor, a college advisor and later as a lead advisor who supervised and guided other advisors. Through her work she has assisted hundreds of students across the Denver Public Schools district, helping them gain access to higher education and obtain financial aid to support their plans. She has developed core college success programming, increased college enrollment rates at various high schools, led community trainings and presentations, and much more.
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Colleen McClure
Director of Finance and Operations
In December 2025, Colleen joined Peak Education as the Director of Finance and Operations, bringing more than 20 years of professional experience and eight years of specialized experience in nonprofit finance and operations. Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in financial management, budgeting, grant administration, human resources, compliance, and organizational leadership, helping mission-driven organizations build the infrastructure needed to achieve long-term success.
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As Director of Finance and Operations, Colleen oversees the organization’s financial and operational functions with a focus on strengthening financial sustainability, building operational excellence, supporting staff and organizational growth, and ensuring resources are directed toward maximizing student impact. She is passionate about creating strong systems and processes that empower teams to focus on serving students and families throughout the Pikes Peak region.
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Prior to joining Peak Education, Colleen held finance leadership positions in both nonprofit and private-sector organizations, including serving in a financial leadership role at The Place. Her experience includes financial reporting, budgeting, grant management, payroll and benefits administration, strategic planning, and organizational operations.
Colleen earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon with studies in Journalism, Communications, and Business.
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Outside of work, Colleen is the proud parent of two children in middle and high school, coaches high school soccer, and serves on the board of The Little Dipper. Her commitment to supporting young people both professionally and personally reflects her dedication to expanding opportunities for students and families in the community.
Vennita Browning
Director of Alumni and Family Engagement
Vennita has been the Program Director for Peak Education since August 2005. In this position, she is, in effect, our Chief Relationship Officer, maintaining and strengthening our connections with each Peak Education Scholar and family. Her experience as a single mother of three boys, all of whom are college graduates, has given her unique insight into the daily struggles of low-income families served by Peak Education.
Vennita moved to Colorado Springs in 1986 from California after graduating with a B.A. in Mass Communications with an emphasis in radio and television from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California.
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Before coming to Peak Education, Vennita worked with the Girl Scouts Wagon Wheel Council for 13 years as a Membership and Marketing Specialist. She recruited, trained and supervised leaders and marketed the Girl Scout program to girls in the Greater Colorado Springs area and surrounding counties. She developed successful outreach programs in low income and underserved areas of the council.
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In addition to her work with the Girl Scouts, she served on the board of the Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD), and finished her second term as a board member as the African American Youth Leadership Conference (AAYLC). In addition, she is in her tenth year as a mentor with the Sachs Foundation’s “Elevated” program, which empowers students to achieve excellence in postsecondary education.
Jazmin Talley
Senior Program Coordinator
Jazmin is committed to empowering students as they explore their goals and plans for their future after high school. Growing up as a first-generation college student and the daughter of immigrants, Jazmin has witnessed firsthand the life-changing power of education and is dedicated to expanding access to it. Her academic journey began by being a part of a TRIO program in middle and high school. That experience deeply influenced her understanding of the power of higher education and the importance of having resources in school to help students plan for their future. Prior to joining Peak Education, Jazmin worked in admissions at Fort Lewis College, where she developed a deep passion for education and the transformative impact it can have on students' lives. During her time there, she took on various roles, including reading applications, visiting future centers, and assisting with Spanish speaking programming, all of which furthered her commitment to supporting students in their educational journeys.
Jazmin graduated from Regis University with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. While at Regis University, she participated in community outreach programs. Her background and experiences have equipped her with a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities that students face. In her role with Peak Education and partnership with D11 schools, she supported Future Centers and help students realize their academic and career aspirations for two years. As the senior program coordinator, she supports Peak Ed Scholars in our high school program and oversees Peak Ed's mentoring program.
In her free time, Jazmin enjoys reading, going to the movies, comedy shows and theater productions, as well as finding new places to explore!
Gabriel Weber
Program Coordinator
Gabriel is a Colorado Springs native and a Harrison School District 2 alum graduating from Sierra High School in 2021. He is also a Peak Ed Scholar and in 2024, he earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology from UCCS.
He is now a Program Coordinator at Peak Education where he supports local students on their academic journeys.
In addition to his academic achievements, Gabriel studied classical piano for eight years at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, earning a Level 7 certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Gabriel enjoys spending time with his family and friends, and experiencing new things. As a Filipino-American, he is also an active member of the Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado, where he currently serves as the president of the Young Adults Committee.
Volunteer Program Facilitators
Chris Kilroy
Middle School Volunteer Facilitator
Christopher J. Kilroy is an innovative and visionary educational leader with nearly 30 years of experience working with youth and over a decade in school administration. He most recently served as Director of Choice and Enrollment for Colorado Springs School District 11, Chris has led transformative initiatives to address enrollment trends and enhance student outcomes.
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His leadership journey includes principal roles at Cheyenne Mountain Elementary and North Middle School, where he pioneered equity-based Gifted and Talented programs, advanced learning tracks, and mental health services.
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With a strong foundation in social work and counseling, Chris brings a results-oriented approach grounded in strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making.
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This year, Chris is leading all middle school in-school workshops for Peak Education!
If you have questions, you can email our Program Team at programs@peakedu.org
Porschae Chitmon-Turner
Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy Facilitator
Porschae Chitmon-Turner grew up in Colorado Springs and is an alumnae of Peak Education. She considers Colorado Springs her home and loves having the mountains as her backdrop for inspiration. As a Colorado native, she attended Harrison High School. Porschae is now the assistant principle at Harrison High School
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She graduated from Colorado College with a B.A. in English and recently received her M.A in English from Arizona State University. Porschae is an avid reader and dog lover. She is passionate about seeing students succeed and reach their full potential. Porschae is also a mentor for a college mentor program called Elevated. This program seeks to provide African American students a road map for their future.
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Porschae will lead our Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy during the 2026-27 School Year.
If you have questions, you can email our Program Team at programs@peakedu.org
SPECIAL THANKS TO
OUR SPONSORS
