Bighorn Leadership Development Program

Colorado Institute of Public Policy

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Program

The Bighorn Leadership Development Program strives to improve policy development in order to better Colorado. This means gathering a diverse group of bi-partisan people to learn about policy in Colorado, strengthening their ability to develop proposals and understand the reform landscape in the state in order to make realistic changes.

Mission

The mission of the Bighorn Leadership Development Program is to ensure strong, effective, thoughtful public service and practical leadership in Colorado over the long term. Since 2001, the Bighorn Program has increased public service, enhanced public policy development, and fostered leadership networks. 

  • Public Service: Many Bighorn Program graduates have gone on to new or more advanced leadership positions in their organizations or in local, county, or state government. Bighorn Alumni include current state representatives Ellen Roberts (R-Durango) and Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley), Mayor Jacob Smith (Golden), City Council Members Faith Winter (Westminster) and Jan Martin (Colorado Springs), County Commissioner Bill Patterson (Montrose) and three commissioners from the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform.
  • Policy Development: Since the inception of issue-based programs in 2005, four bills have been introduced in the Legislature.
  • Leadership Networks: Bighorn courses create widespread, bipartisan networks. Yearly follow-up calls, reunions, and networking opportunities for Bighorn alumni indicate that the Fellows actively support each other.

Bighorn at Colorado State University

The Bighorn Center for Public Policy closed in December 2006, but there was a commitment on the part of its founder, Rutt Bridges, the Bighorn Leadership Program Director, alumni, and policymakers to continue realizing the vision. Colorado State University saw the value of the program and forged a partnership. The Bighorn staff, now affiliated with CSU, was encouraged by advocates and policymakers to offer updated programs with an emphasis on health care policy. Beginning in the fall of 2008, a new leadership program will focus specifically on rural health care and the need for partnership between economic development and health care in Colorado.