Darren W. Adamson.

• Position: University of Phoenix-providing adult education - Advertisement

VICE PRESIDENT/CAMPUS DIRECTOR

University of Phoenix, Colorado Campuses

Darren W. Adamson's belief in the importance of opportunities for adult education drew him to the University of Phoenix five years ago. Today, it is that same passion that drives him in his role as Vice President/Director for the University of Phoenix Colorado Campuses.

After serving as a faculty member at the university's New Mexico Campus, Adamson was offered the position as Director of Academic Affairs, New Mexico Campus.

"Because I loved teaching at the university and was committed to the concept of adult education. I sold my portion of a very successful business to join the university full-time," said Dr. Adamson.

That business experience served Adamson well when the university asked him to take on his current position. As Vice President/Director for the Colorado Campuses. Adamson balances the unique needs of an organization that is both an academic institution and a publicly traded corporation.

"My primary role is to create an environment of success for our employees. I work very hard to remove obstacles and to get employees the resources they need to meet the needs of our students. I work hard to align processes so they are all working toward the same goal. Ultimately, that goal is to recruit students, to retain them and to celebrate with them when they graduate," said Adamson.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Commitment to this goal impacts every decision Adamson makes. "Students are at the center of all of our efforts. We focus on our students certainly as students because we are an academic institution, but we also focus on our students as our customers. We are fiercely committed to making sure that our customers' needs are met. That type of customer focus is unique in higher education," said Adamson.

The university also differentiates itself by providing academically prepared faculty members that are also working professionals in the fields they...