Kay NOrton
President – University of Northern Colorado
Kay Norton became the 12th president of the University of Northern Colorado in July 2002.
During her tenure, the university has seen record enrollment, earned re-accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), and engaged in a successful long-range comprehensive planning initiative lauded by the State of Colorado and the NCA. UNC also continued its five-year transition to Division I intercollegiate athletics and gained entrance into the Big Sky Conference. UNC's Monfort College of Business earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the nation's highest honor for quality and performance excellence.
Norton joined the university's staff in 1998 as vice president for university affairs, general counsel and secretary to the Board of Trustees. As vice president, she oversaw the university's external relations activities, including alumni affairs, fund-raising, media relations, government relations, communications, university marketing and publications.
Her association with the university began in 1995, when former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer appointed her to the UNC Board of Trustees. She served on the board, where she was vice chair, from 1995-98.
Her public service has also included service on the Greeley Philharmonic Board of Directors, Colorado Legal Aid Foundation Board, Greeley Rotary Club Board of Directors, United Way of Weld County Board of Directors, President of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Greeley Planning Commission.
Before her work at UNC, Norton practiced law for 22 years. She earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1973 from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and a juris doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law in 1976.