ALAMOSA – The Adams State University Foundation Board recently announced the appointment of three new board members, Elizabeth Suarez, Jan Mangum and Chas Moeller. They will serve a three-year term.

Suarez is the founder and managing partner of Avanza Business Group in Westminster, and currently works as the advisory board director for the Latino Entrepreneur Access Program and the Latino Leadership Institute. She holds a bachelor’s in chemistry from Cornell University and a master’s from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduating from Adams State in 1963, Mangum worked as a teacher in Albuquerque, N.M., for a decade and for 40 years was co-owner of an auto-body shop in Albuquerque, N.M. Now retired, Mangum continues as a volunteer for the Rio Grande Nature Center and the Lovelace Senior Health Advisory Board. A long-time and significant donor to Adams State, especially to its nursing program, she and her husband, Jasper, received the Willis Fassett, Jr. award in 2020, which the Foundation presents annually to a distinguished supporter of Adams State.

Moeller was appointed as the ASU Grizzly Club representative to the foundation board, replacing Keith Cerny who had served in that role for 20 years. Moeller is a 1998 graduate of Adams State and is currently president of Alamosa State Bank.

“I’m especially excited with these appointments,” said Ed Crowther, president of the Foundation Board. “Elizabeth and Jan bring splendid skill sets and a strong commitment to continue and enlarge our work.”

The Foundation exists to promote and further the interests, objectives and purposes of the University; to seek and receive gifts, legacies and grants of money or property and to administer such for the benefit of Adams State; and to provide active leadership, direction and expertise in fund-raising efforts. Currently 16 people serve on its governing board.