Griego announces for Alamosa County treasurer

ALAMOSA COUNTY – Alamosa resident Donna Griego has announced her candidacy for Alamosa County treasurer. 

Sharing her successes, she gave thanks first and foremost to God for blessing her with many opportunities. She is also thankful to the Alamosa County Democrats for accepting her candidacy.   

Griego is an Alamosa native. Her parents are Joe and Cora Gonzales and are all life-long democrats here in the Valley. She and her husband Joe of 38 years, have four children, two grandsons, and three granddaughters. 

Griego began working at Adams State University (ASU) in 1987. Since then, she was promoted up the ladder in her field until she reached the final rank of executive assistant to the provost and senior vice president. She broke through her glass ceiling and entered into administrative work as the manager for the Online Plus Program in Counselor Education, managing up to 600 students in both the Master of Arts and doctor of philosophy programs.

Griego retired in 2015 with almost 30 years of service working for the State of Colorado. She retired to care for her elderly parents. This is where she developed a passion for the elderly. Her current role is full time caregiver, noting that she and her family have provided part time care for her parents for over 14 years. 

Griego graduated with her Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration-Management, as well as earning her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education, Administration and Leadership (HEAL) all from Adams State. She’s been recently appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to serve a three-year term on the Board of Trustees for Adams State University and continues to provide service to her alma mater, the staff and its students.

Griego has worn many hats and has had the opportunity to work with many constituency groups at ASU in her role as liaison for the provost and for the senior vice president. Her extensive experience has provided her with the knowledge of how the state system works. Because of her skill in navigating systems and operations, she was assigned various duties and special projects that were critical to the mission of the institution and that provided efficient delivery of services for students. She acquired an understanding of state budgeting and planning and managed various budgets in excess of $1 million dollars, which allowed her to execute spending plans to promote this mission. 

During her tenure at Adams State, Griego supervised over 13 academic departments and units in the production of the university’s electronic academic course schedule and catalog. She ensured the approval of academic courses and new academic programs. She developed institutional policies and procedures and trained staff in the use of the university’s Banner data system. She designed processes that ensured compliance to state regulations preparing courses for student registration and for auditing and accreditation purposes.

A few of her achievements have been to develop an online application, admission, and graduation process for graduate students. She researched and developed an online grade submission process for faculty. She worked in consultation with academic department chairs to provide promotions and to align duties for academic administrative assistants within the State Classified System.

In 2013, Griego was elected to the Colorado Humanities Board of Directors to serve a four-year term. Because of her passion for the humanities, she co-developed a Lifeways of the San Luis Valley and the American Southwest course and its coordinating Lecture Series which explored the cultural richness of the San Luis Valley and its heritage. She is also a strong proponent of military veterans. Her father is a WWII veteran who is 99 years old. When her son enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, she was the cofounder of the Blue Star Mothers of America chapter here in the San Luis Valley, supporting parents of sons and daughters who enlisted in the military.

With her many accomplishments, Griego brings a plethora of experience from the Colorado State System that she can apply to the Alamosa County System. It was at Adams State where she met her colleague Lois Widhalm. 

“I have worked with Lois throughout the years, she has taught me what a professional work ethic is all about,” Griego said. “Lois has done an outstanding job serving both the state and the county.”

She added, “It will be in the best interest of the community if I am elected your county treasurer.  I will continue to provide that same professional work ethic to the county and its residents. If given the opportunity to be elected, I will serve with the same respect and dedication that I provided while serving Adams State University.”