Catherine Laskey has worked at CA since 1995 and has served as Director of Admission & Financial Aid since 1997. During her first two years at CA, Catherine also taught French and history in the Upper and Lower Schools. A highlight of Catherine's time at CA is assisting with Interim trips and, along with students, learning how to fly fish, how to lead hiking trips, how to practice yoga, and how to order a variety of poutine in Quebec.
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Catherine graduated from Duke University as an Angier B. Duke Scholar, with majors in French and Political Science. Prior to CA, Catherine worked in admission at The Madeira School in McLean, Va. When she is not meeting with prospective families, Catherine enjoys traveling and outdoor activities with her family.
University of Colorado - Boulder - BS Trinity College - MA Harvard Law School - JD At CA Since: 2013
At CA since 2013, Heidi Chesley is the Director of Upper School Admission & Financial Aid at Colorado Academy. Before joining the CA community, she served as a Partner in the Boston office of the international law firm, McDermott, Will & Emery LLP, and as a Partner in Gordon & Rees LLP in Denver. She has also worked as Director of Admission at The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Conn., and as a Director and Teacher for Citizen Schools Program, an after-school apprenticeship and mock-trial program for inner-city students in Boston, Mass. Chesley received her BS in Finance and Marketing from the University of Colorado at Boulder, her MA in American Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and her JD from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass. Chesley is also a Boettcher Scholar.
Returning to CA in 2011, Caren Salzer brought years of experience working in an independent school setting to her position as Director of Lower School Admission & Financial Aid. Salzer, who holds a BS from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., previously worked for CA as a Middle School math and Core teacher. Prior to CA, Salzer served as Development Director and Director of Admission for the Montessori School of Evergreen. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, mountain biking, photography, knitting, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Before joining the CA community in 2018, Karen Chavez served as a college counselor at KIPP Colorado Schools, where she guided low-income, minority, and first-generation college-bound students through the college application process. Continuing her passion to give back to her Southwest Denver community, she has served as a lead teacher for Horizons at CA during its summer enrichment program. Chavez has also worked as a Selective Mutism Program assistant at the Child Mind Institute in New York and as a team leader at NYU Jumpstart, a program that serves young children in low-income communities. She received her BS in Applied Psychology from New York University and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Lisa Dean
Admission Office Coordinator Upper School Service Learning Coordinator (303) 914-2516 Email Lisa
University of Colorado - Boulder - BA Regis University - Master of Non-Profit Management At CA Since: 2005
Lisa Dean began working in the CA Admission Office in 2005. As the Admission Office Coordinator, she manages the office and supports prospective families through the application process. In 2017, Dean added service learning responsibilities as the Upper School Service Learning Coordinator. Dean earned her BA in Communications from the University of Colorado-Boulder and graduated with a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. Prior to CA, Dean worked as a volunteer and special events coordinator for several area nonprofit organizations.
Paige Siemers joined CA in the fall of 2014 as the Administrative Assistant in the Office of Admission and Financial Aid. Siemers worked in a similar capacity at Mullen High School and also as the Assistant to the Director of CA Summer Programs. She was a professional marathoner for nearly five years and coached cross-country, track and field coach. Siemers holds a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Kansas.