Dr. Eric Reno is a child of the American Midwest, armed with its accompanying values. He served four years in the United States Air Force as an intelligence analyst in the UK at the height of the Cold War. He is a first-generation college graduate, and attended the Junior College of Broward County, FL; University of Maryland European Division; Florida Atlantic University; and San Francisco State University. After five years of corporate life he decided it wasn’t a fit. His next ambition was to teach college English. At thirty he began to pursue his dream, with no job, no teaching experience, no money, but blessed with a supportive wife, an understanding mother-in-law, and a first child on the way. He eventually retired as a college president, a seemingly impossible achievement that was never envisioned those many years ago.
He was twice named by students Colorado Community College President of the Year. He received the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction from Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society of two-year colleges. In 2011 he was named Honorary Commander of the 435th Fighter Training Squadron at Randolph AFB. In 2013 he received the Hidalgo recognition from the Bexar County (San Antonio) Commissioners’ Court. In 2014 he was named to the PTK Texas Hall of Honor for distinguished CEOs and received the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 he received the National Pacesetter Award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations, recognizing his advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges. In 2022 Northeast Lakeview College honored his support of the arts by naming the art gallery the RENO GALLERY.
Eric and Patricia reside in Fort Collins, CO, with their children and grandchildren all within commuting distance.
