Entering his third year on Metro's Board of Trustees, John Osborn, founder and CEO of Village Homes, has been pleasantly surprised by the college he helps oversee. Largely unfamiliar with Metro until his appointment in 2003, Osborn has developed a deep respect for Colorado's third-largest higher education institution.

"What is heartening," he says, "is the intensity with which faculty, students and alumni care about the institution. It bodes well that people will work hard to make Metro even better than it is today."

Osborn, a first-generation college graduate who came of age during the competitive years of the Space Race, holds two bachelor of science degrees, one in physics from Creighton University and another in civil engineering from Marquette University, and also has an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Denver.

A Denver real-estate veteran of 33 years, Osborn has served in senior officer positions at Ken-Caryl Ranch Corporation and the Writer Corporation in addition to his role at Village Homes. In 1992 he was named Builder of the Year by the Homebuilders Association of Metropolitan Denver and has served as HBA president. He is a Life Director for the National Association of Homebuilders. And in 1993, Inc. Magazine and Ernst and Young designated him Entrepreneur of the Year in Real Estate and Construction for the Rocky Mountain Region in their annual competition.

Given his background and the current dearth of students choosing careers in science and engineering, Osborn thinks it is incumbent upon Metro to help proliferate the number of workers capable of functioning in a "knowledge-based economy."

While other colleges and universities in the state offer classic engineering degrees, Osborn thinks that Metro can serve a different role by educating students for technology careers in applied engineering as well as various aspects of computing. As a nation, "we are not generating the quantity of math-and science-directed candidates," he says. "There is a need for math and science grads and not everyone needs a Ph.D. to participate."

In addition, Osborn points to several programs—including education and accelerated nursing—he sees as providing opportunities for internal growth and local economic development. "Going forward they will grow and we have a great chance to supplement professions that need additional highly qualified professionals."

"Unfortunately, graduate degrees today are almost a (career) requirement, similar to what a college degree was 30 years ago," he says. "Metro can provide the first step in a total educational process.

"It's great to see these first-generation college graduates," he adds. "Years ago, I was in that position."