ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Jennifer Pollmiller – From Rodeo Roots to Rural Health Leader

Otero College Alumna Champions Community, Mental Health, and the Power of Small Beginnings

Otero College is proud to spotlight alumna Jennifer Pollmiller, a shining example of how determination, connection, and a strong foundation can lead to profound impact. A graduate of the Class of 2012, Jennifer’s journey from college rodeo to community healthcare outreach is a testament to the life-changing power of starting at Otero.

Pollmiller came to Otero in 2010 as a recruited rodeo athlete. What started as a way to ease into college as an undecided student, quickly turned into a formative life experience. “I loved every minute of my time at Otero,” she recalls. “From friendships with fellow rodeo competitors to a surprise opportunity in broadcast media, my path unfolded in ways I never expected.”
That opportunity? Hosting the Little Britches Rodeo World Finals on RFDTV — an experience that inspired her to pursue a degree in Mass Communications.

Jennifer credits the personal support from instructors, especially Dr. Gray in Chemistry, for helping her overcome academic hurdles. “I’ve never been a science person, but Dr. Gray spent hours working with me one-on-one. That kind of support is what you only find in a place like Otero.”

After graduation, Jennifer’s career took her to Denver before circling back to the Arkansas Valley — and to Otero — where she served as Recruitment and Social Media Coordinator. “That job was a turning point,” she says. “Almabeth Kaess believed in me, encouraged me to pursue my master’s degree, and taught me the importance of giving back.”

Now, as Director of Community Outreach for Valley-Wide Health Systems, Jennifer leads initiatives that bring mobile healthcare and mental health resources to rural and frontier communities across southern Colorado. One of her proudest accomplishments is The Coffee Break Project, a suicide prevention and awareness effort tailored specifically for farmers and ranchers.

“I get to talk openly about mental health in spaces where the stigma is prevalent,” she says. “That’s a privilege and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”

Jennifer’s connection to Otero runs deep. Her family’s annual Jim Pollmiller Memorial Golf Tournament has become a staple event, raising scholarship funds for future students. “We wanted to honor my uncle and give back. Those small scholarships meant the world to me as a student — it feels good to pay it forward.”

Her advice to current and future Rattlers? “Get involved. Make friends outside your comfort zone. And don’t underestimate the power of a small college to prepare you for a big life.”

Among her fondest memories? Turning the dorm lawn into “the world’s largest slip-n-slide” with her rodeo teammates — a reminder that college is about more than academics; it’s about the lifelong connections made along the way.
Jennifer Pollmiller’s journey is proof that success doesn’t require a straight path — just the right start.