Littleton, Colo. – September 12, 2026 -- Dr. Angie Paccione, Chief Impact Officer of Verus Global, has been named a Pinnacle Professional of The Year by The Inner Circle for her work in transformational leadership, education advocacy and global impact.
Paccione leads leadership programs for Fortune 300 clients through Verus Global
In her role at Verus Global, Paccione designs and delivers large-scale executive coaching and culture-transformation initiatives for Fortune 300 companies and global organizations across multiple continents. Her programs focus on leadership alignment, executive facilitation and activating workforce potential to drive measurable performance results.
She served as Colorado's higher education chief from 2019 to 2026
Paccione was Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education for seven years, where she pushed initiatives to expand access to higher education. Among her legislative achievements was a law providing free college opportunities for foster youth and homeless high school students in Colorado.
Paccione made history in Colorado's legislature and on its congressional ballot
She represented Fort Collins as a Colorado State Representative from 2003 to 2007, becoming the first African American woman to lead the Democratic majority caucus in the Colorado House of Representatives. In 2006, she became the first African American candidate to appear on a Colorado ballot for the U.S. Congress. She also became the first woman to coach boys' varsity high school basketball in the state.
Colorado named her Leader of the Year in the Public Sector for 2026
The 9News & Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation recognized Paccione with the honor in 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University, a Master of Education from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University.
Paccione serves on the board of the Colorado Women's Education Foundation and supports B.I.O.N.I.C., a nonprofit centered on the phrase "Believe It Or Not I Care."