Ken Summers

Ken Summers

Fellow in State Policy

Ken Summers is a Colorado native who served six years in the Colorado House of Representatives. During that time, he served as the Chair of the House Health and Environment Committee for two years. During his three terms, he also served on the Education Committee, Local Government Committee and Finance Committee. In addition her served on several interim and special committees including the Poverty Reduction Task Force, the Colorado Alzheimer’s Coordinating Council and the Attorney General’s Drug Trend and Response Task Force and the Colorado Health Exchange Legislative Oversight Committee. He was recognized for his legislative service through many awards including, the Colorado Nonprofit Association Legislator of the year, the “Protector of the Patient” Award by the Colorado Medical Society and the Legislator of the Year Award from the Jefferson County Developmental Disability Resource Center to name a few. Prior to serving in the state legislature Ken served as a pastor for 28 years. He served churches in Lakewood, Strasburg and Colby, KS and Littleton. For seven years, He served as the Executive Director of Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains, a faith-based residential drug and alcohol recovery program. In June of 2013 he moved to Fort Collins and within a month was hospitalized with neuroinvasive West Nile Virus. This resulted in 142 days of hospitalization and ongoing recovery that has lasted for over two years. In May 2016 released a book on his health crisis experience entitled, “The Longest Campaign.” Ken ended a four-year term on the Fort Collins City Council in April 2021 and currently serves as an Affiliate Instructor in Nonprofit Management at Colorado Christian University. Ken holds a BA degree in Business Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Regis University. Ken is married to Debbie (a retired hospice nurse).They have two adult children and six grandchildren.