The director of admissions at Fort Lewis College was killed in a car crash Sunday night south of Vallecito Reservoir.
Jenna Gilbert, 31, of Bayfield was driving southbound in a Toyota SUV on County Road 501 at about 9:30 p.m. when she went off the right side of the road, overcorrected and rolled her vehicle into a tree on the opposite side of the road, said Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Patrick Rice.
Gilbert was the only occupant in the vehicle.
Colorado State Patrol is still unsure what caused Gilbert to drift off the road but investigators believe excessive speed may have played a role. Rice said Gilbert was deceased upon CSP’s arrival; she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
Gilbert transferred to Fort Lewis College in 2011 as a student. She made friends and developed a love for the outdoors, which kept her in Durango after graduation, FLC Dean of Enrollment Management Jess Savage said in an email to The Durango Herald.
Gilbert started as a student employee at FLC before being hired full-time as an admissions counselor in 2013. She worked her way up the ranks and was promoted to director of admissions in June 2023.
“Her journey with us saw her rise to the role of Director of Admissions,” the college wrote in an email to the Herald. “Throughout her tenure, Jenna's passion for education and dedication to our students left an indelible mark on all who knew her.”
The college has not yet decided how her role will be filled.
Savage said Gilbert enjoyed connecting with people and learning their stories, adding that she helped build a bond between FLC and the Durango community. Even after moving up the ranks, Gilbert enjoyed giving tours of the college, even though it wasn't required as director of admissions.
Evan Tyler, executive director of Friends of the San Juan’s, an avalanche awareness organization, worked with Gilbert during her time as a volunteer. Tyler was an incoming Fort Lewis College student in 2016 on one of Gilbert’s tours.
“It was early October, but Jenna was already sporting a goggle tan and gushing about the skiing conditions on Red Mountain Pass,” he said. “Jenna had a spark that lit up a whole room and made the tour unforgettable.”
He said the organization is still trying to wrap its head around the loss. He said winter mornings at the top of Molas Pass won’t be the same without Gilbert.
Savage said the campus community has been hit hard by the loss.
“I don’t think there is a person on campus who hasn’t crossed paths with Jenna and left with a smile,” she said. “She will be deeply missed as a colleague and friend.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story said the crash occurred at 11 p.m. Incorrect information was given to the Herald.
