Ngie Paccione (1978)

What is known for?

Angie Paccione, a notable alumna of Cornwall Central High School in New Windsor, NY, is a multifaceted figure of exceptional accomplishments in both athletics and politics. Born on 21st February 1960 in the South Bronx of New York City, Paccione is a biracial American of English-Irish and African-American descent. Her career, which spans sports, academics, and politics, has been marked by remarkable versatility and determination.

In her youth, Paccione was a skilled athlete at Cornwall Central High School in Orange County, NY, where she notably played basketball, volleyball, and soccer. In high school, she excelled in basketball, was a member of the 1977 USA Women's Select National Team, and named on Parade Magazine's First All-American Team and various other high school All-American Teams. Paccione even participated in the tryouts for the United States' first Olympic women's basketball team in 1976, making it to the penultimate cut in the eastern division.

After high school, she obtained a full athletic scholarship to Stanford University. She majored in Political Science and Psychology, earning her bachelor's degree with honors in 1983. During her time at Stanford, Paccione was part of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Christian missionary basketball team, "News Release". Post graduation, she played professional basketball for a short period with the Columbus Minks, a team in the Women's American Basketball Association.

Paccione later transitioned her career to academics and public service. She moved to Colorado in 1985 and after two years working at Excelsior Youth Center, she earned her teaching license from the University of Denver. During these years, she was awarded the Future Teacher Award by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Her academic pursuits eventually led her to earn a Ph.D. in education, after which she joined the faculty of Colorado State University.

Paccione's public service journey began in 2002 when she entered politics as a Democrat. She represented west Fort Collins in the Colorado House of Representatives for two terms, from 2003 to 2007, focusing on issues relating to youth and higher education. In the Colorado House, she rose to the position of House Majority Caucus Chair. Narrowly missing out on a congressional seat in 2006, Paccione continued her political career and in 2019, was appointed as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. She continues to hold this position as of the present.

With her diverse array of accomplishments, Paccione is an inspiring figure who stands as evidence of the remarkable potential of Cornwall Central High School's alumni.