Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó

Dear Lynx community, 

I hope that you’ve had a refreshing start to your summer. Most importantly, I hope you’ve found time to recharge, both physically and mentally. As the pace of campus has shifted, I wanted to take this opportunity to share where my own personal reflections have taken me.

I will start by acknowledging that even in the subtlety of the summer months, it’s difficult to escape the uncertainty that looms over both the federal and state governing landscapes as well as public perceptions of higher education. The lack of clarity could easily lead to despondency. And yet, as I look to the 2025-26 academic year, I find myself incredibly hopeful and excited about both our present and future. 

As we move forward, it’s imperative that we act collectively. For too long academia has fought internally, allowing others to define us externally. With unity in purpose and a willingness to adapt, we can focus on growth, rather than insulate against outside influences. 

I wanted to share two axioms I continue to fall back on: 

1. Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó has a core public service mission that includes positioning our graduates for success in the workforce and supporting their development as engaged citizens.
2. Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó is an opportunity engine, not held back by past norms but, instead, driven by future opportunity. 

I’ve grown more confident that our approach, one which differs from the trajectory being taken by many of our peers, will only serve to increase our standing as an innovator.

I see this strength and unity illustrated in the interest in our Student Success Transformation Initiative working groups. The volume of volunteers for the working groups was immense. As the state’s premier public urban research institution, I believe this level of interest represents a significant inflection point and one which fills me with great pride. I look forward to initial feedback and recommendations from the working groups in the coming months.

As it relates to innovative growth, even during the summer, our campus continues to make the news and change the lives of the communities we serve locally, in our state, and beyond.

Last month, we announced the launch of the world’s first . This 18-month hybrid program, housed within our Business School and built in partnership with Denver International Airport (DEN), will train future leaders across the aviation logistics and supply chain. Students will have access to experiential learning opportunities both at DEN and through week-long residencies at major airports across the globe.

This partnership illustrates our standing as Denver’s higher education anchor. It blends support for our local economic infrastructure—where the Colorado Department of Transportation estimates DEN contributes nearly $50 billion annually to the state’s economy—with an innovative degree, shaped by aviation professionals, available nowhere else in the world.

Over the past couple of weeks, the axioms I called out above have taken on greater importance as I’ve seen their validation amid gatherings with collegiate peers, elected and non-elected officials, and business leaders.

While in Washington, D.C., I attended a gathering of the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU) Council of Presidents. There, I had the opportunity to hear directly from the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Acting Undersecretary of the Department of Education.

Many perspectives were shared on how to ensure that we continue to protect our national security interests, while also leading more broadly in research and development. One point of agreement, no matter the political ideology, was the imperative that universities continue to drive innovation. There was also similar agreement on the importance of tangible outcomes for students, especially those attending public institutions.

Consistent support for our endeavors was also shared by members of the Colorado Congressional delegation, from across the political spectrum, whom we met with as part of the Colorado Capital Conference. During our visit, we had the opportunity to hear from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. During our sit down, he framed higher education’s role in advancing society succinctly as being critical to our nation’s continued exceptionalism. For up-to-date information on the federal transition and its impact on Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó, I encourage you to visit our Federal Transition website.

Last month, I also attended the Colorado Conference on Civic Discourse in Colorado Springs as part of the June Board of Regents meeting. While there, I sat in on a keynote by renowned scholars Robert George and Cornel West. I was inspired by the duo’s ability to model civil discourse, despite their differing opinions. It was a crucial reminder of the importance of honest dialogue and our role, in line with our public service mission, to support the development of an engaged citizenry.

As we inch closer to the start of the fall term, I will reiterate that our path forward is not without challenges. But, as Dr. George and Dr. West reminded me, with honest and respectful dialogue and a focus on our public service mission, we will fulfill the opportunity before us—to build for a greater future, rather than hang onto the past.  

I write these monthly messages to give you greater insight into my work on behalf of Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó. I also frequently post about my engagement with our campus community and broader community of stakeholders in Denver and beyond on . I invite you to connect with me there if you are interested in knowing more about my efforts as your chancellor over the past month and into the future.