ÍøÆسԹÏ

The ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï (ÍøÆسԹÏ) is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Almquist, Ph.D., as the university’s next chief of staff. Almquist, who comes to ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï with nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, will begin in her new role on June 23.

The ÍøÆسԹÏ’s Board of Trustees Finance and Audit Committee met on Friday, May 6, to discuss the fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 third quarter (Q3) financial report, an enrollment update and the FY23 preliminary budget preview.

The ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï held its spring commencement ceremonies Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7. Approximately 1,445 students graduated this spring with around 1,065 earning a bachelor's degree and around 380 earning a master's specialist or doctoral degree.

On Saturday, April 9, the 14th Annual Women’s Walk – with more than 300 participants – raised nearly $30,000 to make a difference for the ÍøÆسԹÏ’s female student-athletes.

The ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï (ÍøÆسԹÏ) is thrilled to announce the selection of Dr. Beth Longenecker as the Founding Dean of the university’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (ÍøÆسԹÏ-COM). Longenecker, who was hired after the university launched a national search in December, will start her position in June.

Last month, the College of Education and Behavioral Science welcomed one of their distinguished alumni back to campus for a special keynote presentation. Stephanie Klixbull graduated from ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï in 2013 with a degree in Elementary Education and an emphasis in Music Education and Special Education.

When late alumna Sharon Gander ‘74 designated part of her estate to ÍøÆسԹÏ, her only specification was support for a ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Alumni Association scholarship, and so her gift was endowed to create the Sharon Gander Alumni Scholarship.

This past year, thanks to the generous support of WeldWerks Brewing Co., the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï community had an opportunity to participate in workshops designed to create a space where students, faculty and staff could explore topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across a broad range of identities.

As a high school student, Taw Paw almost didn’t apply to ÍøÆسԹÏ—she didn’t think she’d get accepted. Born in Thailand, Taw and her family are Burmese refugees who left their home country due to ethnic cleansing. Although she has lived in Colorado since the age of five, Taw moved between different schools along the Front Range which negatively impacted her studies. She felt her grades weren’t good enough for her to qualify her to apply to a four year university. With encouragement from her parents, Taw agreed to tour ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï and felt instantly at home.

Annette Martinez earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï in 1986, and is a senior vice president at State Farm Insurance Companies, where she has worked since 1988. She was appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees by Governor Jared Polis in late 2021.