RED Magazine Winter 2022

METROPOLITAN

Doubling down on democracy MSU Denver’s Institute for Public Service prepares students for government and nonprofit careers.

All-inclusive education Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center’s 10th anniversary marks a decade of world-class learning.

Roadrunner takes flight Alumna Jessica Flores-Faisal has her sights set on a future in health care administration.

Seeds of change Inspired by his late wife, alumnus Eddy Reyes transforms lives through education.

Power in preservation Alumna Jo Elizabeth Pinto’s lifetime commitment ensures that stories are accessible for all.

Art of resilience Alumnus Javier Flores wouldn’t be slowed in his journey to succeed as an artist.

Called to serve Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins approaches his job with a human touch.

Rainbow connection

There may have been a little rain at Homecoming this year, but not even wet weather could wash out the good vibes at Metropolitan State University of Denver. The memorable week included a pancake breakfast, tailgate and party, and Fall 2022 Prospective Student Open House, among other activities. Alumni, students, faculty members, staff members and friends participated in the festivities at the Auraria Campus from Sept. 26 through Oct. 1. Save the date for next year’s celebration: Sept. 24-Oct. 1, 2023.

Needed: Roadrunners ready to innovate and serve

One of my favorite parts about being a university president is running into Roadrunners around town. Because so many Metropolitan State University of Denver alumni are concentrated in metro Denver, it’s easy to find alumni doing amazing things in any number of industries in communities all over the metro area. I’m always impressed but never surprised to hear your amazing stories, because I know how special MSU Denver is and the quality of graduates who come out of this institution.

The world needs more Roadrunners, though, and two areas we’re placing increased emphasis on are public service and Industry 4.0.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here, and after revolutions driven by steam, electricity and then computing, we’re now in an era of rapid technological advances known by the shorthand “Industry 4.0.” This is the inspiration for the new Industry 4.0 Center of Excellence, a partnership among all the Auraria Campus institutions that will ensure that Roadrunners are learning artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented reality, advanced manufacturing and more to prepare them for high-demand (and high-paying) jobs involving Industry 4.0 technology.

As someone who has dedicated her career to public service, I am also thrilled about our new Institute for Public Service, which launched this fall to strengthen and diversify the public-service pipeline. Building on previous University efforts, the institute will expose students to a

wide array of public-sector opportunities and instill the importance of careers that contribute to the public good.

As much as technology and public policy shape our everyday lives, it’s critical that Roadrunners are involved in Industry 4.0 fields and government so that they can use their unique skills and experiences to make the world a better place.

Elsewhere in this edition of RED Magazine, you will see that the University is celebrating the 10th anniversary of our on-campus hotel, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown. If you’re not one of the 62,000 MSU Denver alumni living in the metro area — or you just need a night away from home — I encourage you to spend a night on campus at one of the most popular hotels in downtown Denver. Guests love that this innovative public-private partnership provides hands-on learning experience for our Hospitality students.

As always, thanks for reading about what your fellow Roadrunners are up to. After five years as MSU Denver president, I still can’t get enough of your stories and can’t stop sharing them with others!

Sincerely, JANINE DAVIDSON Ph.D., President

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Marcus Chamberland Cliff Foster Leslie

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Debora Gilliard, professor of Management

Brian Gunther, communications manager, School of Education

Jamie Hurst, assistant vice president of Strategic Engagement

Steve Juliff, communications specialist, School of Hospitality Steve Krizman, assistant professor of Public Relations

Laura Miller, managing editor, Communications and Marketing

Sam Ng, professor of Meteorology

Andrea Smith, associate vice president of Strategic Communications

Lynne Winter, assistant director of Advancement Communications

RED Magazine is published three times a year by the Metropolitan State University of Denver Office of University Communications and Marketing. © 2022

Metropolitan State University of Denver. All rights reserved. Send correspondence and address updates to magazine@msudenver.edu

The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of Metropolitan State University of Denver or imply endorsement by its officers or by the MSU Denver Alumni

Association. MSU Denver does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability in admissions or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs or activities.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

John Arnold

MANAGING EDITOR Dan Vaccaro

ART DIRECTOR Scott Surine

PUBLICATION DESIGNER Aldrich Design

COPY EDITORS

Linthicum

Auraria’s past unearthed

Students are digging into Auraria Campus history this semester — literally.

Archaeologists and students from Metropolitan State University of Denver, the University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver have launched an excavation project that aims to uncover more about those who once inhabited campus.

Team leaders hope to unearth new insights about the community of Aurarians who were displaced prior to construction of the campus in the 1970s and

perhaps even find Native American habitual remnants. The long-term goal is to house artifacts in a museum dedicated to the legacy of these groups.

Mildred Saenz, an Anthropology minor at MSU Denver, looks forward to learning from the excavation process. As a Mexican immigrant, she’s particularly interested in the culture of the displaced Aurarians, who were primarily Latinos.

“I’d like to see what kind of lives they lived, what they did,” she said. “Seeing what’s here is very important for the people who lived here before.”

MORE PHOTOS: See students in action.

Breastfeeding education gets a boost

A nationwide recall of baby formula in February sent parents into crisis mode, frantically searching stores and the internet to find food for their babies.

As the shortage dragged on, some argued that mothers who were struggling to find formula should “just breastfeed.” But it’s not that simple, said Jennifer Bolton, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

“You could make the same analogy that if you have a car available and you need to get somewhere, ‘just drive,’” said Bolton, a registered dietitian and board-certified lactation consultant. “Well, if you don’t know how to drive, you can’t ‘just drive.’ You need somebody to teach you.”

Preparing more health professionals to provide that support to nursing mothers is the goal of a new lactation training program launched this fall in MSU Denver’s Department of Nutrition. It is the only program in the state that prepares students to become international board-certified lactation consultants.

Bolton and Amanda Ogden, R.N., an affiliate faculty member and fellow certified lactation consultant, have been dreaming up a lactation certification program for well over a decade. Their vision was to create a curriculum that guides students toward being patient-support professionals and working in health care settings to support infant feeding throughout the first several years of life.

That vision has now become a reality, with students getting hands-on experience at local health care facilities as part of their undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. Students are required to complete 500 hours of a clinical lactation internship to qualify for the licensing exam.

Ogden is also the co-founder of Denver’s Mama’hood, a supportive community space for moms and families. Her main goal is to make breastfeeding support more accessible. “Our bodies make food for babies, and anybody who wants to breast- or chest-feed should be able to access help,” she said.

LEARN MORE about the program: msudenver.edu/nutrition.

Amanda Ogden, R.N., MSU Denver affiliate faculty member and Mama’hood co-founder, gives Gentry Rice, 2 months, an oral assessment.

ALYSON

Career construction

The City of Denver says it needs upward of 40,000 construction workers to complete major projects. And businesses are struggling to fill those contracts. To help address worker shortages, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in July introduced legislation to invest in apprenticeship programs in higher education.

The Student Apprenticeship Act would provide funds for higher education and employers to create apprenticeship opportunities for students. It also allows apprenticeship programs to qualify as workstudy, so eligible students can earn money to pay their tuition.

The legislation aligns with students’ need to work while taking classes, said Maluwa Behringer, executive director of industry partnerships at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Classroom to Career Hub.

“About 80% of our students work while going to school, but in a recent survey of Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Technology students, only 20% of students were working in their career field,” she said. “If we can transition those students into construction apprenticeships, where they could earn while learning, that would be a big win for students and for the construction industry.”

Anthony Miller, a senior at MSU Denver studying Construction Project Management, worked toward his journeyman license in heating, ventilation and air conditioning while taking classes. He earned that license in 2020 and is now a full-time journeyman at Denver-based contractor RK Mechanical.

“My license has helped me to become a lead person and get the ball rolling on a promotion to foreman,” Miller said. “And MSU Denver was accommodating while I was getting my license — I could take classes online, at night and on the weekend and not miss out on work.”

MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., believes the legislation would make a huge impact.

“Apprenticeships provide relevant, enriching experiences for college students, and at MSU Denver, we’ve seen firsthand how these work-based learning opportunities kick-start our students’ careers,” she said. “I am proud to support Sen. Bennet’s bill to create more apprenticeship programs, which will connect credentials to careers through valuable hands-on training for students.”

THE STUDENT APPRENTICESHIP ACT

Number of construction workers the City of Denver says it needs to complete major projects.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet introduced legislation to invest

apprenticeship programs in higher education.

— JANINE DAVIDSON, P h .D., MSU DENVER PRESIDENT

EARNING WHILE LEARNING

ALYSON M c CLARAN

LEARN MORE about the Construction Project Management program.

Anthony Miller, a senior at MSU Denver studying Construction Project Management, works at a job site at Denver International Airport.

“ At MSU Denver, we’ve seen firsthand how these workbased learning opportunities kick-start our students’ careers.”

in

Trauma-informed education

In fall 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association jointly declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health due to “soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness and suicidality” caused by Covid-19 and other factors.

To address the challenges facing today’s children, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s School of Education integrates trauma-informed practices, known as TIP, into its curriculum, said Christine Muldoon, Ed.D., founding executive director of the Office of Education Solutions. “We incorporated TIP and put an equity lens to it. We wanted to ensure that we were also being culturally responsive.”

For these efforts, the school recently received the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Trauma-informed care provides educators with a deeper awareness of key trauma-related concepts and a greater understanding of trauma’s effects on behavior. TIP also helps students learn de-escalation tactics.

Hayley Conley, a mathematics teacher at Alameda International Junior/Senior High School who received her Math degree with Secondary Education Licensure from MSU Denver in 2021, said TIPs are vital for Title 1 schools (those receiving federal funds because of their high percentage of students from lowincome backgrounds) because their student bodies have a wider breadth of experiences.

“(We have) kids who’ve emigrated from war-torn countries and kids who’ve lived in the dilapidated apartments down the street their

whole lives,” she said. “TIP helps you better relate to all the kids — it’s about equity.”

For alumna Jocelyn DelRio, who graduated from MSU Denver in 2021 with a degree in Early Childhood Education, TIP is about compassion.

“Life is traumatic, and to ignore the things these students go through is to teach them not to confront difficult situations,” said DelRio, who teaches at the Colorado Sports Leadership Academy. “TIP helps us to meet students where they are and hopefully gives them better coping skills.”

MSU Denver alumna Hayley Conley was recently promoted to chair of the Mathematics Department at Alameda International Jr./Sr. High School in Lakewood after two years of teaching.

EXCELLENCE AWARD

“Life is traumatic, and to ignore the things these students go through is to teach them not to confront difficult situations.”

— JOCELYN DELRIO, ALUMNA

ALYSON M c CLARAN

Free-speech statement

Political rhetoric has never seemed hotter. Which is why cooler heads at Metropolitan State University of Denver are reaffirming a commitment to freedom of speech, expression and inquiry, with a free-speech statement playing a central role in fostering respectful engagement.

Healthy dialogue with one another might just help us water the roots of a parched democracy, said MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., at a Sept. 15 panel discussion titled “Free Speech and the Art of Democracy.”

“Shutting down people’s ideas and speech is not OK,” she said. “The alternative is to bring your A-game and respectfully engage, maybe even with a little bit of humor. We’re an educational institution — that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Davidson was joined by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat; former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams, a Republican; Katia Campbell, Ph.D., professor and chair of Communication Studies; and David Fine, MSU Denver general counsel.

Panelists spoke broadly about philosophical constructs, including John Stuart Mills’ defense of the marketplace of ideas and the lack of a monopolization of truth; the impact of identity and demonizing “others”; and unlikely historical friendships among political rivals.

Former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams, left, and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser at the “Free Speech and the Art of Democracy” panel.

“Folks are so polarized, the very concept of working with someone you disagree with is not just foreign but wrong,” Williams said. “It’s our essence that we as civic leaders have to work with each other even when we disagree.”

To develop its free-speech statement, MSU Denver collaborated with the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. The University’s statement was specifically crafted to acknowledge MSU Denver’s diverse community.

Debating solutions

Metropolitan State University of Denver hosted a series of candidate forums this fall that aimed to better inform and engage voters who are weary, suspicious and frustrated with an election process that sees opposing candidates devote more energy to attacking each other than to offering real solutions.

The Solution Studio — presented by MSU Denver’s Institute for Public Service in collaboration with New Voices Strategies and the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization — invited candidates for governor and the U.S. Senate to participate individually in small, moderated panel-style sessions with students, answering questions on issues such as homelessness, inflation and climate action.

Participants included U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, and his Republican opponent Joe O’Dea, as well as incumbent Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl.

There was no audience at the sessions — just the candidate, four students and a moderator. Instead of candidates facing off against each other on stage, the Solution Studio’s intimate format allowed them to

“On one hand, free expression and getting to the truth (are) critically important at a university,” Fine said. “Yet we also recognize that if someone is attacked by speech or otherwise, that’s contrary to our values and we should stand up on behalf of that person.”

Davidson said MSU Denver’s leadership in the economy of thought will be a national model for divorcing the personal from the political, emphasizing how to attack ideas instead of individuals.

dedicate their attention to uninterrupted and authentic answers. Each session was recorded and produced by students in MSU Denver’s Department of Journalism and Media Production.

“The traditional debate format, where candidates are asked questions and take turns with timed responses, incentivizes a focus on sound bites,” said Robert Preuhs, Ph.D., professor and chair of MSU Denver’s Department of Political Science. “So the outcome of a debate is less substantive. It’s geared to the pithy, zinger response.”

MSU Denver, with its diverse student body, boasted the strongest undergraduate student voter turnout of any college in the country in 2016. And the Solution Studio organizers used information gleaned from the University’s workingadult students to develop topics of discussion for the panels, said Tom Cosgrove, founder of New Voices Strategies, who conceived of the candidate forums.

In a traditional debate format, “your candidate’s only there to create enough noise to get people talking,” Cosgrove said. “But government requires solutions, not slogans.”

ALYSON M c CLARAN

“The traditional debate format incentivizes a focus on sound bites.”

— ROBERT PREUHS, PH.D., PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF MSU DENVER’S DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

WELCOME TO THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

BY MARK COX • ILLUSTRATION BY DENIS FREITAS

This unprecedented era of technological development is about to change our lives.

ou can’t see it yet, but the future just landed smack-bang in the middle of downtown Denver.

As the pace of technological advancement surges across the United States, Metropolitan State University of Denver has partnered with other higher education institutions on the Auraria Campus to create the Industry 4.0 Center of Excellence. And like a spaceship freshly touched down on campus, the center is set to open up new worlds of opportunity.

“The potential benefits are enormous,” said Mark Yoss, director of MSU Denver’s Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute (AMSI), itself a cutting-edge facility filled with state-of-the-art equipment. “By leveraging and upgrading the existing tools of AMSI with even newer technologies, this new center will give our students a world-beating education, while also offering expert training to local businesses.”

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, often called “Industry 4.0,” is a moniker for the sweeping technological change happening in the world right now. Klaus Schwab, the global economist who coined the term, memorably said: “Given its speed, scope and unprecedented impact, 4.0 is unlike anything humankind has experienced before.”

“I think Schwab was right,” Yoss said. “The first three industrial revolutions — geared around steam, electricity and then computing — basically involved a single technological advance. But 4.0 has more than 10 distinct elements, each one of which is expanding exponentially all the time.”

SMART WORK

The Center of Excellence represents a serious investment for MSU Denver — a projected $2.2 million over five to 10 years — and there’s good reason to catch the 4.0 wave.

Recent dizzying advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented reality and the Internet of Things have disrupted manufacturing and numerous other industries and are transforming the whole way we work.

Smart factories, for example, use real-time data from the factory floor to radically improve efficiency. “Interconnected technology can enable 500 disparate people to work seamlessly together toward the same goal, almost like a single organism,” Yoss explained.

On automated production lines, where malfunctions are time-consuming and costly, predictive AI software monitors machine performance and diagnoses potential problems before they happen.

Augmented reality will be the first area of focus at the new center. Stephen Morgan, industry lab coordinator at AMSI, couldn’t be more excited.

“The deeper I get into our augmented-reality project, the more its possibilities and potential uses open up,” he said. “Working on something so completely new gives you the sense of being an explorer.”

How does AR work? Suppose you need to learn how to operate a complex machine. Morgan’s advanced software can create a “digital twin” of it. Then, using augmented-reality glasses, you can see the actual machine and the overlaid digital version at once, as well as real-time instructions on how to use it.

Morgan described it as a “total game-changer” that lets you deliver the right information at exactly the right time to the end user, whether that’s a student, repair technician or doctor.

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY

Another great feature of the Industry 4.0 Center is that it will further bolster AMSI’s track record for helping students find rewarding jobs with top Colorado employers.

Steven Finch, who graduated from MSU Denver this year, said his career prospects were boosted by AMSI’s relationship with local businesses. He was propelled straight into a job with Ball Aerospace.

“One of the best things about the program is the exposure it gives students to exactly the kind of new technology and techniques that local business partners want,” Finch said. “We all feel empowered to excel in our chosen fields.”

Yoss is confident that the program provides students with the digital skills they need to become productive players in a rapidly expanding industry, which includes new job titles such as digital twin architect, collaborative robotics specialist and factory automation engineer.

The pay is good, too. The average starting salary for MSU Denver spring graduates in the field was $76,000. But Yoss said it’s about more than just the money.

“Studying advanced manufacturing puts students on a path toward a rewarding career in a really interesting industry, which is also genuinely looking to make everyone’s lives better,” he said.

SARA HERTWIG

ALYSON M c CLARAN

MSU Denver’s Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute includes the Lockheed Martin Additive Manufacturing Laboratory.

Besides helping students, the new center will invite local manufacturing companies to train their workers in the latest technology. It’s support they sorely need.

“Digital transformation projects in the Denver area are currently failing 80% of the time,” Yoss said. “Our plan is to show employees from these companies how to do things right so they can get back out there and start to succeed.”

That expertise won’t come free, of course. Companies will have to pay for the support. Yoss said the center will create a new revenue stream for the University, while also blurring the lines between the campus and the community.

Back at the lab, Morgan is also looking forward to welcoming outside players. “The best part of my AMSI job is working with colleagues, students and industry partners to solve big problems,” he said. “When the new center brings in more partners, that’s only going to create more momentum to help tackle these tough challenges.”

THE FUTURE IS NOW

Yoss said most people don’t realize how quickly the pace of technological progress is moving. We might imagine that the stuff of sci-fi movies is years away, but some current tech would fit easily in a futuristic film.

He cited a scene in the movie “Iron Man,” where the main character is manufacturing something in his lab and an AI cognitive assistant has

projected a digital model to work by and controls all the welding and drilling machinery.

“Iron Man doesn’t really have to do anything,” Yoss said. “He’s more like an orchestra conductor. And well, that’s something we’re quickly moving toward.”

Over the next few years, we should expect 4.0 technology to make increasing inroads into our everyday lives. Yoss said that before long, rather than having products delivered by Amazon, people with 3D printers will be able to order a product, hit “print” and have it built right in their homes.

The rapid advancements of Industry 4.0 have also provided something of a makeover for the manufacturing profession, which has traditionally been viewed as unglamorous.

“All the new technologies and machines have absolutely revolutionized our industry, making it much faster, safer and cleaner,” said Finch, the recent MSU Denver graduate.

And popular, it turns out. As innovations keep coming, companies have a growing need for skilled workers with advanced manufacturing credentials. Finch said there’s great demand for a workforce ready to implement these exciting changes. And he recommends his area of study to friends as a safe bet.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “This is a fascinating industry where there will always be a constant stream of interesting and well-paid work. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

“All the new technologies and machines have absolutely revolutionized our industry, making it much faster, safer and cleaner.”

— STEVEN FINCH, RECENT MSU DENVER GRADUATE

DOUBLING DOWN ON

democracy

THE NUMBERS ARE STARK : Nearly six in every 10 U.S. adults are not satisfied with the way democracy is working in their country, according to a 2021 survey from Pew Research Center.

The same survey showed that about 85% of Americans said the U.S. political system either needs major changes or should be completely reformed.

As public trust in government plummets and political divisions grow, Metropolitan State University of Denver is pushing back with the launch of an initiative that aims to rebuild confidence in democracy and its institutions.

The University’s Institute for Public Service focuses on inspiring and preparing students for careers in government and the nonprofit sector through cohort-based coursework, high-profile speakers and events, and paid internships.

Since taking the helm at MSU Denver in 2017, President Janine Davidson,

Ph.D., has championed the role that the University can play in developing a new generation of public servants. Davidson, a former Air Force officer and pilot who also served as undersecretary of the U.S. Navy, said her career reflects a deep belief in the value of participatory democracy.

“I believe that public service provides the backbone for our democracy,” said Davidson, who serves as chair of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board and previously served on the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service. “But in times like these, I realize we cannot take the strength of our democratic system for granted. We must be active stewards of the processes that make our society work.”

MSU DENVER’S INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT CAREERS.

by John Arnold

The MSU Denver Institute for Public Service was born out of the Hart Center for Public Service, an organization created by former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart. The center partnered with MSU Denver on public-service education and programming but this year determined

All my expenses were paid, and I also received a salary for the internship. It was too good to be true. I also have aspirations in

but would want to work at a local or state level.

very curious about education

which is something I’d like to work toward.”

government

I’m

policy,

“I am a political junkie, and I like to learn about how the government works. I was looking for an internship for my senior year, and this popped up.

INTERN

Jackie Alderete

Office of U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (CO-6)

— JACKIE ALDERETE

Majoring in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies

PRESIDENTIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

ANDRIL ZASTROZHNOV/ISTOCKPHOTO AND AMANDA SCHWENGEL

LEARN MORE: msudenver.edu/institute-for-public-service

that its mission could be more efficiently and effectively carried out solely by the University.

Administrators overseeing the new institute hope it will open students’ eyes to the wide array of public-sector opportunities and the importance of a career that contributes to the public good.

“We find that many students have a narrow view of what public service is,” said John Masserini, DMA, dean of MSU Denver’s College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “It’s not just about serving in the military or in government. It’s about working in the nonprofit sector and industries that serve communities. We’re trying to broaden students’ views of public service.”

The National Commission on Military, National and Public Service found that nearly 24 million Americans participate in some form of public service, including government, education, health care and disaster response.

With federal agencies facing a looming wave of retirements, there are “immense opportunities” for MSU Denver graduates to serve, Davidson said.

However, one of the traditional barriers that prevents young people from public service has been lack of access to internships and other learning opportunities.

“Unpaid opportunities lead to only the wealthy and wellconnected gaining critical experience that leads to paying jobs and more prestigious positions, creating a class of public servants who aren’t representative of all Americans,” Davidson said.

This past summer, Davidson’s office launched a Presidential Internship Program, giving six students a paid opportunity to live in Washington, D.C., and work in federal offices. The program is now a part of the Institute for Public Service, which also funds paid student internships on the local and state levels.

“We were given money to cover housing, travel to D.C. and even travel while there,” said James Vargas, a Political Science and History student, who spent the summer working in U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper’s office and hopes to run for political office someday. “This experience has just made me more excited, given me more confidence and drive to continue on this path.”

In addition to internships, the institute will invite students to be part of cohorts that engage in government affairs curricula, Masserini said, allowing them to earn a micro-credential in addition to their degrees.

But institute offerings won’t be limited to those cohorts. Any student in any major can take advantage of high-profile speakers

INTERN

PIERPONT

learn more about how I can be an effective proponent of policies that help people. I’m looking forward to learning more about how I can be a leader and technical expert in the energy space

create the solutions so desperately needed to face the climate crisis. Ultimately, I want to help create a better world.”

— EVAN PIERPONT Majoring in Sustainable Systems Engineering

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION EVAN

“I plan to apply to graduate programs that intersect science, engineering, technology and policy to

to

PRESIDENTIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

PAUL PALADIN/ISTOCKPHOTO AND AMANDA SCHWENGEL

and courses taught by highly accomplished public servants.

“America will continue to grow and prosper only if we challenge the next generation, hold them to high standards of ethics, focus on results and set these young stalwarts up with the tools needed to succeed,” said William Parker III, Ph.D., who served the country for three decades, including as a senior U.S. naval officer and former chief of staff for U.S. Naval Surface Forces. Following his career in the military and State Department, he served as president and CEO of the EastWest

Institute, a nonprofit focused on preventing conflicts between nations.

Parker, who teaches an online course at MSU Denver on U.S. military history, said the myriad challenges and conflicts that the world faces today “require the most informed leaders we can offer.”

“So anything I can offer the next generation that will help them be more prepared to face the future with eyes wide open is time well-spent,” he said.

PRESIDENTIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

When I was growing up, I felt like I was always very privileged. I want to give back to my community, my state, my home. I feel like I can try to reconnect the country, which is so polarized right now. That said, many more things bind us together, and we need the right person to state these things. Everyone’s views matter. That ability to understand is important, and I think I can do that and reconnect us.”

— JAMES VARGAS Majoring in Political Science and History

INTERN

Office of U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper

James Vargas

“My ultimate goal is to run for president.

ELOHIMCHIK/ISTOCKPHOTO AND AMANDA SCHWENGEL

MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., meets with students participating in public service internships in Washington, D.C., on June 6.

SHURAN HUANG

Allinclusive education

Jazmaray Martinez loves Denver — and loves sharing it with people.

She’s parlayed that love into a career at the Maven Hotel in Dairy Block in Lower Downtown Denver, where she works as the event sales manager. And though Martinez has quickly risen through the ranks due to her undeniable aptitude, she needs only to look down the street to pinpoint where she honed her skills: Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center (HLC).

The HLC, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, was developed through a pioneering public-private partnership. For a decade, the hybrid hotel and learning facility has shaped the careers

HOTEL AND HOSPITALITY LEARNING CENTER’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY MARKS

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF WORLD-CLASS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

BY CORY PHARE

of the MSU Denver students and graduates who help to power Colorado’s booming hospitality industry.

“It’s the perfect location and the perfect opportunity for Hospitality students,” said Martinez, who graduated in 2019 from MSU Denver’s School of Hospitality. “You’re able to get hands-on experience literally next door to where you’re taking classes.

“It’s even better when the person teaching them is the one running the hotel.”

A CLASS OF ITS OWN

That instructor is Scotti Gladney, general manager of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown, a 150-room, fully functional hotel and event space that serves as a laboratory for MSU Denver Hospitality students learning all aspects of their future industry. Gladney also teaches Hospitality Operations at the University.

Attached to the property is MSU Denver’s 30,000-square-foot Hospitality Learning Center. In addition to the hotel, the structure houses Degree Metropolitan Food + Drink, a 72-seat gastropub with five mixology stations; high-tech food-demonstration theatres; and a home base for the Beer Industry Labs. The labs comprise the forthcoming Charlie Papazian Brewing Education Lab, to be housed in the HLC lobby, and the Tivoli Student Unionbased Quality Analysis and Quality Control Lab. The latter was launched in partnership with the Siebel Institute of Technology to provide fee-for-service analysis of wine, beer and spirits.

“The HLC is a groundbreaking model,” said Eric D. Olson, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Hospitality. “It’s truly at the forefront of the industry for experiential learning.”

Gladney agreed. “The setup we have at MSU Denver is a habitual success story,” he said. “Something great always comes

POLINA SARANA

ALYSON M c CLARAN

MSU Denver’s oncampus hotel and adjoining Hospitality Learning Center.

Clockwise from top left: Alumna Jazmaray Martinez is event sales manager at Denver’s Maven Hotel; students brew beer in a campus lab; Paula Thomas, lecturer in the School of Hospitality, preserves produce in an HLC kitchen; a student prepares chili for a cook-off competition.

“It’s the perfect location and the perfect opportunity.”

— JAZMARAY MARTINEZ, HOSPITALITY ALUMNA

POLINA SARANA

ALYSON M c CLARAN

setup

A partnership with the 150-year-old Tivoli Brewing Co., where students learn by working with an on-campus 30-barrel system and in the adjoining taproom.

out of here. There’s really nothing else like it.”

That’s no accident. Since Gladney took over as the hotel’s general manager in 2017, he has made it a point to integrate students into roles that enrich the guest experience, from a seamless check-in to dining. And the results speak for themselves: The comparatively small property recently landed at No. 2 on a TripAdvisor Traveler ranking of Denverarea hotels.

HIGHLIGHTS

Unique programmatic highlights include:

The Day Leadership Academy, established by famed restaurateurs Frank and Gina Day

The Dimond Fellowship Program, which was established by industry leaders Rita and Navin Dimond of Stonebridge Cos., offers students comprehensive real-world training in the field.

The administrative home of the Colorado Meeting and Events Incentive Program, a $10 million state effort to aid in the industry’s pandemic recovery.

For Gladney, it’s an example of what happens when a transformative idea is actualized with precision and heart.

“You can only be first when people are working together in service,” he said. “When we take care of each other, it’s a lot easier to take care of our guests.”

HOSPITALITY HISTORY

The center’s welcoming space is a far cry from the Hospitality program’s humble beginnings on campus. The program’s original home had windowless offices and classrooms that would be converted into makeshift restaurant spaces, recalled longtime Professor Michael Wray, Ph.D.

“Fortunately, we had visionary faculty, a newly hired transformative president (Stephen Jordan, Ph.D.), a supportive Board of Trustees, fundraising wherewithal and a design approach that helped turn an idea into reality,” Wray said.

That idea was a physical space for students that could be inspirational for learning and, when combined with expert faculty members and a prime downtown Denver location, could serve as a nationally recognized hub for hospitality.

Realizing that idea was no small feat, as it required the school to venture into property ownership — something it hadn’t done prior to 2012.

Wray credited then-MSU Denver President Jordan for drawing on an entrepreneurial background to develop new revenue streams. He noted that Jordan’s nontraditional approach to public-private partnerships mirrored the nature of an institution whose access-driven mission necessitated keeping tuition affordable without Division I athletic revenue or land-grant dollars.

Wray also lauded Trustee Dawn Bookhardt, who was critical in leading the necessary bond issuance and navigating zoning restrictions, and faculty member Chad Gruhl, who oversaw the academic strategy for the project.

Strategic approaches to funding involved tapping into Obama-era stimulus resources that provided low-cost construction loans, along with using successful fundraising and hotel operational revenues to reduce interest accrual.

One unique aspect of the HLC journey championed by Bookhardt and Gruhl was the request-for-proposal process, Wray said, noting that the effort laid the groundwork for partnerships that bear fruit

“The

we have at MSU Denver is a habitual success story. There’s really nothing else like it.”

— SCOTTI GLADNEY, GENERAL MANAGER OF SPRINGHILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT DENVER DOWNTOWN

ALYSON M c CLARAN

to this day. That request was for an architect, construction company and operator to propose as a team, comprehensively integrating the design, cost estimate, operational plan and means to lead the fundraising efforts.

After reviewing a variety of proposals, the team of Sage Hospitality, led by Walter Isenberg; RNL Architecture; and Mortenson Construction was awarded the contract for the HLC design, construction and operation. When the building’s doors opened Aug. 12, 2012, an unheard-of 80%-plus hotel occupancy shattered expectations, while the LEED Gold-certified facilities netted several awards, including a Downtown Denver Partnership nod.

From top: Hospitality students prep food in an HLC kitchen; University and project leaders break ground on the HLC in 2011. Images by MSU Denver.

members speak 12 languages, and the importance of incorporating multiple lenses of diversity, equity and inclusion into a hospitality education.

“Whether it’s race, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, gender expression and more, the heart of what we do is bring people together,” he said.

That connectivity is what drew Joan Nadeau back to campus, as well as an opportunity to invest in her future. After nearly four decades working with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Land Management, the Events and Meeting Management student has witnessed much of the program’s growth, attending part time since 2014.

Wray attributed the success to positivity and can-do spirit. “You’re compounded with all the reasons why you can’t do something,” he said, “but you find a way to get it done.”

FUTURE IN FOCUS

While hospitality education at MSU Denver has come a long way, the pandemic demonstrated that change is the only constant. Fortunately, the University’s community members are adept adaptors.

Olson, the interim dean, expects the School of Hospitality to continue building relationships with industry partners and using data to drive decisions. He sees potential growth in areas such as the legal-cannabis market, gaming and casino management, and credentialing at various stages of hospitality career progression.

Olson, who will head to Vietnam as a Fulbright Scholar in spring, also highlighted the international representation among the faculty, whose

“I’ve seen a lot of changes during my time here … and it’s been a really wonderful experience,” said Nadeau, who co-led the planning of the center’s 10th-anniversary celebration in November and will graduate in spring. “With all of the industry organizations right downtown and the expert faculty, you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.”

For Martinez, who majored in Event and Meeting Management with a minor in Hotel Management while at the University, that opportunity included becoming a Dimond Fellow at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver Tech Center, where she gained valuable hands-on experience.

Now on a five-star trajectory in the hospitality industry, Martinez reflected on what inspired the journey in the first place: She returned home to Denver after her first foray at college didn’t go as expected and remembers feeling welcomed in her hometown and by her family.

“My family would get together every Sunday for great meals and conversation,” she said. “And that sparked it. I knew I wanted to create an exceptional experience by welcoming others in.”

ROADRUNNER TAKES FLIGHT

Jessica Flores-Faisal never intended to go to college.

“When I was in high school, I didn’t really think about pursuing higher education,” she said.

The 28-year-old, who was born in Mexico and adopted and raised in Aurora, joined the Air Force Reserves at age 17. She has spent nearly a decade in the military.

Today, she has her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from Metropolitan State University of Denver and is working toward her master’s degree with the University while stationed in Germany. She credits MSU Denver for meeting her where she was: passionate about her experience in the military and looking for a career where she would be able to grow her service in new directions.

Flores-Faisal initially pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering at a different college but ultimately decided the program didn’t align with her passions. She transferred to MSU Denver because it offered a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management. Once enrolled, she found that the smaller class sizes and interaction with professors was more personal, which was especially important with remote classes.

Flores-Faisal wants to be a health care administrator in the Air Force but said getting chosen for that duty is very competitive. So after finishing her bachelor’s degree this past May, she began the master’s program in Health Administration at MSU Denver.

She also became the first student to pursue the University’s Aging Services Digital Badge, which is visible on her LinkedIn profile with live links to the coursework she completed. Digital badges, a form of microcredentialing, are electronic icons that students can put on digital résumés to acknowledge the attainment of a specific skill set.

“I wanted to continue that knowledge of aging services and bring that awareness to other individuals,” she said, “especially because the older population is continuing to grow.”

Flores-Faisal is well on her way to being selected for the Medical Service Corps Program — a group of administrators and executives within the Air Force’s health care system.

ALUMNA JESSICA FLORES-FAISAL, A GRAD STUDENT AND AIR FORCE SECOND LIEUTENANT, HAS HER SIGHTS SET ON A FUTURE IN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION.

SEEDS OF CHANGE

For Eddy Reyes, the seed of an idea grew his career in ways he never expected.

Born and raised in Nicaragua, Reyes came to the U.S. in 1953 to attend Loyola University of Los Angeles. After college, he became a successful designer in Denver’s advertising scene. When Reyes got a job working on Denver Dry Goods’ first fashion catalog in the early 1970s, he knew the perfect photographer: Gus King.

INSPIRED BY HIS LATE WIFE AND A LATE-IN-LIFE CAREER CHANGE, ALUMNUS EDDY REYES TRANSFORMS

LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION.

Only, there was no Gus King. With the alias — his middle name, Gustavo, and the English translation of his last name — Reyes stepped into a new career as a photographer.

When digital photography gained traction in the early ’90s, Reyes dissolved Reyes Studio Inc. Nearly 60 years old, he wandered his studio “lost and confused,” said his late wife, Arlen Marie Selu, a longtime special education teacher in Denver Public Schools.

“One day, she said she thought I would make a great teacher,” he recalled. “It planted a seed.”

The father of five registered at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where his daughter was earning a degree. Selu, who retired to attend graduate school, and Reyes sold their house, moved into the former studio and spent four years as students.

“I was the oldest student in my classes and enjoyed every moment,” he said. “Being at MSU Denver was a rich, happy and stimulating experience.”

After earning an Elementary Education degree in 1997, Reyes taught fourth and fifth grade with DPS for 18 years, primarily at Place Bridge Academy, a school that continues to serve immigrant children.

Following his retirement at 80, two encounters inspired Reyes to establish the Arlen M. Selu Special Education Memorial Endowment — the first scholarship at MSU Denver for Special Education students.

First was a serendipitous reunion with a former student who expressed gratitude for how he had changed her life. Then, Reyes learned of a friend’s experience founding a scholarship at MSU Denver in honor of her late husband. “I wanted to do the same for Arlen,” he said.

Reyes hopes the scholarship plants seeds for the next generation of Special Education teachers.

“My wish is that they realize the profound difference they will make in their students’ lives,” he said.

POWER IN PRESERVATION

From an early age, Jo Elizabeth Pinto understood the power of words.

Her father often read to her when she was a child, and Pinto, who is blind, was sad when the story ended. But her spirits lifted when her dad offered to start over.

“I couldn’t see what he was reading but remember being amazed that the story was tucked away safely in the book,” she said.

“I thought, ‘I want to save words in books so people can read anytime.’ ”

That experience sparked a flame still burning in Pinto today, one that contributed to her recently being chosen as a 2022 Corn Mothers inductee. The Corn Mothers project, now in its 14th year, celebrates the voices of women of the Southwest as an act of narrative preservation. This year’s class of extraordinary women have their stories showcased in an exhibition at History Colorado through September.

Pinto has spent her life preserving narratives. She landed her first publication in Jack and Jill magazine at age 12. A short-story collection she developed in high school later became her first book, one of several, including a memoir titled “Daddy Won’t Let Mommy Drive the Car: True Tales of Parenting in the Dark.”

The author also helps preserve other people’s voices. Since 1997, she has proofread Braille books such as English, history and math textbooks (and “the occasional murder mystery”).

Pinto, who grew up in Brighton, came to Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2002 to study Nonprofit Management. Transitioning from a career in social work, she relished the opportunity to also work in the University’s Access Center, teaching students how to use adaptive technology.

Her commitment to service was recognized at the Corn Mothers exhibit opening in October. She expressed gratitude for the honor but stressed that the work of narrative preservation continues.

As for our shared story, Pinto believes compassion is a prerequisite for making change.

“I just want people to know our communities are our responsibility,” she said. “Everybody can do something. And if we live with our eyes and hearts open, the world will be a better place.”

AUTHOR AND ALUMNA JO

EARN A BFA DEGREE

ALUMNUS JAVIER FLORES WOULDN’T BE SLOWED IN HIS JOURNEY TO SUCCEED AS AN ARTIST, NOT EVEN BY THE ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HIM UNABLE TO WALK.

ART OF RESILIENCE

Javier Flores’ story is a testimony to resilience.

At age 19, the budding graffiti artist had an accident that left him unable to walk, leading him to use a wheelchair. While relearning how to live, he grappled with anger, confusion and depression. He also rethought his approach to art.

“I couldn’t do graffiti in the same way,” he said. “I needed to find a new way to express myself.”

That realization led Flores to Metropolitan State University of Denver, where the 2008 Fine Arts graduate found a community that helped him flourish on his journey as an artist, activist and educator.

He remembers his college experience as transformative and describes the community among Art students as foundational. “We were always in the studio, always working together,” he said. “We’d eat there. We’d spend the whole day there.”

Flores also credits his professors for their guidance — in particular, Carlos Frésquez, whom Flores affectionately refers to as his “Art Dad.” Frésquez has championed Flores’ work and even recommended him for an affiliate professor role at the University.

Flores said teaching in the space where he rebuilt himself as an artist felt like coming full circle. He now teaches at Front Range Community College and tries to create the same sense of community for his students that he found at MSU Denver. He is also honest with them about the challenges of working as an artist, sharing from his own career.

That career, though not without struggle, has certainly bent toward success.

Flores’ work was showcased this past summer in the Denver Art Museum’s “Untitled: Creative Fusions” series. His art is also part of an exhibition at the Arvada Center. He will soon turn his focus to a solo show scheduled for display in 2024.

Of course, there is also the lesson he teaches simply by being himself: the power of resilience.

“I’m very stubborn when it comes to my art practice, and that stems partly from being in a chair,” he said. “I want to prove to everyone that my wheelchair is not a limitation; it’s just a part of who I am.”

1979

RONALD GILL (B.S. Electrical Engineering Technology, ’79) went to work for Hewlett-Packard two weeks after graduation and stayed for 26 years. Upon retirement, he moved to the East Coast, where he has been playing music ever since. Gill said he loved his time at the University and witnessing the Auraria Campus metamorphosis.

1983

JERRY TUNEBERG (B.S. Electrical Engineering Technology, ’83) is the CEO and president of dnaTools Inc., where development work has been done on implantable ID chips for animals, a schematic entry program for Apple computers and a webbased solution for automating DNA sequencing.

1991

LISA MOORE (B.S. Management, ’91) graduated this past May with a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theology School in Chicago.

2015

Since graduating, HANNAH WILLIAMS (B.S. Accounting, ’15) got married and was promoted to senior financial analyst with TTEC.

2021

During the past year, ABEL VILLA (B.S. Accounting, ’21) has spent time reading more books and getting mentally and physically healthier.

Alumni Association award winners 2022

Homecoming at Metropolitan State University of Denver is an annual celebration of Roadrunner community and pride. Among the many highlights of this year’s festivities was the Alumni Awards Luncheon hosted Oct. 1, which honored graduates who embody the resilience and humanitarian spirit of all Roadrunners. Meet the Class of 2022.

Distinguished Alumni of the Year ELSA HOLGUÍN 1992 | Finance

Alumni Philanthropist of the Year

RUSSELL NOLES 1981 | Accounting

10 Under 10 winners

Alumni Volunteer of the Year

AMBER MOZET 2006 | Psychology

Alumni Campus Employee of the Year

ERIC LANSING 2009 | Journalism

This award recognizes 10 accomplished alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years.

BRANDON BROOKS

2012 | Integrative Therapeutic Practices

MARIALUISA ANGELICA BURGOS-MEZA

2016 | Music

KATRINA CHAFFIN

2016 and 2019 | B.S. Biology and Master of Health Administration

ALEJANDRA COLMENERO

2015 | Hospitality, Tourism and Events

BRE DONNELLY

2017 | Master of Social Work

ALY FERRUFINOCOQUEUGNIOT 2015 | Sociology

JAMEER FITCH

2020 | Individualized Degree Program

LEARN MORE msudenver.edu/alumni/homecoming-2022/alumni-awards.

NESTOR MEZA

2015 and 2020 | B.A. Sociology and Master of Social Work

REBECCA REID

2018 | Communication Studies

ALYSSA SVALBERG 2018 | Sport Management

IN MEMORY

2022After graduating summa cum laude, ANGELA MARTINEZ (B.A. Communication Studies, ’22) became the assistant conference director for GlobalMindED, connecting first-generation students to mentors, internships and professional/personal coaching. She would love for other Roadrunners to join her in getting involved.

CARYN REVELING (B.A. English, ’22) returned to school to finish her education in her 30s, hoping a degree would open up career

opportunities. After graduating in the spring, she moved to Maine, where the skills she learned at MSU Denver helped enhance her job as a technical writer for Johnson Controls.

AUSTIN TOVAR (B.S. Hospitality Leadership, ’22) and his wife moved to Colorado Springs, where he started a job at the Broadmoor. They are excited to be in the Springs, exploring the outdoors and other opportunities the city has to offer.

Faculty & Staff

DOLORES F. PUGH , Ed.D., (B.S. Accounting, ’85) professor emerita and former chair of the Department of Human Services, died Aug. 10 at age 94. Pugh was a passionate MSU Denver alumna, world traveler, bridge player and ballroom dancer.

Alumni & Students

SHANE BASS (B.S. Accounting, ’12) died April 18 at age 36, following his battle with multiple sclerosis. The birth of his daughter, Madison, motivated Bass to earn his degree. He then worked as an auditor for the Isle of Capri Casino, Academy Bank and the Bureau of Land Management. He loved outdoor activities and was a devoted fan of the Colorado Avalanche.

ROBERTA BLANC (B.A. Anthropology, ’88) died March 19 at age 88. She was born and raised in Denver, then moved to Canada after marrying her husband, Air Force Sgt. Warren Blanc. Upon returning to Denver, she pursued her passions and earned her degree. A lifelong lover of music, Blanc played the string bass and recorder, sang in her church choir and was a member of the American Recorder Society.

MSU Denver graduate student CAROLINE CRAWLEY died June 21 at age 25. Crawley earned her undergraduate degree in Social Work and Sociology at Colorado State University and had just started in MSU Denver’s Master of Social Work program. She was passionate about helping vulnerable people and riding her horse, Daddy Long Legs.

BRITTANY DURAN (B.A. Political Science, ’15) died Aug. 3 at age 30. After earning her degree, Duran worked for Ball Aerospace and Northrop Grumman and as a hardware engineering recruiter with Meta Reality Labs. She had a passion for music, yoga, poetry and social causes. Duran’s family said she possessed a beauty and spirit so free you could feel her luminous light with every encounter.

ANDREW HEGGEN (B.S. Marketing, ’98) died June 9 at age 59. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and was the North Dakota State Bisons’ biggest fan.

JEFFREY HIGGINS (B.A. Economics, ’94) died June 11 at age 53. After graduating, Higgins pursued a master’s degree at Regis University. He spent the past four years as the director

Alumni updates and resources: msudenver.edu/alumni

of Medicare and Medicaid sales for United Healthcare. A devoted husband and father, Higgins loved spending time with his family and friends, being outdoors and playing and coaching lacrosse.

ILENE LEE (B.S. Law Enforcement, ’73) died March 14 at age 69. After earning her degree at MSU Denver, Lee received a law degree from the University of North Dakota in 1978. Later that year, she married her husband, Terry Block, and they would be married for 43 years.

THEO HOWELL “BUD” MEES JR. (B.S. Accounting, ’83) died July 26 at age 77. Mees worked in fields that included accounting and human resources. He was an

avid reader and also enjoyed visiting with family and friends, storytelling, music, playing guitar, the Colorado Rockies and woodworking.

ROBERTA “ROBIN” EDITH NYPAVER (B.A. Psychology, ’71) died Feb. 15 at age 74. Nypaver loved her family, life in Colorado and traveling the world. She was a wonderful cook, nurse, mom and wife.

RANDOLPH “RANDY”

in 1985. Reeder was an Air Force veteran, and his professional career included a postdoctoral fellowship in particle physics and computer modeling at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He also served as a research associate in elementary particle physics at UNM. In addition to his passion for particle physics, math and science, Reeder loved hiking, gardening, botany and the opera.

REEDER

(B.S. Physics, ’76) died July 12 at age 75. After graduating, he earned an M.S. in Physics from the University of Wyoming in 1979 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of New Mexico

MOLLY CRABB RENES (B.A. Elementary Physical Education, ’79) died Aug. 27 at age 70 after battling small cell lung cancer for 20 years. After graduation, Renes taught elementary physical education. She then coached high school field hockey and lacrosse and in 1992 successfully advocated for making both varsity sports in the Cherry Creek School District. The Sportswomen of Colorado recognized her contribution in 2006 with the Pioneer Award and in 2007 she was inducted into the U.S. Lacrosse Colorado Chapter Hall of Fame. Renes concluded her coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Denver, after which she worked for Oppenheimer Funds.

ERIC SKOUGSTAD (B.A. Journalism, ’13) died April 22 at age 43. A gifted writer, Skougstad published and edited Antiquated Zine. He was also an avid bicyclist

and worked as a BMX/Freestyle performer and bicycle mechanic, among many other jobs. In his free time, he enjoyed lost-wax casting, fly fishing, backpacking with his dad and cooking with his mom and grandma.

MICHAEL TIERNAN (B.S. Psychology, ’20) died June 2 at age 46. Tiernan was a talented musician and for several years taught music in public schools and privately. In 2019, he became a mental health counselor at Centennial Peaks Hospital, while also pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Health at MSU Denver. Tiernan was witty and loved his family and friends. His son, Kinsman, was the light of his life.

DANIEL WILMOTH (B.S. Aviation and Aerospace Science, ’22) died Sept. 17 at age 22. Wilmoth was an accomplished aviator, commercial pilot and flight instructor, and loved life as a Coloradan. While at MSU Denver, the recent graduate competed and won at the national level in aviation aerobatics. In 2020, Wilmoth joined the Colorado Air National Guard, serving with pride as an aircraft armament systems technician while working toward becoming an officer. In addition to his passion for flying, Wilmoth loved technology, Marvel movies, dancing, golf and embracing life.

Pacesetting program

The Cohen Pacesetter Scholarship Program is expanding to help even more students in need thanks to a generous financial gift to Metropolitan State University of Denver.

The program was established in 2017 by a previous donation from Rob and Molly Cohen and aimed at aiding student-athletes. But the couple, who have supported the University for decades, wanted to do more for tenacious MSU Denver students.

“Molly and I learned early in our lives that if you’re blessed and you’re given gifts, then what really makes this world a special place is when you pay it forward and when you give back to others,” said Rob Cohen, chairman and CEO of IMA Financial Group Inc. and a former longtime University trustee.

The Pacesetter Program provides financial support and wraparound services for students. Under the expanded program, about 20% of recipients will be studentathletes, but the scholarship will also benefit students who aren’t in Athletics.

At a recent reception celebrating the program’s expansion, MSU Denver President

Janine Davidson, Ph.D., lauded the Cohens as exemplary civic leaders. “They lead from the heart,” she said. “Their values are used in everything they do to lead their company as well as their family, and we like to think of ourselves as part of your family.”

Brittney Kocman, a first-generation student, spoke at the reception about how the scholarship made her education at MSU Denver possible. She was struggling to balance a full course load, part-time job and commitments to the track and crosscountry teams. The scholarship she received in 2017 made all the difference. Thanks to the Cohen’s support, she graduated in 2020 with a degree in Applied Mathematics and now works at Lockheed Martin.

“They are truly family to me,” Kocman said of the Cohens. “This is about family, at the end of the day, and supporting students in need that aren’t afraid of dreaming big and working hard is what the scholarship is about.”

The Cohens hope their donation will inspire others to support the Pacesetter Scholarship Program.

DONATION TO MSU DENVER MAKES COLLEGE DREAM POSSIBLE FOR MORE STUDENTS. BY GLAVINE DAY

Brittney Kocman, left, and Molly and Rob Cohen celebrate the impact of the Pacesetter Scholarship Program at the Cohen Center for Athletics.

SARA HERTWIG

SUPPORT the scholarship and students in need.

Called to serve

Elias Diggins earned his stars. He was a 21-year-old deputy when he started in the Denver Sheriff Department in 1994. Nearly three decades later, he is the sheriff.

Diggins took his first steps in law enforcement as a Criminal Justice student at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 1991 and graduated as a working adult in 1999. As sheriff, the Denver native has been lauded for his empathetic approach to policing and for creating a cabinet-level position in his administration that is focused on mental health services.

RED caught up with the award-winning law enforcement official to discuss his work as sheriff, the role of mental health in law enforcement and his time at the University.

Tell us about your work as Denver’s sheriff. I’ve been blessed to be in this position, to have been chosen by Mayor (Michael B.) Hancock and to lead all the talented men and women in the department. As I’ve grown into the role, I’ve worked to stay focused on the real-world issues and in particular the human element. Law enforcement serves the community — we deal with people — that’s the business we’re in. For the past 28 years,

I’ve worked to recognize the humanity in people, and I encourage other officers to do the same.

You’ve made mental health a cornerstone of your administration. Why? Over the years, I’ve seen an increase in the number of people who have mental health conditions. We talk about the root cause of why people stay in the cycle, and often it’s because of mental health. So we need to focus on that and get them the treatment they need to have a better life.

What was your experience like at MSU Denver? I always loved MSU Denver, the beautiful campus, all the activities. When I go back to visit, it feels like I’m going home. The growth has been tremendous: the addition of the hotel, the expansion of the athletic fields. All of it means great opportunities for students, and it makes me proud to be a Roadrunner.

This Q&A has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q&A DENVER SHERIFF ELIAS DIGGINS APPROACHES HIS JOB WITH A HUMAN TOUCH. // BY DOUG M c PHERSON

ALYSON M c CLARAN

Sundown Colorado rocks Tivoli Quad

The state’s first “detox” music festival returned this year with a Sept. 24 show on the Auraria Campus’ Tivoli Quad. The alcoholfree event, known as Sundown Colorado, focused on wellness, connection and dancing. Amber Handby (pictured), a 2012 graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Marketing program and one of the Alumni Association’s 10 Under 10 award winners for 2021, along with her husband, Mike Handby, organized the program. The festival has been described as an event for the “sober-curious,” a movement that encourages a sober lifestyle and, said Amber Handby, redefines what it means to be alive.

ABREHAM GEBREEGZIABHER

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