Metropolitan Denver Magazine - Fall 15 by Metropolitan State University of Denver

METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

FALL 2015

METROPOLITAN DENVER MAGAZINE

> A Perfect Storm > Groundbreaking Cu rricu l u m > The Sk u l l With out a Face

t f F i F

50 50 Highlights from 50 Transformative Years

TRANSFORM TOMORROW A Scholarship Campaign to Begin the Next 50 Years Transform Tomorrow is a campaign to raise $6 million in scholarships to support recruitment, retention and graduation, impacting nearly 2,000 MSU Denver students. It’s our opportunity to continue doing what we do best but on a greater scale: graduate workforce-ready students into our communities. Your gift will help students like Jose realize their dream of earning a college degree.

Jose Parra Gonzalez B.S. Biology ’15 Jose’s scholarship has put him one step closer to medical school. He’ll be the first in his family to earn a college degree. Be a scholarship superhero and transform a student’s tomorrow today.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY. msudenver.edu/transformtomorrow 303-556-8424

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VOL. 3 NO.3 MSUDENVER.EDU/MAGAZINE

METROPOLITAN DENVER MAGAZINE

MAJOR MILESTONES For 50 years, MSU Denver has transformed lives, communities and higher education in Colorado. View the timeline on page 16.

16 22 26 FIFTY TRANSFORMATIVE YEARS

GROUNDBREAKING

02 THE FIRST WORD

09 LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Take a journey through the University’s major milestones since its founding in 1965.

MSU Denver’s transformation over the past 50 years is nothing short of extraordinary.

03 ASKED AND ANSWERED

Two alums and a current student share how MSU Denver transformed their lives, opened doors and helped them achieve success.

04 NEWS

MSU Denver continues to have an impact on campus and off.

With construction of the Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building underway, MSU Denver leaders are busy planning a revolutionary curriculum to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s advanced manufacturing workforce.

Alumna Monique Brown is helping inspire the next generation of women and minorities seeking careers in the STEM fields.

10 A PERFECT STORM

Alumnus Omar Hurricane is using technology and a lasersharp focus to uncover new energy sources.

12 FROM ROADRUNNER TO

RUNWAY As head of CDOT’s Division of Aeronautics, alumnus David Ulane is flying high.

THE SKULL WITHOUT A FACE

Student Faye Olsgard is at the center of a formidable MSU Denver network that is helping Costa Ricans to “look in the mirror.”

14 IN THE BAG

Alumnus Michael Bates creates a seriously smart briefcase.

29 PEOPLE

MSU Denver alumni share news and notes.

30 THE FINAL WORD

Ted Shin, chair of MSU Denver’s Industrial Design Department, discusses his former life as a virtuoso at Samsung, his role as a “guide,” and the program’s future home in the Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building.

the

FIRSTWORD

MSU Denver’s transformation over the past 50 years is nothing short of extraordinary.

Our 50th year as a university continues to be a truly golden anniversary – and a momentous time – for Metropolitan State University of Denver. The growth we have experienced since our humble beginnings is nothing short of extraordinary. In 1965, we were a small downtown college with no infrastructure, a miniscule budget and a mission to make a difference. We offered two-year associate degrees in six majors. Today, we offer 244 degree options, 60 majors, 87 minors, 30 certificates and 33 licensures. We have 85,000 alumni, most of whom live in Colorado, contributing to the vitality of our great state. We have made a name for ourselves by developing programs through public-private partnerships that feed Colorado industries. Our Aerospace and Engineering Sciences initiative (page 22) is a direct result of industry partnerships and consultation. With construction of the AES Building now underway – we broke ground on the $60 million state-of-the-art facility on Oct. 8 – the University is developing an innovative curriculum that serves Colorado by addressing workforce demands. The AES initiative is just one of countless examples that demonstrate our commitment to working with industry to design relevant, career-focused programs. We’ve evolved from a college to a university and changed our name. We’ve added master’s programs and established a School of Education. We’ve further developed one of the nation’s leading aviation programs and our health care programs provide the personnel sorely needed in a burgeoning health care economy. With a student population that is more than 35 percent students of color and 32 percent first-generation, we are the “university of opportunity” for many who may have not had a chance for an education in the past. It has been a transformational journey – take a moment to peruse some of MSU Denver’s major milestones (page 16) – over the past 50 years. And we’re just getting started. New initiatives that will frame our next 50 years include:

Metropolitan Denver Magazine is published three times a year by the Metropolitan State University of Denver Office of Marketing and Communications. © 2015 Metropolitan State University of Denver. All rights reserved. Address correspondence to: Metropolitan Denver Magazine, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Office of Marketing and Communications, Campus Box 86, PO Box 173362, Denver, CO 80217-3362. Email magazine@msudenver.edu. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of Metropolitan State University of Denver nor imply endorsement by its officers or by the MSU Denver Alumni Association. Metropolitan State University of 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.

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• A partnership with Colorado Heights University that will significantly shape our trajectory by expanding our educational presence in southwest Denver and creating a multi-campus university. The agreement would include the transfer of ownership of significant portions of the historic Loretto Heights campus located at Federal and Dartmouth to MSU Denver. The goal is to take ownership by July 2016 and begin offering classes that fall once comprehensive due diligence is performed. • A partnership with the Detroit Institute of Music Education that will offer students in the Detroit area an MSU Denver curriculum in performance, songwriting and music entrepreneurship taught by our faculty. • Two new master’s programs – a Master of Health Administration with a focus on data analytics and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on business intelligence. The next 50 years promise to bring many challenges to higher education institutions, but MSU Denver is prepared to meet these challenges head on. With continued support from our alumni, friends and partners, we expect to see even greater growth, more partnerships, an influx of students committed to success in society, and many opportunities to offer those students exciting and relevant programs that strengthen communities and provide access to all. In short, we are on our way to becoming America’s preeminent urban university. We look forward to taking that journey with you. Sincerely,

Stephen M. Jordan, Ph.D. President

Asked Answered and

Sometimes even when we don’t ask, you answer … and we love every word you write. Two alums and a current student share how MSU Denver

I have retired from a successful career as a forensic psychologist after 30+ years with the Texas State Department of Health Forensic Psychiatric Hospital Division. I owe my success to the faculty of Metropolitan State University of Denver and the learning experiences I had there and in the Denver metropolitan area during my years attending MSU Denver. Michael R. Van Winkle B.S. psychology ’73 A huge advantage to going to MSU Denver is the proximity within Denver. MSU Denver’s campus can be said to be the whole city of Denver. The student experience has plenty of options for individuals to grow and to expand knowledge about themselves and others. My favorite part about earning my degree from the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences [was] the people, hands down. The individuals I was blessed to meet in CAS helped guide me to success ... The teachers, advisors and faculty were absolutely outstanding. The help [I received] and the leadership displayed in the department was a true blessing to my collegiate career – I owe them so much, I feel a “thank you” won’t do it justice. I recommend MSU Denver

transformed their lives, opened doors and helped them achieve success.

for anyone. In my experience, MSU Denver is a great learning environment. Michael Ronnebaum B.A. speech communication ’15 My life has changed tremendously since I transferred to MSU Denver four years ago. I connected with [the College Assistance Migrant Program] my first year at MSU Denver. After a few years, I looked into joining the Urban Leadership Program. This program gave me the opportunity to connect with students from diverse backgrounds [who] had similar aspirations as I did. I became involved with Operation: Youth Empowerment, the Hispanic Scholar Fund and the Latino Student Alliance … Now, I’m the vice president of MSU Denver’s Student Government Assembly. This opportunity has opened my educational experience in a way I never thought possible. Becoming involved in the SGA, I have been exposed to various [types of] community engagement that directly impact [my education] … What motivates me is the experience MSU Denver is providing me. Marketing major Jackie Maldonado, anticipated graduation in spring 2016

Share Your Story: Everyone has a story to tell, and we want to hear yours! Tell us about your favorite MSU Denver class, program or professor. Brag about your accomplishments since leaving the University. Explain how the institution is contributing to your community. Share how MSU Denver helped change the course of your life. Whatever your story of transformation, we want to know! Sharing your story has never been easier: Email us at magazine@msudenver.edu or write to us at Metropolitan Denver Magazine, Metropolitan State University of Denver, P.O. Box 173362, Campus Box 86, Denver, CO 80217.

THANK YOU TO OUR ROADRUNNERS ATHLETICS SPONSORS

Winter Park Resort

D.P. Dough

Hotel Partners Boulder Broker Inn Holiday Inn Denver Cherry Creek Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood

Society

Towne Park

Radisson Denver Southeast Spring Hill Suites Denver Downtown

Auraria Campus Bookstore Books and more...

FALL 2015

News

MSU Denver continues to have an impact on campus and off.

GAME-CHANGING PARTNERSHIP At his fall Welcome Back address to faculty and staff on Sept. 2, President Jordan announced a partnership in development with Colorado Heights University that will create a multicampus

university

and

expand

educational opportunity in Denver’s southwest corridor. Per the letter of intent outlining the initial parameters of the partnership, the agreement would include the transfer of ownership of significant portions

the

historic

Loretto

Heights campus located at Federal

Happy Birthday, MSU Denver! Hundreds of faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders celebrated MSU Denver’s birthday on Oct. 1, the 50th

The

universities

would

work

together to develop programs and curriculum that foster the education of an internationally diverse student population and enable MSU Denver

anniversary of when the University first opened its doors to

to become a true global education

students. The formal program included a welcome by trustee

provider. Following a comprehensive

Robert Cohen, a video about the University’s founding, as well as remarks from Denver City Council Member Albus Brooks and President Stephen Jordan. Special Founding Fathers Awards were presented to former Colorado Governor Roy Romer and former legislator Joe Shoemaker, both of whom were instrumental in the founding of MSU Denver. Tom Romer accepted the award on behalf of his father, who was unable to attend the celebration, and Jeff Shoemaker accepted the award on behalf of his late father. 04

and Dartmouth to MSU Denver.

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due diligence process, MSU Denver could potentially take ownership of the property by July 1, 2016, with some classes and programs beginning there in fall 2016.

IMAGINE 2020 MSU Denver will play a significant role in helping Denver realize its newly-developed cultural plan, Imagine 2020, which provides a collective strategic vision for arts, culture and creativity, and sets forth strategies for achieving this vision. Developed under the leadership of entities including the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, and Denver Arts and Venues, Imagine 2020 incorporates input from several thousand Denver residents and community leaders via public meetings, focus groups, outreach and other avenues. The plan sets forth seven vision elements,

including

lifelong

learning, under which MSU

Southern exposure MSU Denver celebrated the grand re-opening of its South Campus in August at an event that drew business,

Denver figures prominently. The

community and higher education leaders. Founded in

University is listed as a “suggested leader” under the goal

1976, the South Campus specializes in degree completion

of launching a “21st century program for the recruitment

and programs that cater to the needs of nontraditional

and ongoing professional development of arts educators.”

students. The campus is headquarters for an Alternative

MSU Denver is also listed as a “suggested partner” for two

Teacher Licensure program, and an RN to BSN nursing

other goals: strengthening “the pathway to careers for Denver high school and college graduates in the city’s arts, culture and creative employment sector” and increasing “partnerships

between

higher

education,

organizations and arts entrepreneurs.”

cultural

program, which offers a nationally accredited curriculum that prepares students to sit for certification exams in medical laboratory science. Other programs include accounting, management, and hospitality and tourism.

ON TAP The Tivoli Brewing Company celebrated the opening of its new facility located in the Tivoli Student Union in August. The $7 million Tivoli Brewery and Tap House will enhance MSU Denver’s expanded Beer Industry Operations program, which includes four new courses. Students will learn all elements of beer industry operations and management in the Tivoli Brewery, which has the capacity to be among the state’s top 20 craft breweries. The facility is the nation’s first full-production brewery on a college campus.

News Twice is nice In September, MSU Denver received INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s

ANTHONY GRANT NAMED DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS With more than 10 years of experience in collegiate athletics,

Higher Education Excellence in

Anthony Grant was appointed MSU Denver’s director of

Diversity award for the second

athletics in August. Prior to joining the University, Grant

consecutive year. The award honors

served as interim director of athletics at Millersville

institutions with the highest-level of commitment to creating a diverse atmosphere through initiatives,

University in Pennsylvania where he oversaw 19 NCAA Division II teams, 70 coaches and more than 350 student-

programs and outreach; student

athletes. At MSU Denver, Grant will oversee and manage

recr uitment,

and

the 16-sport intercollegiate athletic program as well as the

completion; and hiring practices for

University’s 12 club sports and support functions. He will

retention

faculty and staff. One of only 92 institutions nationwide to earn the 2015 HEED award, MSU Denver was among more than 400 colleges and

create and sustain a vision for intercollegiate athletics at the University while providing leadership and direction to the nationally successful athletics program.

universities up for the honor.

Let the music play Get ready to rock ‘n’ roll! MSU Denver’s Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a partnership between the University’s Department of Music and the Detroit Institute of Music Education at its September meeting. Per the agreement, DIME – a music education institute for advanced students in contemporary music – will offer students in the Detroit area an MSU Denver curriculum in performance, songwriting and music entrepreneurship taught by University faculty. The University’s partnership with DIME will offer potential opportunities for academic courses for the next generation of modern musicians and music entrepreneurs both on the Detroit campus and online for MSU Denver students. 06

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TRiO GRANT RENEWED TRiO Student Support Services Program, a federal program that supports first-generation, low-income students and those with disabilities, was renewed for an additional five years in August with a $1.4 million grant. TRiO SSS has offered eligible participants a variety of services at MSU Denver for more than 37 years, including academic support and guidance, financial aid education and leadership development. The TRiO SSS Program is contributing to MSU Denver’s goal of becoming a federallyrecognized Hispanic Serving Institution.

PICTURE PERFECT Students of Associate Professor Carlos Fresquez (B.A. art ’80) painted an MSU Denver-themed mural that was unveiled during a joint 50th anniversary celebration for the University and Larimer Square — Denver’s first and oldest downtown shopping, dining and entertainment district. The mural is on display at the Larimer Square parking garage through December.

News PILOT PIPELINE MSU Denver is collaborating with Envoy Air – a subsidiary of American Airlines – to offer a direct pathway to employment for qualifying aviation students. The agreement addresses future pilot shortages, anticipated to have an increasingly negative impact on the airline industry’s ability to maintain desired flight schedules. Unlike other preferred-hiring agreements that focus on students in their senior year, Envoy offers students the opportunity to interview with the airline as early as their sophomore year. The agreement also has a provision that allows pilots to flow from Envoy directly to American Airlines when a position at the major airline becomes available. An estimated 50 percent of American Airlines new-pilot hires come from Envoy’s flow-through agreement.

SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown Hotel ranks No. 1 USA Today ranked MSU Denver’s award-winning SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown Hotel No. 1 in its “10 Best” list of hotels near the Pepsi Center. The facility was recognized for its prime location, as well as its environmentally sustainable design and construction. In 2014, the hotel – managed by Sage Hospitality – was named the first in Denver and the second of all SpringHill Suites by Marriott locations to achieve the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design gold certification.

Gif t of education The Department of Social Work received a $50,000 gift this summer – the largest in its history – from John Farrell in honor of his wife Jennifer S. Mankey. The Jennifer S. Mankey

WANT MORE? Keep up to date on MSU Denver news at msudenver.edu/newsroom.

Endowed Scholarship will support undergraduate and graduate minority female students in completing their education, a cause that Mankey championed throughout her life. She was a leader in the field of juvenile offender education and intervention in Colorado and nationally for more than 40 years.

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ALUMNA MONIQUE BROWN IS HELPING INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES SEEKING CAREERS IN THE STEM FIELDS. STORY JANALEE CARD CHMEL | PHOTO MICHAEL RICHMOND

Leading by example Monique Clavel Brown (B.S. computer information systems ’14) may be a recent graduate of MSU Denver, but she’s already inspiring the next generation of aerospace and advanced engineering professionals. A living rallying cry for women and minorities who want to study and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Brown leads by example — and with great enthusiasm. “Do you want to be part of a team that helps do something huge?” she is known to ask. The work she’s referring to is Lockheed Martin’s creation and launch of Orion, which will one day lead NASA’s deep-space exploration. Brown was an intern at Lockheed when Orion launched in December 2014; today she is part of the company’s Leadership Development Program, a three-year, paid “leadership boot camp” for Lockheed.

When Brown decided it was time to leave the service and return to school, she knew exactly what she wanted to study: computer information systems. In doing so, Brown followed a trail blazed by other women in her family. “My grandmother was a computer programmer,” said Brown. “She started with key punch cards for the Department of Defense and worked 25 years in computer programming. Then my mom and sister went into it.” Brown set her sights on a career with Lockheed Martin because of her respect for and excitement about the company and its mission. Her mother had worked there and loved it.

And Brown knows a thing or two about boot camp: She’s a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Knowing that MSU Denver is on the verge of launching a new program in aerospace and engineering sciences, including a state-of-the-art building, Brown encourages other young scientists and engineers to look into aerospace and to pursue advanced manufacturing careers that the industry increasingly needs.

After graduating from high school in 2000, Brown enrolled at MSU Denver only to realize she wasn’t ready for school. She enlisted in the Air Force and spent 10 years on deployments in places as diverse as Italy, California, Idaho, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (all while raising two boys, now ages 10 and 9).

“When we saw Orion go up … Wow! There is no feeling like that!” she said. “I know someone who worked on the heat shield. Even if you did just one line of code for the security of Orion, you could say, ‘I was a part of that!’ It is amazing to be around this type of work.”

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ALUMNUS OMAR HURRICANE IS USING TECHNOLOGY AND A LASER-SHARP FOCUS TO UNCOVER NEW ENERGY SOURCES. STORY PAT ROONEY | PHOTO JAKUB MOSUR

Omar Hurricane (B.S. physics and applied mathematics ’90) admits that he wasn’t exactly a well-rounded student. Put a social studies exam in front of him or ask him to dissect the finer points of a classic novel, and Hurricane is liable to break into a cold sweat. When you’re a scientific genius, however, such shortcomings are easily overlooked. Hurricane arrived at MSU Denver with a laser-sharp focus on his ultimate goal of becoming a research scientist. It was a goal he achieved in short order. “I’d been passionate about science and math and computers since I was a little kid,” Hurricane said. “I was good but unbalanced as a student. My social studies and English classroom skills did not stand out in any way. “But science, I always had an affinity for that,” added Hurricane, making an understatement of epic proportions. A Denver-area native whose stepfather was once a faculty member at MSU Denver, Hurricane enrolled at UCLA immediately after college and promptly earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics. He then landed his first job at the prestigious Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. He remains there to this day, working with cutting-edge technology to research the potential use of lasers as an untapped source of energy.

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“It’s basically a national security laboratory,” Hurricane said. “We do a lot of things related to national security, but the laboratory itself has a particular expertise in all things nuclear going back to the ’50s. “The project I’m involved with right now on the laser … more or less what we’re trying to do is reproduce in the laboratory the same sort of nuclear reaction that drives the sun or the stars. It’s the process called nuclear fusion, and it essentially combines light elements into heavier elements by putting them under enormously high pressures.” For the 17 years Hurricane has worked at the Livermore Laboratory, he has constantly pushed the boundaries of technology in search of new solutions and undiscovered sources of energy. It’s a devotion not for the faint of heart, a lesson Hurricane attempts to impart whenever he is asked to share his wisdom with aspiring researchers. “The value you get out of your education is what you put into it,” Hurricane said. “Certainly take advantage of the time when you’re in college and you have access to all this stuff – you can learn it more readily than you can when you’re older. “The other thing is basically picking something you’re excited about. Being successful in the sciences or mathematics requires a lot of personal time and energy, and if you’re not working on something you’re excited about, you’re just not going to invest yourself properly.”

A perfect storm

From Roadrunner to runway

AS HEAD OF CDOT’S DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS, ALUMNUS DAVID ULANE IS FLYING HIGH. STORY AMY PHARE | PHOTO DARRELL TAYLOR

At a very tender age, David Ulane (B.S. aviation management ’90) knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.

a fantastic job of providing a wonderful assortment of internships that give aerospace students a leg up.”

“I am so lucky, because I’ve wanted to be involved in aviation since I was 6 years old. Getting up every day to do something I love … I’m the luckiest guy.”

His internship led to a full-time position at Centennial Airport in operations management. He went on to serve as an airport manager in both Wyoming and Utah, and eventually as the assistant aviation director at the Aspen/ Pitkin County Airport. He also managed government and legislative affairs in the northwest mountain region for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association before accepting the position at CDOT earlier this year.

It wasn’t luck that landed him the position of aeronautics director with the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics, however. It took hard work and 25 years in the field, all beginning with his time at MSU Denver. A native of Littleton, Colorado, Ulane – an active and passionate general aviation pilot – said that MSU Denver was a natural choice and its aerospace program was a major attraction.

“When the position here came up, it was a fantastic opportunity to come back and be a bigger part of the state I love so much,” he said.

With a staff of eight, Ulane’s “One thing that separates MSU team in CDOT’s Division of AeroDenver is that it offers a broad nautics is part of a multi-modal range of things, from a commersystem that has a key economic cial space track to air traffic footprint across the state. control, aircraft maintenance and airport management. With David Ulane (left) with his brother, Chris, circa “We work to ensure that airport all these disciplines together, you 1974 at the now-defunct East Colfax Airport. systems across the state get perspective,” he said. “You get of Colorado are safe and in an understanding of how an airport works.” good condition,” he said. “You can’t have airports be safe and reliable if you don’t have managers and techniThat understanding has served Ulane well, enabling cians and pilots – along with a pipeline of ones being him to hold a variety of positions within the aerospace developed. The ecosystem is so interdependent. If you industry. He also credits a college internship at Centen- don’t have a pipeline of new folks coming, the whole nial Airport with helping to kick-start his career path. system suffers. “Internships are by far the most valuable way to get experience,” he said. “Without my internship, I’m not sure how I would have gotten started. Metro has done

“MSU Denver’s initiatives are wonderfully innovative in bringing disciplines together to make aerospace sustainable here and everywhere else.”

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ALUMNUS MICHAEL BATES CREATES A SERIOUSLY SMART BRIEFCASE. STORY LESLIE PETROVSKI | PHOTO CHRIS ZHANG

Michael Bates (B.S. marketing ’06) was living in China, burning the candle and his cell phone battery at both ends. Consulting for various international companies, Bates found himself in planes, trains and taxis with no way to charge his phone.

involve a cubicle and a commute to the Denver Tech Center. An internship with a company called AsiaPacific Access landed him a job in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Today, he lives in Shanghai City and is working to marshal his smart bag into the marketplace.

“I’d fly from Shanghai to Hong Kong and back in the same day,” he said. “Those are the days you take a shower and you return home and your towel is still wet – very long days. You don’t have time to charge a phone.”

The briefcase itself reflects the needs of the modern mover and shaker. Equipped with a compact 10,000 mAh removable battery, the water-resistant ballistic nylon bag allows users to charge a phone five times or a tablet once. Other slick features include a special laptop compartment for easy security screenings at airports, a built-in USB cable-management system to corral messy wires, myriad pockets and “bag-towall” charging with a dedicated power cord that can be easily retrieved and plugged into a convenient outlet.

Bates had tried auxiliary battery packs but found them too bulky to carry comfortably in a briefcase. Plus, he disliked the tangle of cables and wires he had to wrestle from his computer bag. Knowing that many of his colleagues faced similar challenges – ducking into coffee houses to juice their devices – Bates wondered whether he could produce a bag that would provide road warriors with a better system for managing their itinerant professional lives. So last summer, he made the leap and founded Legion Concepts, a company dedicated to creating innovative business lifestyle products. One year later, he and his team launched a $50,000 crowdfunding campaign for the company’s first gambit, the Ultimate Device Charging Briefcase. “This came out of necessity,” he explained. Bates is a natural risk taker. A former competitive cyclist, Bates completed three internships during his final year at MSU Denver, regularly seeking the advice of professors about how to create a future that didn’t

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While there are a handful of device-charging bags in the marketplace, including a few backpacks and wheeled briefcases, Legion Concepts’ Ultimate Device Charging Briefcase, Bates says, should stand out because of its quality and value. “We spent a lot of time sourcing from great suppliers and factories. We are working to create a better-quality product at a more affordable price.” Clearly this is only the beginning. The company has five additional products in research and development that involve GPS, geo-fencing, proximity sensors and wireless charging, and they have been invited to the prestigious Web Summit in Dublin, Ireland. “This is the jumping-off point,” said Bates.

In the bag

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50 Transformative YEARS For 50 years, MSU Denver has transformed the lives of students, served as a courageous leader in higher education and boldly advanced the well-being of metro Denver communities. Throughout its history, the University has been known as a gateway to opportunity through broad access, quality academics and education relevant to the Colorado economy. Take a journey through some of its major milestones.

1965

1969

MSU Denver opens; transformation of higher education in Colorado begins

MSU Denver confers its first bachelor’s degrees

By midnight on Oct. 1, MSU Denver — then known as Metropolitan State College — enrolls 1,189 students, nearly double the number expected. Thirty-six faculty and staff members are ready when classes begin on Oct. 4.

On June 1, MSU Denver awards its first 60 baccalaureate degrees: 24 bachelor of science degrees in subjects such as biology, criminal justice and criminology, and business management, as well as 36 bachelor of arts degrees in subjects ranging from English and history to elementary education and psychology.

1966

1970 Auraria

>>>

After intense debate, Colorado legislators approve $1.9 million for the construction of the Auraria Higher Education Center. Construction for the new Auraria Campus begins.

Unite! The White Mule, a bar on Colfax and Elati, becomes the first unofficial student union.

1971 MSU Denver Alumni Association founded FALL 2015

1974

1981

When MSU Denver was founded, the mustang was chosen as its mascot. Because they run between numerous buildings scattered throughout downtown to get to their classes, however, students vote and decide the roadrunner is a more appropriate mascot.

1977 MSU Denver moves to Auraria Higher Education Center After 12 years of leasing classroom space in multiple buildings, MSU Denver begins its first semester on the 169-acre Auraria Campus, sharing academic space with the University of Colorado at Denver and the Community College of Denver.

MSU Denver honors civil rights pioneer Rachel B. Noel with distinguished professorship Noel, the first African-American elected to the Denver Public School Board and the First African-American woman to serve in elected office in Colorado, chaired the African American Studies Department from 1971-80. Upon her retirement, the University creates the Rachel B. Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship to honor her legacy.

1986 Women’s Studies The Institute for Women’s Studies and Services opens.

1988

1990

MSU Denver’s Center for Visual Art opens in LoDo

Meir home relocates to Auraria Campus, becomes MSU Denver’s Golda Meir Center The duplex at 1606/08 Julian St. houses both the Golda Meir Center for Political Leadership, operated by the Political Science Department and the Golda Meir House Museum.

A dream to operate an art gallery is realized with the opening of MSU Denver’s Center for Visual Art at 1701 Wazee St. in lower downtown. The CVA moves into its current and permanent home at 965 Santa Fe Dr. — the first building wholly-owned by MSU Denver — in 2010.

1994 Historic Tivoli Brewery opens as student union After a student vote to purchase the old Tivoli Brewery buildings, a two-year renovation culminates in the Tivoli Student Union, named No. 9 on the 2013 Best College Reviews list of the nation’s top 25 student unions.

>>> 18

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>>>

A transformation from mustang to roadrunner

1995

>>>

World Indoor Airport transforms aviation education Two FAA Airway science grants totaling $1.2 million help fund the World Indoor Airport, a topnotch aerospace simulation laboratory for the training of pilots and ground professionals. The facility bolsters MSU Denver’s growing Aviation and Aerospace Science Department.

1997 2000 Castro professorship kicks off with Chicana author and activist Cherrie Moraga The Richard T. Castro Distinguished Visiting Professorship is launched with the intention of exposing students, faculty and staff to the work of Chicano and Latino artists, activists and leaders.

>>>

Roadrunners take NCAA Division II men’s basketball title Colorado celebrates its first-ever national collegiate basketball title when the Roadrunners beat favored Kentucky Wesleyan 9792 for the NCAA Division II championship. The achievement marks the beginning of MSU Denver Athletics’ transformation into a Division II powerhouse.

Big Names on Campus

1987

1996

2007

Marvin Hamlisch

Jesse Jackson

Hillary Clinton

2010 MSU Denver adds affordable, high-quality master’s degrees

2002

2004

MSU Denver gains independence, continues to transform higher education in Colorado

MSU Denver receives $9.5 million federal grant, largest in school history

MSU Denver acquires its own governing board on July 1, following the passage of HB021165. The bill – sponsored by Rep. Nolbert Chavez and Sen. Penfield Tate – separates the University from the State Colleges in Colorado board of trustees that governs Mesa State, Adams State and Western State. Bill Owens, Colorado’s 40th governor, signs the bill into law.

In July, MSU Denver receives final approval and accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission to proceed with three planned master’s degree programs, the University’s firstever graduate-level offerings. The inaugural programs include Teacher Education, Professional Accountancy and Social Work.

The five-year Teacher Quality Enhancement grant from the U.S. Department of Education is used to develop the Secondary Teacher Enhancement Project, an innovative partnership with Denver Public Schools.

Women’s soccer team takes national championship

>>>

The Roadrunners score Colorado’s first-ever collegiate soccer championship when MSU Denver beats Adelphi University 3-2 to win the NCAA Division II tournament. Highlights of the game are featured on national television.

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2007 MSU Denver launches effort to become federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution President Stephen Jordan announces an ambitious initiative for MSU Denver to grow its Latino enrollment to 25 percent of the student population in order to be named a Hispanic Serving Institution. Universities with the designation are eligible for U.S. Department of Education grants that benefit students.

Evolution of Rowdy

Board of Trustees introduces nonresidential tuition rate, paves way for ASSET bill’s passage

2012

Student Success Building transforms MSU Denver neighborhood, student outcomes The Student Success Building becomes the first Universityowned building on the Auraria Campus. The 145,000-squarefoot facility is constructed on the north end of campus, east of 7th Street along Auraria Parkway, in what is deemed the MSU Denver Neighborhood.

Metro State becomes Metropolitan State University of Denver

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On April 18, Metro State officially changes its name to Metropolitan State University of Denver, when Gov. John Hickenlooper signs SB12-148 in the jampacked Student Success Building lobby.

MSU Denver BOT votes 7-1 to approve a Colorado High School/ GED Nonresident Tuition Rate and receives a standing ovation from more than 200 MSU Denver community members, state legislators and stakeholders gathered for the June 7 meeting.

2014 $1.5 million donation benefits Hotel Management students Rita and Navin Dimond donate $1.5 million – the University’s largest private gift to date – to provide real-world learning opportunities for students in the Hotel Management Program and foster excellence in future hospitality leaders.

Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center opens for business In August, MSU Denver opens its state-of-the-art Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center, one of only a few collegiate hospitality learning laboratories in the nation with a fully functioning hotel.

MSU Denver restructures academic programming To better represent each unit’s breadth of programs, disciplines and departments, the Schools of Business; Letters, Arts and Sciences; and Professional Studies become colleges. At the same time, the Department of Teacher Education becomes the School of Education.

MSU Denver develops agreement with Colorado Heights University On Sept. 2, President Jordan announces a partnership in development with CHU that will create a multi-campus university and expand educational opportunity in Denver’s southwest corridor. The agreement would include the transfer of ownership of significant portions of the historic Loretto Heights campus to MSU Denver.

MSU Denver breaks ground on AES facility On Oct. 8, the University breaks ground on its AES building, a $60 million facility that will house a revolutionary curriculum integrating advanced manufacturing disciplines to prepare students for tomorrow’s jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

2015 Aerospace and Engineering Sciences initiative receives $20 million in state funding

CONTINUE the journey through MSU Denver’s history at msudenver.edu/50.

The AES initiative moves one step closer to becoming a reality when in March the Colorado General Assembly’s Joint Budget Committee approves a final $14.8 million in capital construction funding to augment an initial $5.2 million appropriation for planning and pre-construction work.

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D N U O GREAKING BR

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STORY ROGER FILLION | PHOTOS SARA BEETS AND SARA HERTWIG | RENDERING ANDERSON MASON DALE ARCHITECTS

SU Denver is poised to revolutionize how students are educated to become highly skilled members of the next-generation manufacturing workforce. On Oct. 8, the University broke ground on a $60 million state-of-the-art Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building located on the southeast corner of 7th Street and Auraria Parkway. The building will house a new AES initiative that unites faculty and courses from eight disciplines under one roof. Faculty will teach an innovative curriculum created with input from industry officials that is designed to prepare students for tomorrow’s jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. “When we looked at what others are doing, nobody had come up with a solution like this to address the advanced manufacturing workforce,” said Ken Phillips, the former chair of MSU Denver’s Department of Industrial Design who chaired the committee tasked with developing the Advanced Manufacturing Sciences curriculum. “This is a direct result of industry consultation,” said MSU Denver President Stephen Jordan. “Colorado’s aerospace and manufacturing leaders told us what they needed in our graduates. Our faculty stepped up to the plate, listened carefully to the employment needs of a major Colorado industry and developed a curriculum that is unique in the nation.” The genesis of the University’s AES initiative dates back to the fall of 2012, when Jordan met with a White House policy expert. “I learned that the aerospace industry was clamoring for educated U.S. professionals who had the skills to build and manufacture their state-of-theart designs for everything from satellites and rockets to robots and renewable energy platforms,” he later recalled. Soon after Jordan went to Washington, President Obama unveiled his advanced manufacturing program and states vied to add high-quality manufacturing jobs. Back in Colorado, Jordan and MSU Denver faculty huddled with industry leaders, investigated other college programs and met with government officials.

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ers d a e l turing c a f u n culty d ma a n f a r u e O c ates. rospa u e d a a r g s ’ the ur do o a o r t n i o l d o y l e l C “ want arefu c y e h d t e t n wha y and r , liste t e s t u a l d told us p n ado i r o the o t l o p C u d ion.” jor t a a m n a e h steppe ds of e in t e u e q i n n t u dan n is me t y a phen Jor o e t l h S t p t n e m e – Presid riculum r u c a ed develop

Using input gleaned from these meetings, MSU Denver developed the AMS curriculum, which features approximately 75 courses, 17 of which are brand new to the University. “It’s unusual to get that input on the front end,” said Phillips. A new Institute for Advanced Manufacturing – to be located in the AES Building – will house the majors and courses that make up the AMS degree. Institute leaders will oversee collaboration between chairs and faculty of the departments involved and ensure that the AMS curriculum remains current. Students enrolled in the four-year program will earn a degree that pulls from eight distinct programs: aerospace, computer science, computer information systems, operations management, industrial design, and mechanical, electrical and civil engineering technology. Roughly two dozen faculty members from these departments will teach the curriculum. College of Professional Studies Dean Sandra Haynes called the institute – MSU Denver’s first – an “administrative body that will make sure we’re delivering a curriculum that meets the needs of the industry. We want these students to be innovators in manufacturing.” In addition to elective courses and general studies, students earning the AMS degree will be required to take 12 core courses that include technical writing, manufacturing materials and processes, trigonometry and engineering graphics. “It will give them a breadth of skills and knowledge,” said Phillips.

MSU Denver leaders said the AMS curriculum aims to fill a gap in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing workforce: non-engineering jobs that traditionally have been filled by engineers. “This non-engineering professional degree addresses a different employment niche than any other degree currently offered at MSU Denver and other Colorado universities,” said College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Dean Joan Foster. Institute officials will reach out to local manufacturing and aerospace companies to develop student internships and form partnerships. Given that nearly 60 percent of the AES Building will be occupied by specialized engineering, computer and design laboratories, it’s reasonable to assume that some companies will be interested in building components on site with help from MSU Denver faculty and students – and the facility’s high-tech machinery. This includes computer numerical control machines – such as lathes, mills and routers – 3-D printers and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing software, or CAD/CAM. The AES initiative comes at an important time for Colorado’s advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries. “The AMS curriculum and the institute are being created to address a well-documented workforce need for Colorado aerospace parts and systems manufacturing, as well as all advanced manufacturing,” said Foster. “Local industry has also told us they are concerned with the Colorado paradox, where we import many of our workforce professionals rather than educating our citizens.”

The state’s manufacturing sector has more than 5,900 companies, more than 120,000 employees and $16.3 billion in annual economic output, according to Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Within the sector, advanced manufacturing is Colorado’s fourth-largest private industry. Advanced manufacturing spans a variety of industries in the state, ranging from chemicals and food to computers and plastics. Some industries – like aerospace, electronics and bioscience – have more advanced manufacturing companies than others. Colorado’s high-flying aerospace industry, meanwhile, ranks No. 3 in the nation for the size of its privatesector workforce, according to a report this year from the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. The report – compiled by Littleton-based Development Research Partners – shows that Colorado’s aerospace cluster directly employed about 25,110 workers in 2014. “As manufacturing becomes more automated and complex, it is going to require a different set of skills than traditional manufacturing,” said Joe Rice (B.A. history ’89), director of government relations at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., which is part of the industrial advisory council that has been working with MSU Denver officials to develop the AMS curriculum. Rice noted the difference between traditional manufacturing and advanced manufacturing. In the former, paper and pencil – among other things – play a significant role. In the latter, advanced software, computers and other forms of digital technology and

materials allow companies such as Lockheed to design and manufacture complex satellites and spacecraft. “Projects are concepted and designed in a digital world. There are initial simulations and tests you can perform in a digital world,” Rice said. “The designs never touch paper. They’re designed in this digital tapestry.” In addition to Lockheed Martin, MSU Denver has sought input from a range of other companies – all of which have Colorado operations. These include Sierra Nevada Corp., an electronics, engineering and manufacturing company; RK Mechanical Inc., a Denver-based mechanical contracting and manufacturing firm; and Davis Manufacturing Co., a Denver provider of machined components and assemblies for aerospace companies. “This initiative is one of countless examples that demonstrate our commitment to working with industry to design relevant, career-focused programs,” said Jordan of the AES initiative, now taking physical shape as construction proceeds on the 142,000-square-foot facility, which is slated to open its doors to students for the 2017 academic year. Jordan added, “We’re making a name for ourselves through our capacity for developing curricula and programs that serve the Colorado economy by addressing workforce demands and preparing our students to meet them.” SEE more images from the Oct. 8 groundbreaking at msudenver.edu/magazine.

MSU Denver trustees and industry leaders joined President Jordan in “tossing dirt” at the AES groundbreaking on Oct. 8.

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The without a STUDENT FAYE OLSGARD IS AT THE CENTER OF A FORMIDABLE MSU DENVER NETWORK THAT IS HELPING COSTA RICANS TO “LOOK IN THE MIRROR.” STORY JANALEE CARD CHMEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAYE OLSGARD

his is the story of a badly damaged, 2,500-year-old skull; her modern-day, perfect twin sister; an MSU Denver student with insatiable curiosity and a knack for sparking excitement in others, and a slew of scientists who sought to put a face on the ancient skull. It’s also the story of the power of collaboration: What can happen when MSU Denver’s programs and people come together across disciplines – and across the globe – to advance science will blow your mind. But first, the skull.

The Skull

In 1989, a scientist from the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (National Museum of Costa Rica) excavated an extremely rare discovery: beautifully preserved human skeletal remains. This kind of find is rare in Costa Rica due to its high rainfall and humidity, which cause rapid deterioration. According to Ricardo Vázquez-Leiva, research archaeologist at the MNCR, the remains were found in what the team calls “The Regla Site,” which sits in the tidal strip of the Nicoya Gulf on the country’s southwestern coast.

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The Regla site is outstanding… The Regla bones are the earliest and best preserved found in the country.

“The Regla site is outstanding,” said Vázquez-Leiva. “The Regla bones are the earliest and best preserved found in the country. This collection is in an excellent state of preservation due to the anaerobic conditions of the soil.” Until this discovery, Costa Ricans had very little evidence of their own ancestry. What did their great, great, great, great (and beyond) grandfathers and grandmothers look like? The country’s best clues came from ancient ceramics and other findings, but these bones brought them the opportunity to look in the mirror at themselves 2,500 years ago. The findings were exciting, but scientists lacked a way to help the average Costa Rican understand their importance. Yes, the bones were well-preserved but they were also badly damaged. The skulls were impacted with mud and fossilized sea creatures. Because of the way they were ceremoniously buried 2,500 years ago (bundled in large batches), some bones were permanently stuck together in odd ways (i.e., a clavicle through a mandible). It’s hard for the average person to get excited about skulls and bones covered in mud and sea worms, looking like something out of a horror movie. But recently, four MNCR archaeology sites were named UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The scientists decided that it was their duty to create an exceptional display of their own country’s heritage going as far back as possible using the collections they had. They began exploring ways to display the Regla collection in a manner that captured their people’s imagination.

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Instead of simply displaying the bones and other artifacts found at Regla, the scientists wondered: could they put faces on the skulls? Could they provide a way for Costa Ricans to look into the past and see their ancestors in scientifically accurate, culturally truthful ways? They needed a forensic artist.

Enter: The MSU Denver Student

In many ways, Faye Olsgard is a typical MSU Denver student. She is the first in her family to attend college, she is working on her second career, she has overcome tremendous personal hardships to pursue her dreams and she is driven to succeed. Olsgard’s path to MSU Denver and the Costa Rican skull began 15 years ago with a 3 a.m. epiphany. She was earning a successful living as a freelance graphic designer and was in the middle of an overnight deadline when the “Forensic Files” came on the television. “There was a woman who had a photograph of a skull and she put tissue paper over the top of the photo and started drawing a face on the tissue paper,” said Olsgard. “I stood up screaming and yelled, ‘I’m going to do that!’”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The story continues online at msudenver.edu/magazine.

People Alumni News + Notes 1970

Peter Klismet Jr. (B.S. criminal justice ’70) is a U.S. Navy veteran, retired FBI agent and college professor. After graduating from MSU Denver, Klismet worked for the Ventura County Police Department for 10 years, ranking as sergeant. He pursued two master’s degrees – one in criminal justice from California Lutheran University and the other in public administration from the University of Southern California. In 1979, he was appointed special agent for the FBI. He worked for over 20 years in Denver, Los Angeles and Omaha, Nebraska, before his retirement. He is a trained hostage negotiator, firearms instructor and one of the FBI’s first criminal profilers. In 1999, he was awarded National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. From 2000 to 2013, he worked as an associate professor of criminal justice for two community colleges in Colorado, becoming department chair of criminal justice at Pikes Peak Community College where he is now professor emeritus. Klismet has since published three national award-winning, nonfiction books titled, “FBI Diary: Profiles of Evil,” “FBI Animal House” and “FBI Diary: Home Grown Terror.” He is currently working on his fourth book – a college textbook on criminal profiling – and resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Nancy.

1979

Ali Nekumanesh (B.A. political science ’79) is the CEO of Eagle Management Business Consulting, the executive vice president of Deli Delicious Franchising, Inc. and owner of three Colorado Grill restaurants in California.

1987

Richard Brence (B.S. engineering technology ’87) works for Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is an employee of the Operationally Responsive Space Office, where he works with employees from the Space and Missiles Systems Center Advance Systems and Development Directorate as well as with the Air Force laboratory.

1990

Andrew Vara (B.S. accounting ’90) is a senior accountant for NGL Energy Partners LP in Denver. Following his graduation from MSU Denver, Vara worked in several different industries including software, cable TV, construction materials, fiber optics, health care, real estate, and oil and gas.

1994

Melissa Lobach (B.A. English and speech communication ’94) is a training consultant for Verizon Wireless in Folsom, California. She is a certified ROI Institute professional and one of the recipients of the organization’s 2014 Awards of Excellence. Lobach also serves as a docent for the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm in Gold Hill, California.

2002

Michele Massey Alexander (B.A. psychology ’02) is a franchise owner of a Primrose School at Colorado Station with husband Tim Alexander (see below) in Denver. Following her graduation from MSU Denver, Alexander began her career with Primrose Schools as a lead teacher in the young toddler classroom. She continued as an early childhood educator for 11 years. During that time, Alexander’s interest in management increased and she progressed from a lead teacher to assistant director, marketing director and school director.

2004

Tim Alexander (B.S. management marketing ’04) is a field marketing manager for Monster Energy. Following his graduation from MSU Denver, Alexander worked for Pepsi and SoBe Beverages. He was hired as sales director of Monster Energy for a year until he was promoted to a retail marketing position where his “passion truly lies.”

2005

Phillip Haberman (B.S. aviation technology and meteorology ’05) teaches science at Compassion Road Academy, a high school in the Denver Public School system. Haberman returned to MSU Denver in 2013 and enrolled in the teacher licensure program with an emphasis in special education, and culturally and linguistically diverse education. In December, he will be education ambassador for the United Nations Climate Negotiations in Paris, France. Ten U.S. teachers were invited to the conference with the goal of establishing a global climate agreement by 2020.

2007

Bonny Van Bibber (B.A. hospitality, meeting and travel administration ’07 and modern languages ’09) is a trainer for Group Voyagers, Inc. in Littleton, Colorado.

2009

T.J. Bresina (B.A. communication arts and sciences ’09) is the culinary manager of Carbon Café and Habit Doughnut Dispensary in Denver. Launched in the summer of 2015, the two new shops are located where the previous Paris on the Platte café resided. Stormy Filson (B.A. anthropology ’09) is a mental health therapist at Little Colorado Behavioral Health Centers in Springerville, Arizona. She earned a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University in 2015.

2010

Jason Cordova (B.S. aviation technology ’10) is a pilot recruiter for SkyWest Airlines in Denver. Following graduation, Cordova served as a technical consultant for the Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science at MSU Denver. He developed the project “Archaeoastronomy effort to analyze ancient monuments’ astronomical alignments,” which earned him an honorable mention in the 2010 Analytical Graphics, Inc. University Grant Competition. Cordova is a U.S. Navy veteran.

2011

David Ashby (B.A. English ’11) is a system administrator for Kindling, Inc. in New York City. Katharine Nooney (B.A. behavioral science ’11) is an IT specialist for the Defense Information Systems Agency in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

2012

David Jones (B.A. communication arts and sciences ’12) graduated in the spring of 2014 with a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.

2014

Rebecca Parsons, nee Dickinson (B.A. journalism ’14), is a remote event coordinator for Allwell Rents in Denver. She is a newlywed and currently resides in Kalispell, Montana. In addition to her career, Parsons is pursuing freelance nonfiction writing.

2015

Eric Bonilla (B.A. modern languages and elementary education ’15) is an English language acquisition Spanish teacher for second graders at Newlon Elementary School in Denver. Ametowoyona Viagbo (B.S. communication information systems ’15) is a customer service representative at Keysight Technologies in Englewood, Colorado. Jordan Whittington (B.A. biology ’15) is a teacher at Arvada West High School in the Jeffco Public School system. He is a U.S. Army veteran and resides in Westminster, Colorado.

SHARE YOUR NEWS

Email your class notes to magazine@msudenver.edu or submit an update online at msudenver.edu/magazine.

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the

FINALWORD Ted Shin, chair of MSU Denver’s Industrial Design Department, discusses his former life as a virtuoso at Samsung, his role as a “guide,” and the implications of the program’s future home in MSU Denver’s Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building. STORY DOUG MCPHERSON | PHOTO MICHAEL RICHMOND

emember the flip-style cell phone that was wildly popular in the early 2000s? Ever wondered who designed it? Meet Ted Shin, associate professor and chair of MSU Denver’s Industrial Design

Department. Before joining the faculty in 2006, Shin was a product designer at Samsung Electronics, where he created groundbreaking products including the first camera phone and the first phone with a full keypad for texting. Samsung chose him (from among 700 top employees) as one of just 12 future design leaders. Since arriving at MSU Denver, he has taught nearly 80 percent of the University’s industrial design courses.

How did working at Samsung make you a better professor? It helped me understand the true value of education. What do you like best about working at MSU Denver? MSU Denver is an institution of opportunity and diversity. I like knowing I’m one of many people at MSU Denver who help our students secure their future. How would you describe your approach to teaching and working with students? I call myself a guide, not a teacher. I can show students the many different ways I took to solve a problem, but I try not to force students to go in a direction I took. I tell students if they want to be the best, they have to work harder than everyone else. How are the program and its students contributing to the local and national economies? Internships are required and many students do those internships at local businesses. Roughly one-third of the internships – and growing – turn into full-time employment. We also have 30

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many graduates working on both coasts as professional designers. Why is industrial design an important field? We create a direct interaction between technology, product and function with people. Any activity that makes improvement we call design. Which changes to the Industrial Design program make you proudest? Creating new courses, streamlining the curriculum and keeping our great faculty. Everyone is working together to improve. My role is to build on the previous chair’s [Ken Phillips] great foundation. I’ve visited many strong design programs, and I know we are just as good and will be among the best. We’re also the only design program in Colorado accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. What does the move to the soon-to-bebuilt Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building mean for the program and future students? We’ll be working daily with other disciplines – something few other design programs do.

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People In Memory 1970s

1990s

Mary Peterson (B.S. health professions ’79) May 2015

Eleanor Jenkins (B.S. human services ’92) March 2015

Harry Leach (B.S. management marketing ’74) April 2015

Amanda Ferrell (B.A. psychology ’90) June 2015

Mary Quinn (B.A. teacher education ’79) February 2015 Kathleen Redenius (B.A. elementary education ’72) March 2015 Linda Costa Stine (B.S. health professions ’81) October 2014

1980s

Aroxie Feldman (B.A. teacher education ’82) July 2015 Sharon Weeaks (B.S. health professions ’80) June 2015

Faculty and Staff

Professor Emeritus James Downs served as a College of Business faculty member until his retirement in 2003. He died in July 2015 at the age of 79. Over the course of his 30 years at MSU Denver, Downs became chair of the Business Education and Communications Department from 1978-88 and of the Marketing Department in 2000. He also served on the Faculty Senate, the Prior

Learning Assessment Committee and the Program Review Committee. In 1997, he won the College of Business Service Award. In his 2004 emeritus nomination letter for Downs, Associate Dean Clay Daughtrey wrote, “The retirement of Jim Downs has left a large void … He always stepped up … His example is one that the entire University should try to emulate. He is truly an MSCD institution.” Professor Emeritus Charles Mawhinney III taught computer information systems at MSU Denver from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. He died in March 2015 at the age of 71. Outside of his work with MSU Denver, Mawhinney was an active volunteer. Beginning in

msudenver.edu/magazine

Available online.

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1992, he helped establish cultural, recreational and educational programs with the Ken Caryl Ranch Foundation, providing scholarships for local high school students. He also offered his time to the summer water sports camp for the Mile High Girl Scouts and the Rocky Mountain Windsurfing Association. Professor Emeritus George McCrillis taught aviation science for over 20 years at MSU Denver until his retirement in 2003. He died in February 2015. McCrillis was known for developing the aviation job targeting class, one of many classes he taught in the department. He was notably passionate about aviation science, having been actively involved with the MSU Denver Flight Team and other organizations such as Alpha Eta Rho, Dedalians and Air Power West. “George was a hero to all of the students and faculty in the Aviation and Aerospace Science Department,” said Jeff Forrest, professor and department chair. “He was a mentor to faculty and absolutely dedicated to students. He was living-history in that he was part of significant flight operations in the U.S. Air Force. We have missed him since his retirement, but his memory will definitely live on in our department.”

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