IN MEMORY
Heart of a Roadrunner Faculty & Staff
BRAD KAPLAN IS DEDICATED TO THE FUTURE OF MSU DENVER.
By Lynne Winter
professor emeritus, died April 10 at age 86. Johnson worked at MSU Denver for more than 30 years as a professor of Physical Education and coach before retiring in 1999. Hired in 1968, Johnson founded the volleyball program that year. As coach, she led the team to three top-10 national finishes in the old Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and a third-place finish in the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics. Johnson was also the Roadrunners softball coach from 1969-81, apart from two seasons, and a member of the first class of the MSU Denver Athletics Hall of Fame. She was a pioneer in women’s athletics who dedicated her life to fighting for equity in sports.
ALYSON McCLARAN
PAT R. JOHNSON,
Brad Kaplan arrived on Metropolitan State University of Denver’s doorstep broke and disheartened. Frustrated by his initial college experience as a nameless face packed into overflowing lecture halls, Kaplan followed a friend’s lead and transferred to MSU Denver. “On my first day, I knew it was the right place,” he said. “Professors like Russell Bean (Accounting) were always there to make sure I was on the right path.” When Kaplan was a student, his on-campus activities included little more than attending classes and joining friends for a beer at the Mercantile or Soapy Smith’s Eagle Bar. After graduating in 1982 with a B.S. in Accounting, he stayed loosely connected to the University by contributing to scholarships. Then, a chance meeting with Ann Murphy, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business, in the 1990s brought him back to the nest. “Ann asked me to join the College of Business Dean Advisory Council, and even when I moved to Oregon, she called to get my input,” he said. “It allowed me to use my business knowledge to provide direction and help MSU Denver grow.” Upon retiring as vice president of financial operations and strategy at Comcast in 2017, Kaplan decided to occupy his newfound free time by indulging his passion for education. Based on his experience volunteering for short interviews with Intro to Business students, Kaplan recognized an opportunity to connect alumni and students. “Thirty minutes is not enough time. So many students and mentors want a longer connection,” he said. Supported by Alumni Relations and the
Classroom to Career Hub, Kaplan created a College of Business mentoring program he hopes will eventually serve the entire University. This year, if the program has enough alumni mentors, as many as 100 students will be matched — up from 30 last year. For over 30 years, Kaplan has stayed engaged by supporting Women’s Softball, establishing a planned gift, guest lecturing and now talking to state representatives about higher-ed funding as a member of MSU Denver Champions. “There are so many opportunities to get involved,” he said. “The University will find a fit if you express interest.” These days, Kaplan is eager to return to campus and give back to the community he loves in person. “When I got married two months before graduating from college, I had nothing,” he said. “I’ve gone on to have a successful career and a great life. My experience at the University taught me how to think, grow and work with other people. It gave me a wonderful foundation. “My heart is at MSU Denver.”
Former MSU Denver faculty member ISABEL MAKE died April 2 at age 73. Make joined the Roadrunner community in 1991, serving students in the reading lab with her breadth of expertise in lifelong learning. In retirement, she was an avid volunteer who served on the Greenwood Village Arts Council and helped establish a dedicated youth arts space at the Curtis Center for the Arts. Known for her spirited views, sharp insight and keen wit, Make was an active member of Temple Emanuel in Denver, rarely
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