Metropolitan Denver Magazine - Spring 2017

MUST LOVE WORK

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> K E E P I T I N T H E F A M I LY

WANTED: APPRENTICES

> T R A N S P O R T E D B Y E D U C AT I O N

WORK-BASED LEARNING AND TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS MIGHT BE THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

> C A L L I N G A L L R OA D R U N N E R S

WHY PROGRAMS THAT BLEND

CENTER FOR VISUAL ART 2017 UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

BFA Thesis Exhibitions

Water Line

First show: April 21 – 28 Second show: May 5 –12

August 4 – October 21

528.0 Prints May 26 – July 22 An exhibition that celebrates the expansive diversity of contemporary printmaking found within our western region. Open to artists residing within a 528.0 mile radius of Denver and sponsored by the Invisible Museum and hosted by Center for Visual Art.

CVA will serve as a hub for the artist­led response to the water crisis. Water Line examines the loaded issue of water, and promotes stewardship, advocacy and activism through the work of contemporary artists, and in direct conversation with students, policy analysts and scientists.

Programming will include lectures, workshops and a symposium.

CVA is MSU Denver’s off­campus art center featuring exhibitions that examine urban issues through diverse, contemporary art by student and international artists.

msudenver.edu/cva

965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver 303-294-5207 Free and open to all

CVA CVA

Image: mural on outside of CVA building by MSU Denver alum Jaime Molina.

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VOL. 5 NO.1 INSIDER.MSUDENVER.EDU

METROPOLITAN DENVER MAGAZINE

BRAD LOVES BUGS Learn how Brad Hiatt got the bug for entomology on Page 24.

Photo by Zack Lemann.

08 14 26 WANTED: APPRENTICES

Why programs that blend work-based learning and traditional academics might be the future of higher education.

02 THE FIRST WORD

The University’s reputation in the community is at an all-time high.

03 IN YOUR WORDS

We asked alumni this question: What makes you proud to be a Roadrunner? Here are your answers.

04 NEWS

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

ON THE COVER MSU Denver has carved out a niche – offering work-based learning opportunities to students.

Illustration: Justin Renteria, Scott Surine and Craig Korn.

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

CALLING ALL ROADRUNNERS

What is it about MSU Denver that keeps successive generations coming here? Meet three families who went the Roadrunner way.

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Friendly chats? Shared advice? This team has completely upended the low expectations of the cold-call industry.

ON THE BEAT Alumnus Nicholas Garcia started reporting the news in fourth grade and hasn’t stopped since.

20 TRANSPORTED BY

EDUCATION Despite significant roadblocks, Heather McKillop reached her destination: the CFO of RTD.

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LAUGH-MAKER. LITIGATOR. ROADRUNNER. Political science alum Troy Walker leaves an impression in the courtroom and the comedy club.

24 BRAD LOVES BUGS

Most people try to avoid insects; Brad Hiatt has dedicated his life to studying them.

29 PEOPLE

Alumni share news and notes.

30 THE FINAL WORD

We sat down with President Stephen M. Jordan, Ph.D., for one final chat before his retirement.

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PEOPLE IN MEMORY We remember those who are no longer with us.

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FIRSTWORD Reputation rising When President Jordan first arrived on campus 12 years ago, he tasked me with putting together a communications and marketing plan that would elevate the University’s brand.

He understood that we needed to tell the story of our transformational work in order to grow our reputation in Denver, Colorado and nationwide.

Over the years, Dr. Jordan has been our head brand champion; he’s made spreading the word about this place one of his top priorities. The initiatives he has spearheaded also have continued to build our brand. He pushed for us to progress from a college to a university and to add master’s degrees. His focus on public-private partnerships has brought the Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center and Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building to campus, changing the architectural landscape of Auraria Parkway. The special tuition rate for undocumented students led to MSU Denver being known for its bold and courageous decision-making.

Our most recent brand audit reflects the upward trajectory of the University’s reputation.

Released in December 2016, the report found that MSU Denver’s reputation appears to be rising or continuing to rise among all key audiences: students, alumni, faculty, staff and local business leaders. Brand perception has grown from an average of 70 percent positive in 2013 to 76 percent positive in 2016. Alumni and business leaders, in particular, were extremely positive about the University. Alumni indicated that their degrees are transferring well to the workplace and business leaders described MSU Denver as primed to become the preeminent urban university in the nation.

The stories in this issue also reflect how far we’ve come in elevating our reputation during Dr. Jordan’s tenure. You’ll read about the prominent companies we’re partnering with to create work-based learning opportunities for students, parents whose children are proudly following in their footsteps as Roadrunners, and alumni who are leaving their mark in the fields of transportation, education and even comedy.

With Dr. Jordan’s presidency coming to a close on June 30, I hope you will join me in thanking him for his remarkable service to the MSU Denver community, for setting a high bar for this institution and for helping grow the reputation of this amazing University.

Sincerely,

Catherine B. Lucas Publisher and Executive Editor

Metropolitan Denver Magazine is published three times a year by the Metropolitan State University of Denver Office of Marketing and Communications. © 2017 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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PUBLISHER AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR CATHY LUCAS | EDITOR DAN VACCARO | ART DIRECTOR SCOTT SURINE | PUBLICATION DESIGNER CRAIG KORN | EDITORIAL ASSISTANT RACHEL BRUNER (CLASS OF 2017) | COPY EDITOR CLIFF FOSTER | CONTRIBUTORS CRYSTAL ALLEN | SARA BEETS | PAT CORKERY | MARK COX | CARA DEGETTE | SARA HERTWIG | ZACK LEMANN | DOUG MCPHERSON | RUYA NORTON | KEATON OSTENDORF | CORY PHARE | JUSTIN RENTERIA | JESSICA TAVES | MARK WOOLCOTT | EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: ROBERT AMEND, PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM AND TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION | JOHN BURTNESS, VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT | DEBORA GILLIARD, PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT | BRIAN GUNTHER, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY & PROGRAM COORDINATOR | JAMIE HURST, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND GIVING | JULIE LUCAS, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS | SAM NG, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF METEOROLOGY

Your WORDS In

We asked alumni this question on social media:

SHARE YOUR STORY

Everyone has a story to tell and we want to hear yours! Email us: magazine@msudenver.edu.

What makes you proud to be a Roadrunner?

Here are some of your answers.

Dennis Wanebo Being a

Greg Shelley B.A. in English,

Roadrunner is my number one favorite modifier. MSU Denver (MSC back then) was nothing short of a lifesaver for me. One of the meanings of “Roadrunner” to me is: “second chance.” Love you guys!

1995. First in family to attend college. So proud to see my alma mater grow and shine as it has these last 22 years. Fun watching from afar in Houston, but delighted to stay connected, thanks to social media.

Megan Reyes I graduated in four years, hon­

Lori Windle First in my family too – and like

or’s student, summa cum laude, and as a sin­ gle mother and nontraditional student. How? I attended a fantastic institution committed to helping students succeed! Thank you MSU Denver!

Cristy Cress One of my greatest moments was

former Gov. Roy Romer said, we are scrappy!

Bon Villamil I went to a school that really

cared about me as a student! No other univer­ sity made me feel so welcome. B.S. in human nutrition-dietetics, 2016.

hearing my name and walking across that stage after returning to MSU Denver!!

Patrick Giron A great school with hardwork­

Deanna Hirsch I’m proud of the time I invested

Nancy Jo Buck Great school! B.S. in mar­

at Met Media. From the people I got to learn from and work with, to the stories I got to cover, it was one of the best parts of my college career.

Nina Dropcho I had excellent biology profes­

sors who supported my studies and my goals.

MSU Denver was affordable to this nontradi­ tional student returning to school, but the quality of instruction was top-notch. I’m proud to see the more research-driven direction that [the] Biology [Department] is taking, which gives alums a competitive edge as they further their schooling and careers.

ing students and talented inspirational faculty. keting and the opportunity to study abroad at the University of London and take classes at Cambridge and London School of Economics.

[Another college] wouldn’t take the credits, but MSU Denver did and helped me achieve the bucket list item of studying in London!

Alex Jacobson Knowing that many of us

got our degree while working full time, so being surrounded by others that understand what hard work really is. B.A. in psychology, 2013.

Petra Zlotá B.A. in journalism – public rela­

tions with a minor in international business, 2010. First college graduate in my family and in a foreign country/language (I am Czech). It was hard to get there, but when I look back, I am grateful for this great program and school, and how well it prepared me for the real work life! Thank you!!!

Jesse Martinez MSU Denver allowed me

to apply what I was learning in the classroom to the workplace. Being a full-time student and a full-time employee, MSU Denver allowed me to finally get a B.A. through the Individualized Degree Program with a major in political sociol­ ogy, Class of 2013. Although it took me 10 years to get my degree, I finally did it. Looking back, I don’t think I could have got my degree from anywhere else.

Uzoma Nduka Accelerated BSN, 2010. MSU Denver is a family. The professors want you to succeed. It is a village. Every student has every other student’s back. *Some responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Correction

In the fall 2016 issue of Metropolitan Denver Magazine, we wrongly attributed a letter in the In Your Words section to Craig Bowman, B.A. English ’70. The author of that lovely letter was, in fact, Mark Boyko, B.S. marketing ’71. Bowman’s letter appeared in the spring 2016 edition.

THANK YOU TO OUR ROADRUNNERS ATHLETICS SPONSORS

TM

Hotel Partners Boulder Broker Inn Hilton Garden Inn Denver Cherry Creek Holiday Inn Denver Cherry Creek

Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood Radisson Denver Southeast SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown

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News

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

WELCOME, MADAM PRESIDENT On Feb. 14, the Board of Trustees named Janine Davidson, Ph.D., the next president of MSU Denver. She will succeed outgoing president Stephen M. Jordan, Ph.D., in July 2017.

“I was attracted to MSU Denver because of the progressive, entrepreneurial leadership Dr. Jordan and the board have displayed,” Davidson said. “As president, I will be 100 percent committed to the vision that defines the University – accessibility, affordability and diversity.”

Davidson has nearly 30 years of experience in military operations, national security policy and academic research.

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Most recently, she served as the 32nd undersecretary of the United States Navy, where her duties included Navy and Marine Corps integration, acquisition, finance, personnel, legislative affairs, research and development.

Davidson met with the University community on Feb. 13-14. In several open forums, she discussed her motivation to take on this role and answered questions.

“This is a place where the American dream still lives,” she said. “College is so expensive and the dream is slipping away for so many people. But not here. MSU Denver is holding the line.”

The president-elect is also well versed in the academic arena. She was a senior fellow for defense policy at the Council on Foreign Relations and has taught national security policy and political science.

She holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. She was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officer School and was the first woman to fly the Air Force’s tactical C-130.

See photos and videos of Davidson’s visit: insider.msudenver.edu/davidson-named­ president.

ARE YOU AN

?

By now you might have noticed an email called the Insider showing up in your inbox every other week. That’s MSU Denver’s latest publication – a news feed of compelling stories that speak to contemporary issues and ideas through the lens of the University.

HOTEL PARTNERSHIP PAYING OFF FOR STUDENTS The Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center has already had a significant impact on student learning. Now the public-private partnership that made the facility possible is yielding even greater benefits.

The board of directors for HLC@Metro Inc., the nonprofit corporation that owns the hotel, unanimously authorized the transfer of $2 million from its net-profit reserves to the MSU Denver Foundation.

This transfer, in accordance with the original memorandum of understanding, demonstrates the value of MSU Denver’s first publicprivate partnership, a collaboration between the University, its foundation, Sage Hospitality and its partner, Marriott International.

As planned from the outset, half of the funds will be used to support scholarships for students from across the University.

Last month, the Insider featured stories about Buffalo Bill’s marketing genius, a student-brewed beer called Buck Buck Moose and a rain barrel design competition that caused a spontaneous outbreak of green thumbs.

Beyond written stories, there are videos, photo essays and infographics that highlight the quality of the University’s education, its faculty experts and commitment to access, diversity and innovation.

Watch for the Insider every other Tuesday and don’t forget to share with your friends and networks. And if you can’t wait for the email, read the stories now: insider.msudenver.edu.

There is no “i” in CADRE Every 10 years, MSU Denver needs to re-up its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional higher-education accreditors in the United States.

The renewal process includes a comprehensive evaluation and site visit by peer reviewers from the HLC. The University worked diligently over the last two years to write an assurance argument, a self-study that justifies its case for re-accreditation. That argument was submitted in March. The site visit happened on April 10-11 and by all accounts went very well.

To prepare the campus community for the visit, the Office of Marketing and Communications promoted an acronym to help people quickly call to mind the University’s core values.

CADRE stands for community, access, diversity, respect and entrepreneurship, and has quickly taken hold across campus.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the University will retain its accreditation, which it first received in 1971.

News University reputation at all-time high MSU Denver’s reputation continues its upward trajectory – that was the key takeaway from the University’s most recent brand audit, released in December 2016.

The audit, conducted by Corona Insights, found that MSU Denver’s brand perception has grown from an average of 70 percent positive in 2013 to 76 percent positive in 2016. Respondents included students, alumni, faculty, staff and local business leaders.

“Overall, this was a very positive set of findings,” said Kevin Raines, CEO of Corona Insights. “To me, the fact that the University’s reputation appears to be rising, or continuing to rise, among all key audiences is a very positive sign.”

The findings showed current students were very positive about the institution. Alumni were extremely positive, indicating that their degrees are transferring well to the workplace. Business leaders felt the University was primed for great things.

MSU DENVER BRAND PERCEPTION 80% 78%

76% Positive

76% 74% 72% 70% 68%

70% Positive

66% 64% 62% 60%

President Jordan hailed the results as a “remarkable achievement.”

Alumni Students Faculty

Raines said the primary challenge for the University going forward is taking further steps toward the goal of preeminence without sacrificing the gains made in its current market niche of being a good educational value.

President Jordan’s trophy case has gotten a little heavier in the last few months. In February, Jordan was inducted into the MSU Denver Roadrunners Hall of Fame for his support of the University’s athletics programs.

“Roadrunners Athletics and the institution as a whole are better because of Dr. Jordan’s leadership,” said Director of Athletics Anthony Grant, Ph.D. “Our programs would not have ascended to national prominence if it were not for his passion and commitment to enhancing the academic and athletic experience for student-athletes here on this campus, as well as throughout the NCAA.”

THE AWARDS JUST KEEP ON COMING

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Jordan was instrumental in the construction of the Regency Athletic Complex and in bringing the 2016 NCAA Division II Championships Festival to MSU Denver. On March 8, the festival was awarded a Denver and Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame 2016 Tourism Star from the Visit Denver Foundation.

Staff

Local Business Leaders

2013

2014

2015

2016

Each year, the Visit Denver Foundation honors an individual, organization or attraction that has made a significant impact on Denver’s tourism industry.

Jordan was also honored by Mile High Early Learning on March 24 at its “Stone Soup – Gathering Community, Nourishing Children” event for his commitment to creating opportunities for Denver students.

“Mile High Early Learning’s mission is to cultivate every child’s unique potential, and Dr. Jordan embodies this mission through his work as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver,” said MHEL President and CEO Pamela Harris, Ph.D. “By creating a ‘university of opportunity,’ Dr. Jordan has ensured that many first-generation college students and students of color have the opportunity to receive a quality education and to fulfill their dreams.”

Jordan will also be recognized by the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition with its Futuro Brillante award.

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THE PROFESSOR’S ROOM As a commercial pilot, former astronaut trainer and aviation professor, Tanya Gatlin rarely has her feet on the ground. We took a test flight around her office, and she provided navigation.

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“This is one of the astronaut crews I trained. That’s me smiling in the middle, and no wonder. It took at least a year to train each crew, but every moment was awesome. It was an unbelievable experience to see our nation’s space program firsthand and befriend the astronauts.”

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“I’ve flown twice now in the Air Race Classic, a women-only plane race started in 1929 because the men wouldn’t allow the ladies to race with them (for years it was known as the Powder Puff Derby). In 2013, I took a student along and we dressed as 1920s dames. It was great fun.”

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“That’s Eileen Collins, the first female shuttle commander. She has been a very good friend and mentor to me – and really pushed me to achieve some goals in life I otherwise might not have reached. For all her achievements, she’s super kind, humble and compassionate. Just an incredible woman.”

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“These are four memorial patches that were made to mark the big three space tragedies: Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. I have them mounted on my wall exactly as they appear in mission control – it’s my way to commemorate the sacrifice of our great astronauts.”

5

“As a favor, the Colorado astronaut Steve Swanson took a picture of me and my three kids [when he went] to the International Space Station. He then took a photo of my family snapshot from the iconic [space station] cupola window. So now my kids have officially been to space!”

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“This picture was signed by all the people that I worked with in Houston – the astronauts, instructors and mission control people. It captures a big part of my life, when I made some really enduring friendships. I miss it like crazy, but still get back down there as often as I can.”

TURN YOUR BEER MONEY INTO STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS What if there was a way for you to combine two things that you love – MSU Denver and beer – plus support student scholarships? Turns out there is!

Purchase a lifetime membership with the MSU Denver Mug Club and you will receive a custom mug, discounts on any Tivoli beer at the Tap House and much more, as well as the satisfaction of supporting alumni relations programs and student scholarships!

Sign up at msudenver.edu/mugclub.

WANT MORE? Keep up to date with MSU Denver news at insider.msudenver.edu.

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WHY PROGRAMS THAT BLEND WORK-BASED LEARNING AND TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS MIGHT BE THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION. STORY DAN VACCARO

But for Stephen M. Jordan, Ph.D., president of Metropolitan State University of Denver, the answer is simple: “A great education should give students both.”

Jordan cites the Swiss apprenticeship model as a pertinent example. Even though college is free in Switzerland, nearly 70 percent of young people in the country opt into the Vocational Education and Training system, which puts them to work three days a week. The other two days are spent in the classroom. Companies from a wide variety of industries employ these paid apprentices, including the business, information technology and health care sectors, as well as traditional trades and crafts.

Last winter, Jordan had an opportunity to see the Swiss model in action, when he joined Gov. John Hickenlooper and other Colorado leaders on a trip to learn about the VET program.

“The companies see apprenticeships as an investment in the future,” said Jordan. “They aren’t just teaching the students skills; they’re grooming the next generation of leaders. These programs are similar to those we’ve developed and are developing at MSU Denver, and I think higher education as a whole is moving in this direction. We’re aiming to lead the way.”

ILLUSTRATION JUSTIN RENTERIA

Traditional academics or vocational training? It’s a question that’s been debated in higher education circles since what seems like the beginning of time.

PHOTO PAT CORKERY

L O C K E D in on jobs Rubi Solis designs parts for satellites. You know, the kind that orbit the Earth in space.

And if that isn’t impressive enough in its own right, here’s something more: Solis is doing that work as part of her undergraduate education at MSU Denver.

The electrical engineering technology major is one of six students participating in a co-op program at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company this year.

“It is amazing to think that a little piece of me will be in space,” said Solis of the project. “The experience has taught me so much already and it has pushed me to go above and beyond what I even expected of myself.”

The co-op program is a collaboration between MSU Denver and Lockheed Martin. Students take a slightly decreased course load, so they can focus on the work experience for two full semesters. They work 20 to 25 hours each week in areas such as 3-D printing, electronics, composite development and even spacecraft testing. More intensive than a traditional internship, the program places students in roles with greater responsibility and pays well.

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Solis is part of the second cohort of students to participate in the program, the 2016-17 class. The inaugural group of seven students began their training in September 2015. Of that initial group, six continue to work at Lockheed Martin, five in a full-time capacity. Two students from the second cohort graduated in December and were offered full-time jobs.

For Mark Yoss, production principal at Lockheed Martin, the program is accomplishing its primary goal.

“We are creating a workforce pipeline, getting talented people to come and work for our company,” he said. “And the students are making significant contributions to our mission while they’re still in school. By those measures, the partnership has been a real success.”

At a time when finding talented and diverse employees has been a challenge for aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies across Colorado, the co-op program has helped meet a real need.

As for Solis, she hopes to stay on with Lockheed Martin when she graduates in 2017. But for now, she has plenty on her plate: simple stuff, like designing a circuit board for a valve driver on a military satellite.

Credit where C R E D I T is due

Skilled trade workers don’t get nearly enough credit.

They place the pipes in our homes and install the HVAC systems that keep us comfortable at work.

Yet because their handiwork often goes unseen, craft workers don’t always get recognized for their contributions.

A new program aims to change that, to give skilled tradespeople credit for the work they do – college credit.

The first-of-its-kind program was developed by MSU Denver and RK, a regional leader in mechanical contracting and custom manufacturing, and was intended to help RK employees move into leadership roles in their respective fields. Trade workers who have completed a Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship and received their license as a journeyman are eligible for a 30-credit-hour block that they can apply toward a bachelor’s degree in construction project management at MSU Denver.

The curriculum for the CPM degree has been approved and classes are already available, though leaders of both institutions expect the program to ramp up in the fall 2017 semester. The hope is to put together an inaugural class of 15 to 20 students from RK. If successful, the program could be replicated with other companies. It is currently open to any individual skilled trade worker who meets application requirements.

For Robert Park, Ph.D., the director of MSU Denver’s Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute, the program sends a clear message to the community.

“These craft workers spend four years as apprentices.

That’s as long as it takes to get a traditional undergraduate degree. We want to make sure they know that MSU Denver recognizes the value of those apprenticeships and the skills that they bring to the table.”

PHOTO RK

“It’s a great opportunity for skilled trade workers who never thought they’d need to go to college,” said Sandra Haynes, Ph.D., deputy provost at MSU Denver. “They might have gone to work right out of high school, and love what they do, but found out later that in order to move up, they would need a bachelor’s degree. This partnership gives them a springboard to the next step in their careers.”

The program will make it convenient for craft workers to take that step. The additional classes needed to earn a degree will be offered in flexible formats, even possibly on site at one of RK’s two metro Denver facilities. Students will move through coursework together in a supportive learning environment and may even be given time off during the workday to take classes.

Another major advantage of the program is that students won’t need to stop working full time to take classes, which means they can pay as they go without needing to give up their livelihood or incur debt.

Jon Kinning, the chief operating officer and executive vice president of RK, helped develop the program. He sees it as meeting a need for both his employees and the company.

“In an industry with significant workforce shortages, this program will help us grow our own middleskilled workers into management roles,” he said. “It could also help show young people who are interested in the trades that this is a viable career path that provides both hands-on skills and upward mobility.”

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One G I A N T L E A P for student-kind When MSU Denver leaders put together plans for a new Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building, they designated the top level as a “growth floor.”

The idea was to find an aerospace or advanced manufacturing company that would set up operations there, providing real-world learning experiences to students in the form of exposure and internships.

That idea is now a reality.

The University signed an agreement with York Space Systems, which will bring the company’s new manufacturing facility and mission operations center to the Auraria Campus in time for the AES Building’s 2017 opening.

The facility will house York’s full engineering and design team, production facility, as well as the center, which will operate spacecraft on-orbit, in real time. In addition to supporting York’s premier mission, the Harbinger Mission, the factory will enable production capability for 150-200 satellites per year.

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“York Space Systems believes in the potential for Colorado to become a prominent hub for aerospace innovation and our work with MSU Denver presents a unique opportunity to support the training, education and employment of future industry leaders,” said Dirk Wallinger, CEO and cofounder of York. “The public-private partnership agreement with the University will not only further the growth trajectory for the community, but also propel Colorado into the future of aerospace engineering and technology.”

Through the partnership with York, aerospace and advanced manufacturing students from MSU Denver will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects and access internship opportunities, parttime employment and work-study programs to help launch their careers in the aerospace industry.

“It is truly exciting to imagine our students working alongside York’s engineers on the design and construction of satellites that’ll be launched into space and, on top of that, having them participate in the on-orbit control of the satellites they helped build,” said Park. “And this will all be happening right on campus.”

Take me to your leader

PHOTO SARA HERTWIG

Meet Robert Park, Ph.D., the director of MSU Denver’s Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute. Park joined the University last October with a clear vision for his first year.

“My number one goal has been to market the new bachelor’s degree in advanced manufacturing sciences,” he said. “I also envision the institute becoming a recognized asset to the manufacturing community, so a focus on developing industry partnerships has been another major goal.”

Park has a unique blend of industry and academic experience. He spent 16 years working in management positions at manufacturing companies, including the 3M Co., where he managed a research and development laboratory. At the M.C. Miller Co., he held various positions, including director of research, and ultimately, chief executive officer.

In his 10 years as a tenured faculty member in the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Park taught undergraduate and graduate courses in electronic materials. He also spent six years as graduate program director and was responsible for the development of a new graduate curriculum.

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Park holds a bachelor’s of science and a doctoral degree in electronics and electrical engineering from the University of Glasgow.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT MSU DENVER THAT KEEPS SUCCESSIVE FAMILY GENERATIONS COMING HERE? MEET THREE FAMILIES WHO WENT THE ROADRUNNER WAY. STORY MARK COX

‘WE’RE ALWAYS TALKING BASEBALL …’

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This father and son are both MSU Denver baseball stars. Just don’t expect to see them on the field together – they played 20 years apart.

Last year, Donny Ortiz Jr. had a dilemma.

The young second baseman liked the idea of studying and playing at MSU Denver, which was close to the family home. But there was a complication – he’d be following in some pretty big footsteps. Two decades earlier, his father, Donny Ortiz Sr., had been an infielder for the college team.

“A part of me wanted to break out and do my own thing,” he remembers. “But I was also kind of drawn to come here. It felt like home.”

For the elder Ortiz, a psychology and recreation major in the mid-1990s, his son’s choice came as a relief.

“Obviously, it was his decision, but of course I wanted him to choose MSU Denver. This place helped me grow into what I wanted to be and sparked lots of friendships that have endured through the years.”

With an incredibly busy schedule, one of the younger Ortiz’s current big challenges is balancing his business management courses and athletics. “It’s always a struggle,” he says. “But the student part comes first – it has to. If the grades aren’t there, you can’t get on the field anyway.”

Besides shaping their academic lives, the pair’s shared love of baseball has added a special dynamic to their own relationship. The elder Ortiz explains: “As well as father and son, we grew up together as coach and player, right through to high school.”

His son nods in agreement. “Even now, we’re always talking baseball. There’s never a point where he’s not helping me out with my game.”

With a love of the sport so deeply ingrained into their DNA, it’s worth wondering: Might there be a Donny Ortiz III playing at MSU Denver in 25 years? “Hey, you never know,” the younger Ortiz says with a smile. “It’s God’s plan. But if it happens, it happens. And I’m sure he’d be a good player.”

And in case you’re wondering who’s the better player: “Oh, Donny Jr.’s a better overall player than I was,” says his proud father. “He’s got baseball smarts, for sure, and his work ethic is probably his best trait.”

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ARA BEETS

“In my day, the fields were pretty basic,” he recalls. “I wish I could come back and play all over again. Maybe I should ask the coach if I have any more eligibility left.”

PHOTO S

When visiting the campus these days, the elder Ortiz is always impressed by how completely it has changed.

“Except the Tivoli building,” he says with a laugh. “You can still get the same beer and burgers there.” And he’s particularly awestruck by the new, state-of-the-art athletics facility.

The Ortizes

ES PHOTO JESSICA TAV COURTESY JUDY GEORGE

The Georges ‘THEY THOUGHT I WAS HIS BIG SISTER’

L

Not only did this mother and son attend MSU Denver at the same time – occasionally, they found themselves in the same class.

Like many young women of her generation, Judy George went to college in the 1960s with hopes of earning a degree. But then – as often happened – marriage, work and raising a family got in the way before she could finish.

And there was another bonus for the returning student: “I was quite introverted growing up, and felt very nervous about starting college again after so much time.

But the whole experience really brought me out of my shell, and I met so many marvelous people.”

Decades later, shortly after her son had enrolled for a management degree at MSU Denver, he showed up at her house with a college application form. “It’s time to finish what you started,” he said.

The younger George was raised helping out with his parents’ small family company in Denver, but now has a senior position with a major corporation. As his mother puts it: “He got a simple entry-level job, but worked his way up and now manages around 200 people. And it’s hard to overstate the role MSU Denver played in preparing him for that kind of challenging work.

Basically, he left college career ready.”

And so it was that business class students in the late 1990s grew accustomed to occasionally seeing a couple of classmates (with the same surname) deep in discussion and arguing points with each other.

“We didn’t tell anybody we were related,” the elder George says. “But then one day a professor asked if I was his older sister. Oh, it made my evening.”

“Mom provided an interesting sounding board during classes – plus a healthy sense of internal competition!” the younger George recalls. “She is very determined, so as soon as I did well she naturally had to do even better.”

That sense of ambition and a hunger for learning has also marked the elder George’s post-college career.

Proving that age is no barrier, she’s still a tireless member of various committees and president of MSU Denver’s Alumni Association Board.

Her son says: “It’s awesome that she’s still active in so many roles and causes, and showing no signs of slowing down. She’s a constant role model to me and my kids.”

As for where those kids might end up going to college, he says: “My daughters Kaley (7) and Keilani (10) will be ready for college in a few years. Maybe we’ll see them at MSU Denver, seeking their own degrees.”

His mother adds: “Oh, it would be fantastic to see them continue our family tradition. I would love that.”

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PHOTO TREV OR DAVIS

“I had no choice but to capitulate,” she recalls. “He gave me the nudge I needed.”

‘WE WANT TO BE ROLE MODELS’

E

They may come from different generations, but this mother and daughter share exactly the same priorities when it comes to the importance of education.

Everyone knows that mothers and daughters squabble.

So, it’s no surprise to find Fatima Shorten and her mother, Katherine, keenly disagreeing over who first had the idea to pursue an education degree at MSU Denver. Both of the pair – who are incredibly close – are sure it was initially their idea. (“You really copied me,” they both half joke.)

Meanwhile, her mother had been doing an accounting program in Aurora – but it wasn’t something about which she was passionate.

“I finally asked myself what I really wanted to do,” she recalls. “And I’ve always had this love for history, so I started over at MSU Denver so I could learn to teach history.”

However it came about, the mother-daughter duo recently studied together in MSU Denver’s School of Education. And each took a circuitous route to get there.

While they might like to tease and joke about the small stuff, this mother and daughter passionately agree that education has the power to change communities for the better.

The younger Shorten actually started as a biology major and had an eye toward medical school. But then an ethnic literature class hit her like a bombshell and she discovered “this whole other world that I want to share with others.”

The younger Shorten, who graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies, is currently entertaining offers to teach overseas. And she still radiates excitement while talking about her time at MSU Denver. “I spent my days reading black authors, people like me,” she remembers. “I could see myself or see my grandparents in their stories. It was very powerful.”

The elder Shorten will get her bachelor’s degree in history this May and is currently a student-teacher in Denver. She wants to encourage more children of color to pursue education.

“There aren’t a lot of role models that look like me; most children of color see the only way to success as getting rich through entertainment or sports,” she says.

“That’s a lottery, whereas education is the reality. I want to be the role model for reality.”

The Shortens

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On the BEAT ALUMNUS NICHOLAS GARCIA STARTED REPORTING THE NEWS IN FOURTH GRADE AND HASN’T STOPPED SINCE. STORY CARA DEGETTE | PHOTO SARA HERTWIG

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Nicholas Garcia likes to tell the story about how he got bit by the journalism bug. He was in fourth grade when he started filing stories for a student-produced publication sponsored by his hometown newspaper, The Pueblo Chieftain.

His earliest stories included coverage of the grand opening of the Pueblo Children’s Museum, and speeches by Gen. Colin Powell and the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Garcia, now 31, received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from MSU Denver in 2011. While at the University, he was the managing editor of The Metropolitan, which was honored during his tenure as one of the top 25 student publications in the country.

He was a recipient of the prestigious Persina Scholarship, awarded by the National Press Club to students committed to bringing diversity to American journalism. And he was a contributing editor of the Gayzette, a now-defunct newspaper catering to Denver’s LGBTQ community.

After college, Garcia became associate publisher and editor of Out Front, Colorado’s oldest and largest LGBTQ news magazine. He held that position for three years. “It was such a privilege to be able to report and write about LGBTQ issues in Denver, during such a critical time in the fight for civil unions,” he says.

The fact that journalists can specialize in LGBTQ topics as a full-time job – not only for niche publications but also in the mainstream – speaks volumes about how far society has progressed, Garcia says.

When Garcia departed Out Front, it was to jump into another reporting specialty that he believes is critically important: education.

He’s currently the deputy bureau chief for the online news organization Chalkbeat Colorado, which specializes in education issues. He covers the state legislature and Colorado Department of Education. He is struck by the number of public schools and districts across the state that are struggling.

“So many knobs are broken, and people are trying to fix all those knobs,” he says. “Chalkbeat’s role is to help inform the debate on how to improve the nation’s schools.”

In the fall of 2014, Garcia returned to MSU Denver to teach a course on journalism tactics and techniques. He shows students how to differentiate between good and bad journalism – something more important than ever.

In an era of declining traditional media and the rise of online news sites, Garcia notes that it can be hard to know where to look for quality journalism. It’s also critical that students get their hands into the mix. “You’ve got to do journalism to learn journalism,” he says.

Doing journalism has rarely translated to the high salary that comes with other jobs in the field of communications. This is particularly true in an era when traditional newspapers continue to experience financial uncertainties. Garcia admits that sometimes, “there’s a little voice in me that thinks, wow, having a six-figure salary would be nice.”

“But there are too many stories yet to tell,” he says. “When there are no more stories to tell, that’s when I’ll stop doing journalism.”

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She enrolled in a suburban community college, in large part because she was intimidated to study downtown. A year later, she transferred to MSU Denver. To make ends meet, she took a temp job at the Colorado Department of Transportation.

If you’ve ridden the bus or light rail in Denver, then you know Heather McKillop’s work.

DESPITE SIGNIFICANT ROADBLOCKS, THIS ALUMNA REACHED HER DESTINATION: TODAY, SHE’S THE CFO OF RTD. STORY DAN VACCARO | PHOTO SARA BEETS

While she doesn’t drive the vehicles, she is a driving force behind the scenes at Denver’s Regional Transportation District, or RTD, as it’s known locally.

As the chief financial officer and assistant general manager of finance and administration, McKillop is responsible for the financial sustainability and administrative functioning of metro Denver’s rapidly expanding public transit system.

And while RTD has a reputation for smooth service, McKillop’s own trip to the C-suite hasn’t come without its share of roadblocks.

McKillop had a child at 17, shortly after graduating from high school in 1984. Despite stellar grades and big ambitions, the small-town Wyoming native recalls feeling lost.

“When I got pregnant, I felt like my life was kind of over,” she said. “I was close to becoming a statistic. I can honestly say that college saved me.”

McKillop moved to Denver a few months later with a clear goal: to get a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

In the end, it took her 11 years to get that bachelor’s degree. She got married during that time, became the mother of three stepchildren and continued to work full time for the state.

“I picked classes based on the skills I needed to move up at my job,” she said. “I kept getting promoted, and those responsibilities, plus being a mother of four, made me move slower than most students. But MSU Denver never gave up on me. It was the only school for me.”

McKillop graduated in 1996. Two years later, the young woman who started as a temp worker, intimidated by the big city, became the CFO of CDOT. She was only 31 years old.

McKillop has worked for multiple organizations since, for the most part in the transportation sector. She started at RTD in 2015.

The best part of her current job: “I get to go out every day and see buses run, trains run, and know that I’m a part of providing a good service. I take a lot of pride in that.”

As someone who has arrived at her destination, McKillop is often asked by young people for advice on reaching their career goals.

She always tells them the same thing: “Education is the key. That’s what saved me.

Finish high school, then college. Give yourself a goal, take it step by step, class by class, and never give up.”

THE VERDICT IS IN:

THIS POLITICAL SCIENCE ALUM LEAVES

AN IMPRESSION IN THE COURTROOM

AND THE COMEDY CLUB.

STORY DOUG MCPHERSON | PHOTO CRYSTAL ALLEN

Laugh-maker. Litigator.

Troy Walker has a great job: He makes people laugh.

The MSU Denver alum is a star stand-up comedian and budding actor.

Walker got started with comedy around the age of 10, when he’d re-enact scenes from “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” [the 1994 comedy starring Jim Carrey]. By his junior year at Denver’s South High School, he was serious enough to call local comedy clubs and offer his services.

“They said I had to be 21, so the dream was deferred for a while.”

Deferred maybe, but the 2008 political science graduate says his time at MSU Denver helped cement his comedy career. For starters, the University was downtown – the comedy scene only a stone’s throw away.

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“I started doing stand-up as a junior at MSU Denver, in the heart of the city’s comedy scene,” he says. “This is where it started for me, and I never stopped.”

What’s more, MSU Denver also helped Walker build the foundation for one heck of a backup plan if the comedy thing doesn’t pan out: law.

“I found my academic interests here. I started as a theater major, but switched to political science because it was so interesting. I enjoyed the classes … I had an aptitude for them.”

Walker admits he hadn’t thought about law school until professors started suggesting it. “I came into college as a South High slacker and emerged as a beautiful butterfly with a full-ride scholarship to a great law school at the University of Denver. So, there’s no way I’d be where I am today without MSU Denver. It can take some of the credit or the blame, depending on how you feel about my act.”

Roadrunner.

Regardless of who likes his act, he loves his life. It’s clearly a fun one.

When Walker is not on the comedy stage, he’s trying to get on another stage: the acting kind. He’s been auditioning for the last two years in California and has landed in a PetSmart commercial with actress Jane Lynch. He’s performed stand-up on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” and appeared on several cable shows. On the Fusion Network, he played CNN’s host, Don Lemon, in a Trump versus Bernie skit. And he even had his own show that he wrote and starred in on Comedy Central’s Snapchat discover channel.

“But for right now, I’m a full-time comedian,” he says.

“No day job. It’s pretty sweet … most days I eat cake for breakfast.”

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Brad Hiatt describes his personal philosophy as “pura vida.” It’s a Spanish phrase he learned in Costa Rica, which translates as “pure life.”

Weissmann was so impressed by Hiatt’s presentation, he offered the then-college student a summer job. Of course, a recommendation from Hancock didn’t hurt either.

“As a concept, it can mean many things,” he said, “but I take it to mean that life is good. I love life.”

Hiatt graduated in 2015 with a degree in biology and afterwards traveled to Costa Rica for a nine-month internship. While there, he studied moths and led insect identification activities.

And it just might be that attitude – a passion for seeing the good in things – that makes him especially suited for his job as an entomologist.

Yes, Hiatt works with bugs. And yes, he loves it.

His path to this unique (read: creepy-crawly) career started with a course in animal behavior taught by MSU Denver Associate Professor of Biology Robert “Bob” Hancock, Ph.D. Hiatt got hooked on the subject and his professor’s enthusiasm, so followed it up with an entomology course also taught by Hancock.

Hiatt soon realized he wanted to take what he was learning in school to the next level through intensive research.

Hancock suggested several topics and Hiatt took the bait.

He began to study mosquitos, which he says “turned him into a lab rat his entire senior year.” But the hard work also came with travel benefits – he presented his research at mosquito control conferences in Moab, Utah, and New Orleans.

At the Moab conference, Hiatt made an important connection – Michael Weissmann, Ph.D., chief entomologist at Colorado Mosquito Control.

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He got back from Costa Rica in time for mosquito season and returned to work at Colorado Mosquito Control. As the end of the season approached, Weissmann recommended him for a job at Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium in Louisiana.

Today, Hiatt works as an entomologist at the “bug zoo,” teaching visitors about insects such as butterflies, beetles and cockroaches and vertebrates like fish, birds and alligators.

He also takes care of the creatures. And while handling bug guts and weird animal secretions can be gross, he hardly notices. Instead, he chooses to focus on the beauty of each insect.

“Maybe that’s why I study them, because they’re such small, beautiful creatures,” he said. “For example, mosquitos are very beautiful in their coloration. They can be an incredible purple and gold, but no one ever sees that because they say, ‘Ah, mosquitos bite me!’ It’s all one thing. No. You take a moment to look at some of the smallest things, and you can find beauty and happiness, even in the ugliest and craziest parts of life. That’s ‘pura vida.’”

Brad loves BUGS … and life WHILE MOST PEOPLE TRY TO AVOID INSECTS, THIS BIOLOGY ALUM HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO STUDYING THE ‘SMALL, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.’ STORY RACHEL BRUNER | PHOTO ZACK LEMANN

C

FRIENDLY CHATS?

SHARED ADVICE? THIS TEAM HAS COMPLETELY

UPENDED THE LOW

EXPECTATIONS OF THE

COLD-CALL INDUSTRY. STORY MARK COX | PHOTO SARA HERTWIG

Call centers are horrible places, right?

You know the kind of thing. Soul-sucking vacuums filled with unhappy workers who don’t want to be there, calling people who don’t want to speak to them, to ask for things they probably won’t get.

That’s certainly the popular perception.

And for the most part, it’s probably a deserved reputation. After all, who among us hasn’t been annoyed at some point by one of those unsolicited bringgg-ing calls (which, bizarrely, always seems to happen while you’re in the shower)?

CALLING

But now a resourceful team in Denver has completely reimagined the whole concept of the call center and transformed it into something much more targeted and userfriendly. And, well, just nicer.

GENUINE BOND Ripping up the old rule book, the call center at MSU Denver does everything differently. First, it only contacts alumni of the University – people who already have a vested interest in the place.

ALL Roadrunners

Second, it is staffed exclusively by student callers, which is something alumni love. (Many say it’s like getting a call from their younger selves.) But here’s the really clever part: The MSU Denver call center puts its focus squarely on building relationships with graduates – sharing stories, giving updates, even getting advice – rather than just asking for donations.

Bre Milnes, call center manager, explains: “It’s so important for us to build a genuine bond with our former students, and we recognize the huge value of that. If people also want to donate that’s great, but it’s definitely not the point of the call.”

Even among universities, this is a slightly radical approach. As if to prove the point, Milnes recalls: “Someone from my old university called recently and basically said: ‘Hey, you were a student-athlete! So am I. Will you make a donation?’ That’s not how we do things here.”

SHARED EXPERIENCE So, instead of a simple fundraising ask, callers invite graduates to share their own memories of university life and tell them all the latest news about campus life. Calls aren’t rushed. Often, students will speak to alumni who did their own degree. Understandably, there are lots of “Hey, you’re doing my dream job. How did you get there?” conversations.

It’s not hard to see how such an approach might work well. Alumni love to pass on their knowledge, while the students’ anecdotes and updates provide a link back to fondly remembered times.

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“I HONESTLY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I’D BE NOW IF I HADN’T DONE THIS. IT HAS BEEN A HUGE LEARNING CURVE AND COMPLETELY LIFE-CHANGING. I CAN’T IMAGINE NOT BEING HERE.”

— Taylor Atkinson, creative writing student

Creative writing student Taylor Atkinson is assistant manager at the center. He’s always struck by how willing alumni are to engage with callers: “We get an overwhelmingly positive response – unless we call on Broncos game night or something terrible like that! I find, if someone picks up the phone, they’re generally happy to talk.”

He is also emphatic about the value of pumping former students for tips and information. Atkinson says, “I always ask them: ‘What do you wish someone had told you at my age?’ That really gets them opening up.”

And when graduates open up, students get to mine a rich seam of useful knowledge – about leadership, interview techniques, teamwork, even how to negotiate office politics. In many respects, talking to experienced graduates gives the callers an invaluable sneak peek into their own future professional lives.

CONSTANT SURPRISES These conversations also bring tangible benefits. Random calls have resulted in internship offers. One recent chat led to a caller meeting an alumnus for coffee and ultimately helping out at his nonprofit.

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And don’t forget the fun element. Once a rapport has been established, conversations can swirl off in all kinds of quirky directions and students never know what they’re going to hear next.

“Put it this way,” Atkinson says. “I’ve learned more about plumbing in the past three years than I ever expected. And if anyone needs to know how to get tree roots out of sewers, I’m their man.”

In fact, for Atkinson the whole experience has been transformative. He says, “I honestly have no idea where I’d be now if I hadn’t done this. It has been a huge learning curve and completely lifechanging. I can’t imagine not being here.”

ONE BIG FAMILY But while it’s great that both the students and graduates are having such a good time, you may be wondering: What about the bottom line? After all, isn’t this – once all the warm, fluffy stuff is accounted for – meant to be a fundraising enterprise? First: not exactly.

(The team does take the outreach aspect of their role very seriously.) And second, it turns out that doing the right thing does, literally, pay.

Despite its almost anti-business model, and in spite of all those long conversations about campus and careers (and removing tree roots from sewers), guess what’s happening? Last year, the call center reached more people and brought in more money than ever.

Why? It’s basic human nature: People are more likely to support something they care about, and which they believe values their input. Atkinson puts it nicely: “We always say: It’s not about the dollars; every conversation counts. And a great conversation is its own reward.”

This is the grand irony. By putting fundraising at the bottom of the priority pile, they’re actually bringing in more money. And that’s because people tend to remember a friendly call from the student team at MSU Denver. It reminds alumni that they’re valued and appreciated. It tells them they’re still needed.

More than anything, it lets them know one thing: They’re still part of the Roadrunner family.

People Alumni News + Notes 1984

Susan (Skorupa) Mullen (B.A. journalism and technical communication ’84) recently retired from the Reno Gazette-Journal after working 27 years as a features and business reporter. Mullen previously worked for College Press Service, the Rocky Mountain Business Journal and the Columbia Tribune.

She is married to Frank Mullen (B.A. journalism and technical communication ’79), who also is a Reno Gazette-Journal retiree.

1991

Albert Proctor (B.S. manufacturing engineering technology ’91) is the president of ALTAN Group Inc., a manufacturing investment company in Augusta, Georgia. Proctor has spent more than 25 years working for some of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, including in the automotive, appliance, wood and plastic industries.

1994

Lisa Roy (B.A. psychology ’94) is the executive director of early childhood education at Denver Public Schools. In her new role, Roy plans to partner with the community to drive implementation of the Birth to Eight Roadmap, an initiative that aims to support children from birth to 8 years old. Roy received an Ed.D. in leadership for educational equity with an emphasis in executive leadership from the University of Colorado Denver in May 2016. She is a proud mother of three children and proud grandmother of three grandchildren.

Anne Stanwick (B.A. English ’94) is an affiliate faculty member of communication studies at MSU Denver.

1996

Tim Nave (B.S. aviation and aerospace science ’96) is the regional sales director of Jeppesen, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Nave has been with the company for more than 20 years. He currently looks after top-tier commercial airline customers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, FedEx Express, Air Canada, SkyWest, ExpressJet and Delta Private Jets.

1997

Alejandra Munoz-Hetler (B.A. speech communication ’97) is a part-time news writer for KABC in California. After graduating from MSU Denver, Munoz-Hetler received an entry-level job as a TV news reporter for a Univision affiliate in Monterey, California, and has been working in the broadcast journalism industry since. Her 20 years in the industry includes newscast producing for CBS and Fox affiliates in Salinas, California; for CBS affiliate KLAS in Las Vegas; and for Fox owned-and-operated WOFL in Orlando, Florida. Munoz-Hetler currently works part time while raising her two sons with her husband of eight years.

She credits MSU Denver’s internship program as a stepping stone into the industry.

2001

Matthew Maher (B.S. aviation technology ’01) is a U.S. Navy science and technology deputy chief in the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command. He is a subject matter expert on counter unmanned aircraft systems and directed energy and advises the combatant commander on all air domain matters.

Maher has earned multiple unit and personal awards, including two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and three Strike Flight Air Medals during the Iraq War. During his time at MSU Denver, Maher was a member of the flight team and competed at the national level. After graduating from Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy.

In Navy Flight School, he earned his Wings of Gold and was a distinguished graduate.

As a senior pilot, he was hand-selected for numerous prestigious assignments, including performing the first basic fighter maneuvers in a Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic-warfare aircraft training flight against a Slovakian Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jet, and briefing Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, on the EA-18G’s capabilities. He was inducted into Ponderosa High School’s Hall of Fame in April 2016.

Maher is a sought-after keynote speaker at various aviation and military organizations.

SHARE YOUR NEWS Email your class notes to magazine@msudenver.edu

2002

Silvana Montero (B.A. modern languages ’02) is the owner and designer of Bicibits, a women’s bicycle and apparel line. While finishing her degree at MSU Denver, Montero became a Spanish teacher. She then moved to New Mexico and received certifications in teaching K-8, dual language and teaching English to speakers of other languages.

She worked on her master’s degree in special education while teaching a third-grade dual-language class and a third-grade bilingual, all-inclusive class. While training for a bike ride, Montero sustained a brain injury, which caused her to retire from teaching.

A portion of Bicibits’ profits are donated to traumatic brain injury awareness and survivor programs.

2003

Joy Carol Davidson (B.A. modern languages ’03) is celebrating one year of working as a certified nursing assistant at Encompass Hospice of Colorado. Davidson says she is “called to work with older adults, especially those affected by brain failure and those reaching the end of their lives.” She is considering furthering her education as either a nurse or a chaplain.

Tarah Kent (B.A. English ’03) is an officer of grants and contracts management at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle.

2004

Manuel Martinez (B.S. journalism and technical communication ’04) is a telecommunications provisioning technician at Comcast Business in Centennial, Colorado.

2008

Amy Middleton (B.A. art ’08) is the director of social work student services at MSU Denver.

2011

Zechariah Papp (B.S. aviation technology ’11) is the airport manager of the Harriet Alexander Field Airport in Salida, Colorado.

2012

Keith Crowe (B.A. management marketing ’12) is a project manager at Food Donation Connection in Knoxville, Tennessee. Food Donation Connection coordinates surplus food donations from major restaurants, convenience and grocery chains to send to local food pantries and soup kitchens. Crowe oversees retail convenience and grocery donors and works with business development to recruit new donors and help them get set up with the program.

2014

Heather Ward (B.S. biology ’14) is a surveillance laboratory technician at Colorado Mosquito Control, where she identifies mosquitos in light traps for pest control. She also identifies mosquito samples nationwide and from Puerto Rico for the National Ecological Observatory Network for population studies.

Ward is currently studying for a master’s degree in microbiology at Colorado State University.

2015

Joseph Abeyta (B.S. biology ’15) is a laboratory technician at Schryver Medical in Denver. Abeyta thanks the Alumni Association for helping him land his “dream job” after interviewing with multiple companies.

To give back to the University for the help he received, he plans to join eVisors, a new alumni networking and mentoring platform that helps alumni and current Roadrunners find jobs through career preparation tips and professional webinars.

Kathryn Steinmann (B.S. earth and atmospheric sciences ’15) is working toward a master’s degree in meteorology at San Jose State University in California. .

2016

Ariadma Segura (Individualized Degree Program ’16) is a citizenship coordinator at Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition in Denver.

Kyle Van Horn (B.S. management ’16) is a personal banker at Wells Fargo.

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the

FINALWORD One last chat with the man, the myth, the chief Roadrunner.

STORY CORY PHARE | PHOTO MARK WOOLCOTT Over the past 12 years, Stephen M. Jordan, Ph.D., has made an indelible impact on both MSU Denver and Colorado. With his June retirement fast approaching, we sat down with Dr. J for one last chat. It was a chance to reflect on his time at the University and talk about some of his proudest moments, post-retirement plans and what it means to be a Roadrunner.

You have a well-deserved reputation for hard work. So are you really retiring? What are your post-presidential plans?

With all that you’ve accomplished over the past 12 years, what are you proudest of?

I’ve had a number of offers to join higher ed consulting and search firms; I’ll probably do one of those. You know, I’ve met a lot of people over the course of my career, particularly because of the roles I’ve played as chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and chair of Division II of the NCAA. I think I can be helpful to other institutions in those kinds of transformational changes.

First and foremost, the position we took as a university to support undocumented students. That was courageous on the part of our Board of Trustees, and obviously, our faculty felt very strongly and were at the forefront of it statewide. The emotion that was in that room [on the day of the ASSET bill’s signing], the excitement, the number of community members; that was pretty moving. ...

Second, I think the chance to rebuild the faculty and add a net increase of more than 200 full-time, tenure/tenure-track positions from the finest universities in the country will have a lasting impact on the University and the community for a very long time.

The third is what I believe is the result of rebuilding the faculty, and that is to see the increase in our retention and graduation rates. When I arrived here, we had a 56 percent first-time, freshman retention rate; this year, it was 72 percent.

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[Laughs] I really have committed to my wife that I’m going to take six months off and not do anything. I tease that I’m going to spend six months pursuing making the senior PGA tour, and then at the end of that period, I’m going to get realistic.

What went into your decision to retire at the end of June?

I told the board that I had been either the head of a state system or the president of a university for 24 years. That’s 24 years of nights and weekends. I felt like I had laid out a 10-year vision; we’d been here 12 years and had made such improvement in the University, and that maybe it was a good time for someone to come in with a new vision, someone who could take what we had done and then build on top of that moving forward.

Speaking of, when you wake up on July 1, what are you thinking?

Well, obviously, it’s going to be “I don’t have to get up and get on the Boulder Turnpike.”

[Laughs] There’s a lot of emotion about this … I think there’ll be a little melancholy going on that day, but I also think it’ll be an opportunity for me to start doing some things I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

What does it mean to be a Roadrunner?

It’s the life our students lead. You know, I get really mad at policymakers at both the state and federal level whose measure of positive persistence and success is someone who graduates in four or six years.

I look at our students in terms of that Roadrunner experience: going to work, raising a family, going to school, persisting over a much longer period of time, never giving up. The number of students that I have had who say to me on the [commencement] stage they are walking across, “Dr. Jordan, it took me 15 years to get here;” to me, that’s persistence. That is a true Roadrunner.

LISTEN to the entire in-depth conversation, which includes how Dr. J got his nickname, what kind of beer he drinks and which person in history he’d like to have dinner with at: insider. msudenver.edu/jordan-finalword.

People In Memory 1970s

Priscilla DeJulio Lehman (B.S. management marketing ’73) March 2016

1980s

Rebecca Clowers (B.S. accounting ’85) May 2016

2000s

Theodore M. Fish (B.F.A ceramics ’01) March 2017 Jessica Robson (B.S. criminal justice and criminology ’05) October 2016

2010s

Tyler Marchant Despres was a behavioral science senior who wanted to become a teacher.

He was the co-founder of the popular Denver bands Science Partner and Gin Doctors. He died in November 2016 and was awarded a posthumous degree in December.

Mike Mueller (B.A. journalism and technical communication ’16) October 2016 Patrick Steven Murphy (B.A. psychology ’16) November 2016 Brittiney Sierra (B.A. hospitality, tourism and events ’15) was interested in the business side of the hospitality industry. She was the recipient of the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Outstanding Student Award and the College of Professional Studies Outstanding Student Award for the 2014-15 academic year. Sierra was also a fellow of the Rita and Navin Dimond Program and a recipient of the prestigious Benjamin A. 32

Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad programs. She died in October 2016.

Faculty and Staff

Charlene Alexis was the first librarian in MSU Denver history.

She died in December 2016.

Eric Ball was a professor of chemistry until his death in October 2016.

Ball was a colleague, mentor and friend to many across campus. He was seen as a pillar of the MSU Denver community, an advocate, and above all else, a passionate and exceptional teacher and educator.

Robert “Bob” Breitenbach served as a management professor for more than 34 years until his death in January 2017 at the age of 72.

Breitenbach’s service to the University included time as a department chair and as a member of countless committees. He was a key figure in developing the entrepreneurship program.

Perhaps most importantly, he was known as a generous listener and for sharing his considerable expertise in case law with students. He provided thoughtful comments and advice to his colleagues, students and all who knew him.

Lesley Hathorn was an associate professor of psychology until her death in August 2016.

Hathorn was seen as an inspiring and dedicated research mentor, who modeled intellectual curiosity and disciplined thinking and worked tirelessly for her students. She was known to meet with students late into the evening to help them tackle a difficult problem, to analyze

SPRING 2017

their data or to prepare their presentations. In October 2016, she was posthumously awarded the Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research Leadership Award by the Applied Learning Center.

Madison Holloway was assistant chair and a professor in the Management Department until his death in November 2016.

Holloway was known on campus for his generous spirit and strong commitment to students. He was a pioneer in researching and teaching workforce diversity, and he served on numerous committees at MSU Denver focused on developing a more inclusive campus for students. He was a regular at commencements and sporting events, and relished the chance to serve as an advisor.

Former President Paul Magelli served as president of MSU Denver, then Metropolitan State College, from 1985-88. He died in December 2016 at the age of 85.

During his time at MSU Denver, Magelli showed great dedication to the growth of a still young university. He believed that all students, faculty, staff and community members needed to have pride in the college in order for it to grow. He was a strong and determined man. Despite being diagnosed with a heart problem in his 40s, he decided to challenge his condition and train to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro when he was 79. Magelli had been working as a professor and senior director of the College of Business at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign until his death.

Former Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rodolfo Rocha retired from MSU Denver in 2007.

He died in June 2016.

Rocha dedicated his career to the betterment of academia and the advancement of Latinos in higher education. Prior to his time at MSU Denver, he was a faculty member of his alma mater Pan American University, later called the University of Texas-Pan American, for nearly 30 years.

While at UTPA, Rocha chaired its History Department and served as associate dean and dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

He was chosen to be UTPA’s first American Council on Education fellow and later as the first Kellogg MSI Leadership fellow. He served as curator of the Rio Grande Valley Historical Collection and on the Texas Council for the Humanities.

His scholarly work includes editing the volume “Mexican Americans in Texas History: Selected Essays.”

Allan Rosenbaum was an assistant professor of accounting for nearly 10 years until his death in August 2016.

Harold “Hal” Zimbelman served various roles as a faculty member in both the Civil Engineering Technology Department and the Electrical Engineering Department from 1974 until his retirement in 2012. He died in September 2016.

While at MSU Denver, Zimbelman helped design structures for use in space and civil engineering.

He was known as a challenging, but passionate instructor, who stressed the value of safety in design. He was a licensed professional engineer, and students who followed the same path loved his insight – he enthusiastically shared his professional experience with them. Zimbelman received three awards from NASA and one from the then-Martin Marietta Corporation for his work involved in the NASA Skylab Mission.

BE A CHAMPION

MSU Denver Champions are passionate supporters willing to serve as advocates to inform and influence public-policy decisions that impact the University.

As a champion, you’ll get email updates and information about issues, events and other opportunities to get involved. msudenver.edu/champions

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit 2965 Denver, CO

Campus Box 86 P.O. Box 173362 Denver, CO 80217

June 10, 2017 6:30 p.m.

Auraria Campus Student Success Building Lawn

This year, we celebrate President Stephen M. Jordan and his wife, Ruthie, and their 12-year legacy of leadership, access and innovation at MSU Denver.

MSU Denver’s annual fundraiser, the Summer Soirée, celebrates the University’s milestone accomplishments in and around the Denver community. Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to a fund in Steve and Ruthie Jordan’s name to provide educational access and support to students.

Learn more or buy tickets: msudenver.edu/summersoiree