RED Magazine Spring 2022 by Metropolitan State University of Denver

THE

M AG A Z I N E | SPRING 2022

also:

HEAT IS ON Inside the tourism industry’s battle with a rapidly escalating climate crisis.

SALES CAREERS MARIACHI MUJER CAREER LAUNCHPAD

M E T R OP OL I TA N STAT E UN I V E R S I TY OF DEN VER

Colorado-flavored news and culture from MSU Denver

CONTENTS SPRING 2022 | red.msudenver.edu

FEATURES

The heat is on

Inside the tourism industry’s battle with a rapidly escalating climate crisis.

See yourself in sales

How MSU Denver is helping students envision themselves in a new-look profession.

On the bus to a better future

Mobile preschool is a vehicle for change in the journey to equitable early childhood education.

First word

News

Mariachi mujer

Alumna Marialuisa Meza-Burgos is a pioneering voice in Denver’s mariachi revolution.

Rarefied air

As Colorado Air and Space Port director, alumnus Jeff Kloska shapes the state’s aerospace future.

Powering public schools

Alumna Xóchitl (Sochi) Gaytán fights for educational equity as president of Denver’s school board.

Roadrunners

In memory

Home is where your heart is

Alumna Sandra Reisman helps clients navigate solid ground.

on the cover:

Illustration by Hugh Syme

RED MAGAZINE | S P R I N G 2022

ALYSON McCLARAN

housing insecurity and get their feet on

Practice of champions Dagmar Kress (left), coach of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Aerobatic Flight Team, and Aerospace Sciences student Haley Jo Brinson discuss flight preparations at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport. The highflying team was awarded the 2021 Collegiate National Championship in January, beating out the second-place U.S. Air Force Academy. It’s the squad’s third title in five years, with the Roadrunners also having won in 2017 and 2019. They finished as national runners-up in 2016, the club’s first year of competing, and again in 2018. In addition to the team championship, Roadrunners Ryan Tierney and Roger Austin earned individual honors. SP R ING 2 02 2 | RED MAGAZINE

EDITOR-IN- CHIEF

John Arnold MANAGING EDITOR

Tackling today’s big issues Among the challenges of higher education is the need to prepare students over the course of a few years for four-decade careers. At Metropolitan State University of Denver, we’re fortunate to have forward-thinking faculty members in programs that prepare our graduates not just for entry-level jobs in rapidly changing industries but for long-term success in Colorado’s dynamic workforce. Take the tourism industry, for example, which is facing multiple widespread challenges that will shape the future of the profession. Climate change dictates the terms of Colorado’s outdoor recreation, as locals and visitors have experienced with our parks closing because FIRST WORD of wildfires and our resorts delaying seasonal openings due to snow shortages. The pandemic also changed our travel frequency, igniting an incidental climate experiment that shined a light on the consequences of our transportation habits and causing the tourism industry to rethink the environmental impacts of how it operates. Reckoning with the effects of climate change and Covid-19 has included reduced access to recreation in the name of social distancing, conservation or scarcity of opportunities. When we scale back access, even to help preserve the natural wonders that draw people from around the globe to Colorado, we aggravate the inequality that influences so many facets of our society. As you’ll see in our feature story on the tourism industry’s battle with the climate crisis, our faculty, students and alumni are tackling these challenges with characteristic Roadrunner tenacity and the long game in mind. Tomorrow’s tourism is in good hands. In this issue, you will also read about Roya Brown, the MSU Denver alumna whose innovative approach to

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education redefines meeting students where they are. Colorado has emphasized early childhood education in recent years, including scaling up resources to offer universal preschool by 2023. But there isn’t enough space for all of Colorado’s 4-year-olds to go to school, and not every family has the means to take children to school even if the cost is covered by the state. So Brown founded a nonprofit that takes a mobile classroom to under-resourced neighborhoods in Aurora. Her entrepreneurial spirit solved a problem and established a blueprint for expansion, too. You will also read about the new Career Launchpad at MSU Denver, which can help anyone — regardless of where they are in their career or academic journey — bolster their job-seeking credentials. The Career Launchpad offers self-paced introductory online courses in high-demand fields such as health care and cybersecurity. Students can earn digital badges for the courses they complete or convert those classes to college credit on their way to a certificate or degree, helping Roadrunners continue to propel themselves forward in the workforce and make a difference in our world. Like Roya Brown and her mobile preschool, MSU Denver strives to meet students where they are and take them where they want to go. I hope you enjoy reading about Roadrunners like her who are shaping their industries for the better.

Dan Vaccaro ART DIRECTOR

Scott Surine P U B L I C AT I O N D E S I G N E R

Aldrich Design COPY EDITORS

Marcus Chamberland Cliff Foster EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Debora Gilliard, professor of Management Brian Gunther, communications manager, School of Education Jamie Hurst, assistant vice president of Strategic Engagement Steve Juliff, communications specialist, School of Hospitality Sam Ng, professor of Meteorology Lynne Winter, assistant director of Advancement Communications Kip Wotkyns, professor of Journalism RED Magazine is published three times a year by the Metropolitan State University of Denver Office of University Communications and Marketing. © 2022 Metropolitan State University of Denver. All rights reserved. Send correspondence and address updates to magazine@msudenver.edu. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of Metropolitan State University of Denver or imply endorsement by its

Sincerely,

officers or by the MSU Denver Alumni Association. MSU Denver does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age,

JANINE DAVIDSON, Ph.D.

President, Metropolitan State University of Denver

sexual orientation or disability in admissions or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs or activities.

NEWS

ALYSON McCLARAN

Hill speaks on Putin, foreign policy Foreign policy expert Fiona Hill, Ph.D., said Russian President Vladimir Putin is distorting history to achieve his personal goals. Hill joined Janine Davidson, Ph.D., president of Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Daniel KurtzPhelan, editor of Foreign Affairs magazine, in March for a discussion about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the underlying conditions that create space for geopolitical conflicts. Hill stressed the importance of education and studying history to prevent powerful people from creating false narratives of current events. “If we don’t know our history, including American history and European history, we fall for it when people in Orwellian fashion try to make use of it,” she said.

red.msudenver.edu

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Secretary of Labor on campus to celebrate apprenticeship funding U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visited Metropolitan State University of Denver in February to participate in a roundtable discussion on the role apprenticeships play in advancing student learning and economic opportunity. Walsh’s appearance coincided with the Labor Department’s announcement of the Apprenticeship Building America grant program that will invest $113 million to grow diversity in registered apprenticeships. Of that funding, $50 million will support partnerships aimed at increasing enrollment in apprenticeship programs such as those available at MSU Denver. Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined Walsh to ask questions and learn the value of apprenticeships from students’ points of view.

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AMANDA SCHWENGEL

“President Biden sent me here purposely,” Walsh said, “because of the work that Sen. Bennet and Sen. Hickenlooper have done in creating pathways and opportunities for us to make further investments.” Students on the panel discussed how apprenticeships have helped them land job offers and explore new careers. Roman Anker, who’s majoring in Advanced Manufacturing, said his apprenticeship solidified his career path. What started as an apprenticeship at Lockheed Martin turned into a full-time job offer for after graduation. “Coming into the apprenticeship program, I knew I wanted to work in aerospace,” Anker said. “My apprenticeship at Lockheed really helped me propel my career.” Apprenticeships helped Karen Rosas discern the right career path. Rosas pursued apprenticeships in paralegal studies, optometry and dietetics, learning through experience that those fields weren’t the right fit for her. Now, she’s finishing her degree in Early Childhood Education. Despite their varying experiences, all of the students on the panel agreed that apprenticeships helped them gain a better understanding of their career fields. And they found real value in taking their educational experiences outside the classroom.

$113

million to grow diversity in registered apprenticeships

$50

million to support partnerships aimed at increasing enrollment in apprenticeship programs

“My apprenticeship at Lockheed really helped me propel my career.” — ROMAN ANKER, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING STUDENT

DESKCUBE/ISTOCK IMAGES

NEWS

AVIATION

Shorter runway to careers

Aviation student Declan Kreck MARK WOOLCOTT

Declan Kreck’s career will lift off a lot earlier than he originally thought, thanks to a new authorization that Metropolitan State University of Denver earned from the Federal Aviation Administration. Under the FAA’s Restricted Airline Transport Pilot authority, Kreck and other Aviation students at the University can apply for FAA Part 121 pilot jobs, including those with major and regional carriers, after they complete 1,000 hours of flight time instead of 1,500 hours. “The reduction in the time requirement lets me and pilots like me join the airline world at least two years before we could have otherwise,” said Kreck, a sophomore majoring in Aviation and Aerospace. The change will also be a boon to an airline industry still facing a serious pilot shortage. In the wake of the 2009 Colgan Air crash in New York, Congress increased the minimum number of flight training hours from 250 to 1,500 for pilots to fly commercial passenger airliners. However, the FAA allows graduates of authorized bachelor’s degree programs to obtain a Restricted Airline Transport License after 1,000 hours of flight training. “It’s the quality of the ground and flight training curriculum and coursework in those programs, where the FAA, after approval, allows for a reduction of time toward becoming an airline pilot,” said Chad Kendall, an associate professor in the University’s Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science. MSU Denver is the only four-year, brick-andmortar location in Colorado to have received R-ATP authorization. In the airline world, a pilot’s seniority number, or date of hire, impacts the time it takes to upgrade to captain and to move on to a major carrier, Kendall said. He added that it also affects monthly schedules, salary and vacation time. The new authorization starts the clock sooner for MSU Denver students. “This will in turn mean more student pilots coming to MSU Denver and provide a shortened pathway for those with dreams of being an airline pilot,” Kendall said.

“It’s the quality of the ground and flight training curriculum and coursework in those programs.” — CHAD KENDALL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND AEROSPACE SCIENCE

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NEWS

Unstoppable

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

Metropolitan State University of Denver in March announced its participation in the Amazon Career Choice Partner Network and welcomed eligible Amazon employees to attend the University. Career Choice is an education benefit that empowers Amazon employees to learn new skills for career success. The program meets individual learners where they are on their education journeys through a variety of skill-development opportunities. Some of these opportunities include full college tuition, industry certifications and foundational skills such as Englishlanguage proficiency. “Amazon and MSU Denver share a commitment to provide learners with best-in-class support on their path to career success,” said Will Simpkins, Ed.D., vice president of Student Affairs at MSU Denver. “This partnership is an important milestone in our University’s work to bridge learners and communities, industry and academics.” Through the Career Choice program, Amazon employees can earn credits toward a certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree. The initiative — WILL SIMPKINS, Ed.D., VICE launched in 2012, and more than PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS 50,000 Amazon employees have participated since its inception. “We’re looking forward to MSU Denver coming on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,” said Tammy Thieman, global program lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program. “We’re committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere.” Career Choice is available to hourly full-time and part-time employees who have worked at Amazon for at least 90 continuous days. Participants from within Colorado and all bordering states are welcome to pursue their studies at MSU Denver. Participating employees also have the flexibility to study online, in person or in one of the company’s Career Choice classrooms inside many of its Fulfillment Centers.

“ Amazon and MSU Denver share a commitment to provide learners with best-in-class support on their path to career success.”

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THE ARTIST/ISTOCK IMAGES

Delivering for Amazon employees

Metropolitan State University of Denver in January became the first four-year institution in the state to sign an agreement with the Colorado Community College System to provide stoppedout students with a path to an associate’s degree. The reverse-transfer articulation agreement makes MSU Denver students eligible to apply for an associate’s degree from the Community College System, provided they have stopped out for at least two semesters and completed at least 70 credit hours, with 15 or more of those credit hours achieved at a Colorado community college. The opportunity would apply only to students who have stopped out in the past 10 years and who have completed their General Studies requirements. “We know about one-third of our incoming students over the past five years meet the 15-credit minimum in the Community College System,” said Shaun T. Schafer, Ph.D., MSU Denver associate vice president of Curriculum, Academic Effectiveness and Policy Development. “What we will need to see now is how many of them would be aided by this opportunity and if it will serve as an incentive to return and complete a bachelor’s degree.” The agreement between the University and the Community College System is a result of House Bill 21-1330 and the Colorado Re-Engaged Initiative. The initiative is intended to provide encouragement for stopped-out students and additional credentialing for Coloradans as part of pandemic recovery efforts. A moment-in-time look at MSU Denver students who stopped out after the spring 2020 semester revealed that there are 117 Roadrunners who would be eligible to apply to the Community College System for an associate’s degree. “We are intrigued to see how many of those 117 students take advantage of this opportunity and how this influences their futures,” Schafer said.

SARA HERTWIG

Finish what you started Travis Broxton took his first college course in a degree, according to the National Student 1969, the same year Neil Armstrong walked on Clearinghouse. Such students are the focus the moon. Broxton completed of a statewide push to reengage seven semesters as a history adult learners who stopped out of major at Lincoln University but college as Colorado tries to meet ultimately came a semester its advanced workforce needs and short of a college degree for counter the economic disruptions financial reasons. of the pandemic. Grant money that will go After taking college classes MSU Denver recently received directly to students in the off and on throughout his long a $5.7 million Finish What You form of scholarships. corporate career, the 72-yearStarted grant from the Colorado old photographer earned a Opportunity Scholarship Initiative. bachelor’s degree in Art from Metropolitan The University intends to use that funding State University of Denver this past December. to serve adults with some college credit but The degree completed an academic journey who have not been enrolled for the past that spanned seven decades — one giant leap two semesters. Half of the grant money made of many small steps. will go directly to students in the form of “This has taken a long time, but we’re finally scholarships. Students will also be assigned a crossing the finish line and it’s very fulfilling to pathway navigator and peer mentors to help do that,” said Broxton. them reengage in school and be successful. Broxton is one of about 680,000 Megan Scherzberg, Ph.D., director of the Coloradans who left college without earning Orientation, Transfer and Reengagement

$2.85 million

“Everybody has to eat.”

STUDENT SUPPORT

Office at MSU Denver, said the University is working on several strategies to help students return to school and finish faster, including offering more college credit for work or military experience. “We need to identify innovative and flexible structures as it relates to options for students, specifically adult learners, to complete degrees,” she said.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to save students money and time and get them to degrees.” — MEGAN SCHERZBERG, Ph.D., DIRECTOR OF THE ORIENTATION, TRANSFER AND REENGAGEMENT OFFICE

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By Mark Cox

RED MAGAZINE | S P R I NG 2022

THE HEAT IS ON INSIDE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY’S BATTLE WITH A RAPIDLY ESCALATING CLIMATE CRISIS. now came really late to Colorado in 2021. As December rolled around — a time when the slopes are usually packed — skiers were left scratching their helmets at the dearth of available white stuff. Under record-high temperatures, four of Colorado’s ski resorts had to postpone their openings. Even worse, efforts to create artificial snow were hobbled by the fact that it was still borderline warm in the mountains. From a tourism perspective, it was a disaster in the making — until snow finally arrived at the turn of the year. But this is just the latest example of Colorado’s increasingly unusual climatic behavior, as evidenced recently by disappearing glaciers, diminishing water supplies and Boulder County’s horrific Marshall fire. The most worrying thing? The Centennial State’s snow troubles are only, well, the tip of the iceberg. BY M A R K C O X

I L L U S T R AT I O N BY H U G H SY M E

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GLOBAL CRISIS

SUSTAINABLE GOALS

Tourism is in trouble. Across the globe, once-unthinkable events such as sprawling wildfires at Mediterranean resorts, historic floods across Europe and prolonged droughts in the U.S. have become standard fodder for news programs. And things are likely to get worse, said Keah Schuenemann, Ph.D., professor of Meteorology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “There’s no doubt among the scientific community that the negative impacts of climate change will continue to ramp up as temperatures increase,” she said. Climatologists have grown weary of reciting grim statistics. Natural disasters quadrupled between 1970 and 2016. But for tour operators, the toughest pill to swallow may be that tourism now accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2018 study in Nature Climate Change. The culpability of tourism companies has been further highlighted during the pandemic, when a travel shutdown led to decreases in carbon emissions and stark improvements in natural habitats in popular tourist spots. Given such stark facts, how can the industry even begin to make things right?

Enter MSU Denver’s Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism program. Developed to capitalize on the outdoor tourism boom — which generated 4.3 million jobs and $689 billion in economic output in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce — the program comes with an ironclad set of planet-conscious principles. “We make sure that sustainable management and ethics are built into the foundations of all our courses,” said Lincoln Davie, Ph.D., assistant professor of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management. “Put simply, business is not relevant without a deep integration of these practices.” And while some travel and tourism companies glibly cite their “sustainable” credentials, the MSU Denver program actively packs its metaphorical suitcase with solid, measurable actions. For example, the industry has long sought to follow the “triple bottom line” business model, striking an equal balance among economic, cultural and environmental benefits. “Frankly, much has been written and spoken on this topic, without much action,” said Helle Sorensen, professor of Travel and Tourism Management at MSU Denver. “But our students are putting in the hard work to make such sustainable business goals a reality.”

“Last year, we were among the top-ranked places for air pollution. Our guests would arrive anticipating amazing mountain views, and we could barely see the hill in front of us.”

CHANGING PROSPECTS

MIKE RIES/ISTOCK IMAGES

— KATHRIN TROXLER, ASPIRE TOURS

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The warming climate has been especially tough on small tourism companies. Just ask Kathrin Troxler, an MSU Denver business graduate whose company, Aspire Tours, offers custom tours across the Rocky Mountain region. Or at least, it does when it can. “Wildfires closed Rocky Mountain National Park for a month in 2020,” Troxler said. “Then last year, we were among the top-ranked places for air pollution. Our guests would arrive anticipating amazing mountain views, and we could barely see the hill in front of us.” Undaunted, Troxler has based her whole business approach on ethical choices. The company doesn’t allow plastic water bottles and mandates sustainable packaging and carpooling. Aspire tour guides even educate about climate change. They regularly stop at two recent disaster sites and weave them into their overall narrative. Troxler is not alone. Others in the tourism industry have also begun to embrace change.

JOHN ARNOLD

Colorado ski areas are taking major steps to mitigate the impact of climate change through renewable energy and other sustainability efforts. Arapahoe Basin (pictured), for example, has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2025.

Recognizing that no individual organization can solve a systemic crisis, industry players have joined coalitions such as Protect Our Winters and the Outdoor Industry Association to lobby for decisive action. “The outdoor industry has become a powerful force in addressing climate change,” Davie said. “By working together, they have depoliticized environmental issues and learned to speak with a common voice, which significantly broadens their reach.”

REMOTE LEARNING With the climate clock ticking, the race is on to find more meaningful solutions. The United Nations World Tourism Organization is pushing hard for a range of sustainable development goals that will help build a more resilient future. And one of the organization’s best ideas is to put local communities at the forefront. “Megatourism operations tend to lack flexibility and don’t always channel enough benefits back to local people,” Davie said. “Placing a greater emphasis on community-driven management would ensure a more responsible pathway forward.” Perhaps nothing better sums up the challenges — and often, hypocrisy — of modern travel than the spectacle of “last-chance tourism.” Clearly, treading on crumbling coral reefs or stomping around dilapidated ruins is never a good idea. But Davie argues that more general growth of outdoor tourism in remote locations, which has become a real

economic powerhouse in recent years, could be a good thing. “I think that the positive experiences people increasingly enjoy in outdoor locations today will help cultivate more of a proenvironmental outlook for the years ahead,” he said.

FUTURE LESSONS If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that no one really knows what will happen next. “I suppose the big question for tourism, and the broader world as we know it, will be whether we can make sweeping societal changes quickly enough to prevent the worst of the environmental impacts,” Schuenemann said. For tourism, that will mean radically changing the approach of how, when and where people travel. And sometimes, it will mean not traveling at all. A decade ago, Schuenemann took climatology students on an Alaskan cruise. She said seeing the scale of glacial melt strongly affected them. But time and an increased understanding have changed her perspective. “Looking back, I don’t think our journey was worth the massive environmental impact of our ship,” she said. “I wouldn’t do that again now.”

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SEE YOUR SE L F I N

SA L E S HOW MSU DENVER IS HELPING STUDENTS ENVISION THEMSELVES IN A NEW-LOOK PROFESSION.

by Glavine Day / Illustration by Daniel Diosdado

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You would expect people to be clamoring to work in a field that offers excellent salaries, versatile roles and the opportunity to help people solve problems. So why is it so hard to find employees in sales?

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roles in the U.S. had grown by 65% to more than 700,000 open positions since bottoming out in the early stages of the pandemic. Another interesting fact: The nonprofit Sales Education Foundation estimates that 50% of U.S. college graduates, regardless of major, will take an initial job in sales. In other words, many college graduates end up in the profession — they just don’t know it from the outset. At MSU Denver, there are about 100 students taking sales classes, with only 14 seeking a professional selling major, 15 seeking a sales certificate and seven seeking a sales major. “Students in general don’t go to college because they want to be in sales,” said Tom Miller, lecturer in MSU Denver’s Department of Marketing. “But sometimes they discover sales as a viable career path.”

That’s the question — and quandary — at the heart of the work happening every day in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Center for Professional Selling. Based in the University’s Department of Marketing, the center and its associated degree program were developed to educate the next generation of sales professionals in a growing field. And the field is booming. In 2021, online employment portal ZipRecruiter found that the number of advertised sales MSU Denver Professor April Schofield lectures on the importance of consulting and educating customers during her Personal Selling Class on Feb. 28.

ABREHAM GEBREEGZIABHER

PERCEPTION PROBLEM

Brenda Rodriguez-Vera, an associate district manager and account specialist at Automatic Data Processing Inc., said the recruiting challenge is mainly one of perception. She recalls her hesitation to consider a career in sales while she was an undergraduate Business student at MSU Denver. “I’d always heard of the profession, but I had a specific image in my head on what a salesperson should look like,” the 2021 graduate said. “I did not want to be perceived that way.” Most people have run into at least one aggressive car salesman or manipulative telemarketer. This perception has also been played up in films such as Martin Scorsese’s

“Being a good listener, having empathy and being able to provide solutions are the foundational pieces.” — APRIL SCHOFIELD, DIRECTOR OF MSU DENVER’S CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL SELLING

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$132,290

“The Wolf of Wall Street.” The lack of He traveled to Houston in February to positive representation depresses interest in represent MSU Denver at a leadership summit the field, Miller said. hosted by wholesale product supplier ORS Nasco median annual salary But that outdated perception often Inc., with a goal of building a network of contacts for a sales manager doesn’t align with reality, he added. who might help him find a job after graduation. in 2020 Source: U.S. Department of Labor April Schofield, director of MSU Denver’s The job offer came sooner than anticipated. Center for Professional Selling, concurred. He’ll be working in inside sales for ORS Nasco Inc. She said today’s sales careers aren’t as much after he graduates in December. about high-pressure transactions, cold calls Rodriguez-Vera said the personal touch was or quotas but are about consulting with and a game-changer for her, too. As a Latina, firsteducating customers in fields as diverse as generation college student and Deferred Action open sales advertising, health care and real estate. And for Childhood Arrivals recipient, she needed some positions in the while salaries vary by position, the career is extra guidance on which path was best for her. U.S. in 2021 often a lucrative one. The U.S. Department She’d started going to school for the nutrition Source: ZipRecruiter of Labor reported in 2020 that the median field but was having second thoughts. An advising salary for a sales manager was $132,290 appointment in the Marketing Department per year. eventually helped her find the right fit. Schofield added that there is no longer a typical salesperson, And a class with Schofield led Rodriguez-Vera to an if there ever were one, and that successful salespeople come in internship with the Denver Nuggets, experience that would all styles and personality types. ultimately help her land a job with ADP, a provider of payroll “I think it’s a fallacy, the whole introvert/extrovert thing,” and human resources services. she said. “I wouldn’t attribute any of those to Rodriguez-Vera recalled some great advice being successful in sales. she once got from Miller as well. “People “I would say being a good listener, having buy from people they like,” he told her. The empathy and being able to provide solutions message has stuck with her. are the foundational pieces.” Schofield, Miller and the rest of their colleagues in the nationally lauded sales SELLING STUDENTS ON SALES program are doing their best to break down That personalized approach to sales manifests the misperceptions of their industry. Miller said in the program itself, said Alec Thomas one of the most effective tactics he’s found is (pictured right), an MSU Denver student who bringing successful students or alumni into the will graduate this year. classroom to speak about their experiences. “They look at each student and see where He said the key is spreading the word they would be good and where you may need about what sales is really like and how many help,” he said. “They don’t treat every student opportunities await students in the everthe same.” evolving field. Thomas is a Communications major who stumbled upon the “We help them discover that, teach them a few things, put Professional Selling program as he was considering a minor. His them up in front of the marketplace and cheer them on,” he father and oldest brother work in sales, so he thought he would said. “At this point, we’re batting 1.000. We just need more give it a shot. at-bats — and more students.” ALYSON McCLARAN

700,000

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50 o t nu c a e H“ s w on k eh d a , w on ”.t ebahpl si

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— KIMIKO JONES-WEBB

NEW MOBILE PRESCHOOL IS A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE IN THE JOURNEY TOWARD EQUITABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. by Doug McPherson Photos by Alyson McClaran

On the bus to a better future This bus doesn’t take kids to school. This bus is the school. The mobile classroom — complete with books, shelves, technology and even a bathroom — is a vehicle for change in early childhood education. And the driver of that change is Roya Brown, who founded the Colorado nonprofit You Be You Early Learning (YbY) in 2019. The teacher-led cooperative aims to make preschool education more equitable. And the blue bus is the latest addition to the organization’s wide array of services for families in under-resourced neighborhoods.

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“The two most important components of equity are access and affordability,” said Brown, who graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Math and a teaching certificate in Secondary Education. “YbY gives families in our community free access to educational opportunities and many resources that help to promote community resilience.” Brown’s work comes amid Colorado’s recent successes in bolstering early childhood

education. In November 2020, voters approved a universal preschool program that will offer each child 10 hours of early care and education per week in the year before they enter kindergarten. And this past November, Gov. Jared Polis unveiled Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood, aimed at making early childhood education more available. “We know that parents face difficulties at work due to the lack of child care,” Polis said

“Early childhood education providers are the backbone of the economy because they enable parents to work.” — ROYA BROWN

Roya Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a teaching certificate in Secondary Education from MSU Denver in 2000.

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during a ceremony at Aurora Public Schools’ Meadowood Child Development Center. “A single mom should be able to go on, finish her degree. We ought to remove the barriers from that.”

Success on wheels Brown’s achievements with YbY are a case study in how to remove those barriers. Last June, she partnered with the Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) to serve preschoolers in an apartment complex in the city’s Willow Park neighborhood. Residents there make only about 30% of the median average income in Aurora, according to the AHA. Brown said YbY had been considering a mobile classroom before the pandemic but had difficulty selling the idea to its stakeholders. After Covid hit, the community embraced the idea.

To date, YbY has served 48 preschoolers with its new bus. Brown plans to add another mobile classroom by the end of summer, with the longer-term goal of serving more than 350 students in 2023. Kimiko Jones-Webb said her 5-year-old grandson, Aarius, loves the mobile preschool. “He gets excited when it’s time to go,” said Jones-Webb. “He used to get distracted around the house, but he’s interested in what the teacher has to say. We can already tell his focus and attention span are better. And he’s learning, too. He can count to 50 now, and he knows his alphabet.” An added benefit, Jones-Webb said, is that Aarius’ mother works nights, so the preschool time allows Mom to catch up on some muchneeded sleep. The feedback Brown has received from families, as well as teachers, volunteers, community members and the AHA, has been overwhelmingly positive, validating the organization’s decision to expand. Brown added that she’s especially grateful for that momentum because the pandemic has been troublesome for the education industry. “Early childhood education providers are the backbone of the economy because they enable parents to work,” she said. “But many child care providers across the country had to close their doors since the start of Covid. They may not be able to reopen when parents need them the most.” That challenge is another reason why Colorado’s recent advancements in early childhood education and services are so essential, Brown said.

State of change Brandon Gilbert, assistant professor in MSU Denver’s School of Education, has also been impressed by the state’s improvements. During his career, he has taught in Illinois and New York, and he believes Colorado’s work in early childhood education outpaces both states. “I’m seeing a lot more resources and action being put forth in Colorado for early childhood

education,” he said. “There’s a big demand for early literacy, and Colorado is doing the right things to meet it.” Gilbert said including a champion of early childhood development in the governor’s Cabinet proves that Colorado is serious about children’s well-being, their education and their futures. “Research shows that children who go through preschool programs perform better socially and academically in kindergarten and

grade school,” he added. “Colorado will benefit from these efforts.” Brown, who has been in education for more than 20 years, agreed. She said Colorado is making “remarkable progress.” “The universal preschool program will save Coloradans money and transform social and educational landscapes for local families in a more equitable and inclusive way,” she said. And that means more of Colorado’s kids will be on the bus to a better future.

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S T O R Y P E Y TO N G A R C I A

P H OT O S A R A H E R T W I G

MARIACHI MUJER

ALUMNA MARIALUISA MEZA-BURGOS IS A PIONEERING VOICE IN DENVER’S REVOLUTION IN THE

Marialuisa Meza-Burgos grew up steeped in the beautiful sounds of her Chicano ancestry. Her father’s strummed Norteño tunes served as backdrop for her upbringing in Pueblo. Though music always played a role in her life, she remembers when it became her calling. “I was like 5 or 6, and we were at the Colorado State Fair,” she said. “There was this woman singing Selena songs, and she invited all the little kids on stage. When she noticed I was singing, she handed me the microphone for a couple seconds. I thought, ‘This is so cool. I want to do this.’” From that day forward, it was all singing lessons, concert performances and countless jam sessions with her father. Her passion for music would eventually lead Meza-Burgos to become a pioneering voice in Denver’s mariachi revolution and a leader of the beloved Viva Southwest Mariachi Festival. Meza-Burgos arrived at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2011. Despite the “very rigorous” music curriculum, she made time for mariachi. She played with friends, sometimes performing at campus events. The group ultimately became the founding members of Mariachi Los Correcaminos (Mariachi Roadrunners). What began as a student club has since grown into a mariachi ensemble through which students can earn academic credit. The group, now helmed by Affiliate Professor Lorenzo Trujillo, Ed.D., J.D., performs across Colorado. Meza-Burgos, a 2016 graduate, continues to build her life around mariachi. In 2021, she became music coordinator for the Latino Cultural Arts Center, and she helps facilitate the annual Viva Southwest Mariachi Festival. This year’s event will take place at Levitt Pavilion Denver on Sept. 25. Besides celebrating the culture, folklore and irresistible rhythms of mariachi music, the festival is about offering a stage to underrepresented communities, Meza-Burgos said. “Our vision is to create art experiences that inspire social change by elevating artists and the intellectual contributions of Latinos,” she said. “Sometimes, we have to fight a little bit harder for (representation). But there is success with hard work, perseverance and dedication.”

MEXICAN MUSICAL FORM.

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STO RY D O U G M c P H E R S O N

P H OT O A LY S O N M c C L A R A N

RAREFIED AIR Jeff Kloska’s career path looks a lot like the trajectory of a jet: gaining momentum down the runway, then lifting off and climbing confidently into the sky. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2007, Kloska moved to Texas for a job as an airport operations specialist. He earned a promotion to senior specialist in 13 months. Three years later, he was named director of Meacham International Airport in Ft. Worth. In January, he returned to Colorado after being tapped as the director of the Colorado Air and Space Port (formerly Front Range Airport in Adams County), which has been dubbed America’s hub for commercial space transportation, research and development. This is rarefied air in the field of aviation management. But Kloska has remained grounded. “I had no idea that my career would take me to the level of space port director,” he said. “I had my sights set on airport director as the pinnacle. It’s been quite a journey.” Kloska’s interest in aviation started when he was growing up near Morrison. “My dad flew for business a lot, and I remember going to the old Stapleton Airport to meet him at the gate when he’d fly back into town,” Kloska said. “He also took me to a road near a runway to watch planes take off and land.” Kloska also watched his older brother operate the original Microsoft flight simulator. His time at MSU Denver solidified his career. “The Aviation Management program got me to where I am today through its course structure and various preparation activities,” he said. Kloska will rely on that education as he leads the Colorado Air and Space Port’s strategic direction. He said CASP, which became the nation’s 11th facility of its kind in 2018, will continue to handle general aviation aircraft but is also looking to the future and the coming age of reusable spaceplanes. “We’ll be working to develop an aerospace ecosystem based on CASP’s master plan,” he said, “which includes routine launches of next-generation space vehicles that can carry satellites and tourists into suborbital space.”

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AS DIRECTOR OF THE COLORADO AIR AND SPACE PORT, ALUMNUS JEFF KLOSKA IS SHAPING THE STATE’S AEROSPACE FUTURE.

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STO RY C O RY P H A R E

P H OT O A LY S O N M c C L A R A N

POWERING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Xóchitl (Sochi) Gaytán had come to a crossroads. It was the late 1990s and the 21-year-old student at Metropolitan State University of Denver had recently learned she was going to be a mother. She wasn’t sure if she should continue her studies. “I was a young, pregnant Mexicana, and I was getting a lot of looks,” she said. “Then, I saw some hate group had posted fliers around campus and I decided not to come back.” Gaytán, now president of the Denver school board, is used to traversing roads laden with detours and discrimination — and persisting nonetheless. Her “undocumented story” began at age 3, when she arrived with her mother from Mexico. Her father eventually made the journey as well. But housing insecurity kept them from living in one location. Gaytán attended five elementary schools around Denver’s Northside neighborhood before relocating to the southwest part of the city and graduating from Lincoln High School. That experience, and her son’s encounter with the education system a generation later, shaped her perspective on what she described as educational injustices. Privatization and inequitable fund allocation means that some schools don’t offer the same opportunities, she said. It’s no surprise, then, that her focus today is on building an inclusive public education infrastructure, rooted in community and anchored in an environment of care. Gaytán’s own educational journey has come full circle. She returned to MSU Denver to finish her Business Management degree in 2014. That decision was prompted by her desire to be a stronger school board candidate. It paid dividends when she claimed a seat in 2021. Her second stretch on campus was markedly different from the first. She lauded the “incredible diversity … not just in students of color but also in socioeconomic status, age, so many people coming back to finish what they started.” Much to Gaytán’s delight, there will soon be another MSU Denver student finishing what he started. Her son followed in her footsteps and will graduate this year with degrees in Global Business and Political Science.

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AS PRESIDENT OF DENVER’S SCHOOL BOARD, ALUMNA XÓCHITL (SOCHI) GAYTÁN FIGHTS FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.

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ROAD RUNNERS

1978

1993

RALPH KIRKBRIDE

DOUGLAS KEELER

(B.M.E. Music Education, ’78) is the proud owner of Insurance Connection of Colorado, a local insurance agency he created in 1995.

1986

(B.S. Computer and Management Science, ’86) said MSU Denver provided her with the education and confidence she needed to have an amazing career that allowed her to retire comfortably. JOAN ORTEGA

(B.A. Political Science, ’93) is a military analyst and doctrine author with the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After earning his degree, Keeler spent 22½ years on active duty in the Army before retiring in November 2015 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Following retirement, he accepted a job at CACI in northern Virginia as a senior analyst and was promoted to project manager on a contract

with the Department of the Army. Keeler began his current civilian job in October 2018 and has contributed to several publications during his tenure.

1995

(B.S. Management, ’95) was named president and CEO of the District Credit Union (formerly Aurora Schools Federal Credit Union) in January. He brings more than 23 years of credit union experience to the position, including most STEVE BOURAS

Real ROI Leon Duran shares this message with the students he mentors: Going to college is about more than earning a degree. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in Denver in 2006, Duran looked for a college that would accept him despite his low ACT score. “No university in the country wanted me except Metropolitan State University of Denver,” he said. When Duran learned he needed to take remedial classes that wouldn’t count toward a degree, he enlisted in the Navy instead. In 2011, after being deployed on active duty for four years, he transitioned to the Reserve and returned to MSU Denver, using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for his education. “I sat at the front of every classroom for four years because I appreciated the opportunity so much,” said the 2015 Criminal Justice and Criminology graduate. After graduation, the oil company where Duran worked laid everyone off. Later that year, his mother died. And despite strong

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2001

(B.S. Management, ’01) earned her degree at MSU Denver as a single parent and owner of Flowers by Flora & Gifts in Westminster. In the years since, she remarried, sold her business, Continued on Page 28 FLORA CARDENAS

By Lynne Winter qualifications, he was coming up empty-handed in his job search. It was a turning point. “I decided, going forward, I was going to live life on my terms,” he said. “I would stop wasting time, stop being fearful and just go for it.” The following year, Duran founded his first company, U.S. Veterans Landscape Design. A successful inaugural year gave him the confidence to launch HoneyCutz, a supplemental business, in 2017. Duran said things really took off in 2019 when a former professor and fellow alumnus encouraged him to join the MSU Denver Alumni Board of Directors; he currently serves as vice president. The engaged Roadrunner has since won a 10 Under 10 Award, given to outstanding graduates who are less than 10 years past graduation; become a mentor; and delivered the Alumni Charge at Commencement at his alma mater. This fall, he will graduate from the University’s MBA program. Which brings Duran back to his perspective on the value of higher education. “The return on investment you get from going to college isn’t the degree,” he said. “It’s the community and relationships you build to help you start a business or find your dream job.” ALYSON McCLARAN

ALUMNUS LEON DURAN FINDS THE TRUE VALUE OF THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IN RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING.

recently serving as the institution’s vice president and chief operating officer. For the past six years, Bouras has played a key role in the credit union’s growth as the organization’s assets have increased by 63%.

Roadrunners who write If you love to read, look no further than these books by MSU Denver community members. BY LYNNE WINTER

Need more books for the stack on your nightstand? Metropolitan State University of Denver Alumni Relations recently created the Roadrunner Authors Bookshelf, a place where members of the University community can share their published books. From children’s tales to murder mysteries and everything in between, Roadrunners who write have your reading interests covered.

“Woman of Light” by Kali Fajardo-Anstine (B.A. English, ’09). From the author of the National Book Award finalist “Sabrina & Corina” comes the story of Luz “Little Light” Lopez, a tea-leaf reader and laundry washer, left to fend for herself when her brother is run out of town. In this multigenerational saga of survival, secrets and love, Luz becomes responsible for saving her family stories. “The Semester of Our Discontent” by Cynthia Kuhn, Ph.D. (professor of English, MSU Denver). English Professor Lila Maclean is thrilled about her new job at Stonedale University — until she finds one of her colleagues dead. When Lila learns everyone believes she may be responsible, she assigns herself the task of identifying the killer in this Agatha Award-winning story. “The Fun Side of the Wall: Baby Boomer Retirement in Mexico” by Travis Luther (B.S. Behavioral Science, ’08). After surveying over 500 expats who retired in Mexico, Luther discovered the reasons why nearly 1 million U.S. baby boomers have moved south of the border.

“There’s a Hippopotamus in My Bed and an Elephant Wants to Wear My Favorite Red Shoes” by Lynda Medlyn (B.S. Social Work, ’83), Kelly Staudenmier and Karen Windness. Emmalyn dreams of becoming a zookeeper and bringing the animals home with her. It will be so much fun! Or will it? This Mom’s Choice Award-winning children’s picture book was co-written by a motherdaughter team from Colorado. “Running the Light” by Sam Tallent (student). This debut novel follows the story of Billy Ray Schafer, a comedian who has forgotten how to laugh, as he travels to gigs across the American Southwest in search of a reason to keep living. “The Shadows of Darkness: Then Came the Light” by Dionne Williams Voss (B.S. Human Services, ’94). This memoir follows the story of a young woman forced to navigate a community plagued by drugs, abuse, poverty, gangs, incarceration and death. Learn how Voss broke free of the darkness and experienced the beauty of life.

LEARN MORE about the Roadrunner Authors Bookshelf, including how you can contribute, at msudenver.edu/alumni/roadrunners-bookshelf.

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IN MEMORY

became a grandmother and started working as a sales assistant for a homebuilder, inspiring her to pursue a real estate license. Today, Cardenas works for HomeSmart Realty while also serving as a substitute teacher and teaching floral-design classes at the Westminster Recreation Center. She loves helping others realize their goals and wants to make the world a better place.

2002

(B.A. Music, ’02) is a board-certified music therapist and works with clients of all ages to improve their quality of life and reach their cognitive, social, emotional and physical goals. She has also played with several musical ensembles throughout the years, including the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra and Fusion String Ensemble, and she has worked as a studio musician in recording sessions with Ruby Rose Fox and Aloud. JOANNA OSTRANDER

2009

(B.A. Art, ’09) and her husband recently sold their house and will soon be exploring the United States full-time in their travel trailer. She said hard work and disciplined spending allowed them to retire early, and that they’re excited about the adventure ahead of them. KAREN L. ANDREWS

(B.A. Human Development, ’09) is a pre-K public school teacher in central Denver. She attended a cohort graduate program in 2014 through Lesley BELLE NEWMAN

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University and ultimately earned her master’s degree in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts. She is proud to hold honors from Denver Public Schools, the Colorado Preschool Program and the Denver Preschool Program. While Newman enjoys her time in the elementary classroom, she likes the idea of teaching teachers during retirement — maybe at her favorite university, MSU Denver! (B.S. Human Services, ’09) is a missionary who recently moved back to Denver after 11 years of traveling between California, Peru and San Antonio. SUSANA NIETO

2017

(B.S. Management, ’17) headed to Durango shortly after graduating to work as a camp counselor for the summer. He then became a precious-metals advisor for McAlvany ICA, one of the oldest precious-metals firms in the U.S. Connell loves living in Durango with his wife, Rebekka, and said he can’t get enough of the little tourist town in southwest Colorado. STEVE CONNELL

2021

(B.S. Social Work, ’21) began her journey with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2019 when she needed to fulfill volunteer hours for a course in her degree program. She never left. Arndt’s internship turned into a career when she was promoted to program specialist after graduating from MSU Denver. AMBER ARNDT

Faculty & Staff

BROOKE MAUREEN

(B.A. Individualized Degree Program, ’01) died July 14 at age 44. Throughout her life, Blanchette served as a committed community volunteer in Denver and, later, Madison, Wisconsin. Dedicated to service, she pursued certification in nonprofit management and grant writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Above all else, Blanchette was proudest of her daughter and grandson, with whom she loved spending time. She was a lover of life and enjoyed art, music, travel, tattoos and strong coffee, among other things. BLANCHETTE

Emeritus faculty member JANIS S. BOHAN, Ph.D., died Dec. 16 at age 76. After graduating from the University of Denver in 1967 with a major in Psychology, she went on to earn her doctorate from the University of Rochester in 1970. The same year, she started teaching in the Department of Psychological Sciences at MSU Denver. Bohan’s life changed dramatically when Colorado voters passed Amendment 2 in 1992. At that time, she came out and refocused her academic and research interests on LGBTQ studies. Bohan loved teaching, especially the Roadrunners she worked with during her 30-year career at the University. After retiring in 2000, she pursued activist work around Indigenous peoples’ rights, safe schools, political campaigns and more.

Alumni & Students (B.A. Speech, ’76) died at home Sept. 22 at age 74. A Vietnam War veteran who served proudly in the Navy until 1970, Arnold had a successful career in hospitality sales and marketing in San Diego and Denver and as a substitute teacher later in life. Arnold was an avid music lover with a passion for good food who enjoyed tending to his garden and spending time with friends and family. GARY E. ARNOLD

(B.S. Management, ’88) died Dec. 21 at age 57. He and his wife, Marilyn, moved their family to Ignacio, Colorado, in 1991, and together they opened and operated Options Restaurant and the Rose Café. Brandau worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry his entire life, most recently at the Sky Ute Casino. He enjoyed riding his Harley, golfing, music and his Busch beer. But above all else, he loved his family. WILLIAM BRANDAU

LINDA COBERLY (B.A. English, ’89) died Oct. 30 at age 58. After earning her degree, Coberly moved to New York City to work for CBS Records. Upon returning to Denver in the

(B.S. Professional Pilot, ’74) died Oct. 20 at age 69. Known as one of the youngest female pilots in Iowa when she graduated from high school in 1970, Despain went on to earn her bachelor’s degree, commercial pilot license and air-traffic-control certification. During her time serving in the Navy from 197684, Despain became the first female to solo carrier-land, gain acceptance into flight training for the E2-C Hawkeye and fly a Grumman C-2A Greyhound onto the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier during the Libyan crisis. A model for female leadership, she oversaw Navy and Air Force trainees. Despain was also a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, an avid cyclist and an outdoor enthusiast known for her sense of humor, creativity and love of dogs. JAN B. DESPAIN

By John Arnold

JOHN ARNOLD

mid-’90s, she met her husband, married and had their only son, Ian. Coberly worked at the Sterling Federal Credit Union before becoming an English teacher at Sterling Middle School, where she taught for 11 years. Following her teaching career, she worked at Journal Office Supply. Coberly enjoyed reading, traveling with her husband and son, writing for the local paper, drawing, creating stained glass and volunteering at the local Humane Society.

Jazz great and influential music educator Ron Miles dies at 58

BY JOHN ARNOLD

Miles served as a music instructor and jazz Legendary jazz musician Ron Miles, musiciandirector in MSU Denver’s Department of Music for in-residence at Metropolitan State University more than two decades, mentoring hundreds of of Denver, died March 8 at age 58. The cause young musicians. was complications from “I really want (my students) polycythemia vera, a rare to realize that while they’re in blood disorder, his record school, particularly in music, it’s label said. very important that they get The Grammy-nominated outside of these walls. That they trumpeter and cornetist was see that their art resonates in the one of the most prominent community. It has to. It can’t just musicians in Denver’s jazz exist here,” Miles said from his scene, and his influence — NORMAN PROVIZER, PH.D. MSU Denver studio in 2017. extended far beyond the Mile Miles was born in Indianapolis High City. in 1963 and moved to Denver with his family in 1974, “He was simply a great player. Not just here, the same year he started to play music. He released but nationally and internationally. We need to his debut album, “Distance for Safety,” in 1987. remember that,” said Norman Provizer, Ph.D., a Miles went on to record 11 more albums, including Political Science professor emeritus at MSU Denver the critically acclaimed “I Am a Man” in 2017 and and former jazz critic for the Rocky Mountain News “Rainbow Sign,” his 2020 debut on the iconic Blue and DownBeat magazine. Note record label. Miles was a unique talent in a genre that values In addition to leading his own bands, Miles individualism, Provizer said. But beyond his musical performed with top jazz artists Joshua Redman, Bill gifts, Miles leaves behind a legacy of kindness, Frisell, Mercer Ellington, Myra Melford, Don Byron modesty and a desire to help others. and Madeleine Peyroux, among many others. “Anyone who knew him knew what an incredibly He was nominated for a Grammy for his work kind and wonderful person he was,” Provizer said. on Redman’s album “Still Dreaming” in 2018, and “Ron was a great player — not a good player, a great he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of player. And at the same time, he was a dedicated, Fame in 2017. terrific teacher.”

“Anyone who knew him knew what an incredibly kind and wonderful person he was.”

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IN MEMORY

(B.A. History, ’05) died Dec. 11 at age 73. Kloepping lived most of her life in Colorado, where she worked for C&S, ATSF and Burlington Northern Railroads. An adventurous spirit, she stayed active by swimming, hiking, skiing, rafting and camping with friends. In 2011, she became a Reiki Master, and in 2015, she moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, to be closer to family. There, she worked at the Nebraska State Fair for three years, planting and maintaining gardens for 4-H.

(B.S. Accounting, ’79) died Oct. 16 at age 83. Born in Nigeria, Ezidinma came to the U.S. in 1964 and, after marrying his wife, Deborah, in 1970, relocated from New York to Denver to raise their family. He had an eventful professional career in accounting and enjoyed spending his free time talking with friends and family, watching sports and spending time with his grandchildren. His family said Ezidinma was a supportive, caring and funny person with a zest for life.

GWENN KLOEPPING

(B.A. History, ’71) died Nov. 30 at age 72. After he married his wife, Susan, they taught high school in Victoria, Australia, and backpacked from Southeast Asia to Europe from 1972-74. He went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder and a J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law, after which he was the in-house counsel for Amax Coal Co. until 1993. From 1993-2021, Ham practiced law from his home. He sought to be of service to those in need and gave generously of himself to his clients and colleagues. Ham spent his free time hiking, rock climbing, running and with family, including sharing his love of the outdoors with his grandchildren.

HARRISON MCINTYRE

SUNDAY U. EZIDINMA

DAVID J. HAM

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(B.S. Speech Communication, ’21) died Dec. 25 at age 30. Born in Montreal, McIntyre spent his childhood in Denmark and France before settling in the U.S. as a teenager. He was passionate about hockey (as a goalie and fan), music, photography and hiking. In 2021, he set a goal to improve his fitness and completed his first marathon last August. McIntyre was a caring person and a great source of positivity for his family, friends and teammates.

He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree and work as an IT troubleshooter for companies in Colorado, Nevada and Indiana until retiring to Westcliff, where he managed the administrative and financial details of the High Mountain Hay Fever Festival annual bluegrass celebration. Sell enjoyed hiking, photography and road trips into wild country. (BFA Communication Design, ’21) died Dec. 28 at age 28. She was a talented artist, designer and student who worked hard in school as she pursued her dreams. Steck had a great sense of humor and was known for her hilarious impressions of her professors in the minutes before they came to class. She was into punk rock and frequented concerts with her boyfriend and friends. Her favorite band was Blink-182. Steck had just completed her degree at MSU Denver and was looking forward to transitioning from a career in hospitality to one in communication design. SARAH STECK

(B.A. Economics, ’76) died Nov. 17 at age 84. He started his career at Martin Marietta on the Apollo project and ended it at Ainsworth Balances. He was a prize-winning nature photographer, pioneer skier, avid fisherman and classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiast. RICHARD THORPE

(B.S. Computer Information Systems and Management Science, ’96) died Dec. 24 at age 61. After high school, Sell became one of the first employees at America West Airlines and, eventually, head of the Baggage Department. STEVEN SELL

(B.S. Social Sciences, ’68, and B.S. Psychology, ’70) died Jan. 4 at age 80. When Valdez and her husband, Bernie, moved to Denver in 1966, they attended MSU Denver, becoming part of the first class of students to graduate from the thennewly established school. From there, she went on to earn two master’s degrees and her teaching certification. Her long career in education included teaching for Head Start in Denver, becoming assistant director for Upward Bound and teaching for over 20 years in Denver Public Schools. After “retiring” in 1990, she still taught ESL, Computer Science and GED part-time at the Emily Griffith School. Valdez had boundless energy and an amazing ability to connect with students. She was also a neighborhood activist, playing an active role with the Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association until late 2021, and loved traveling around the world with her daughter, Sherri. MARVIA VALDEZ

(B.S. Computer Science, ’95) died Jan. 24 at age 50. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Weisser spent most of his career in the gaming industry. In 2015, he changed paths and obtained his real estate license, followed by his broker license. Last September, he opened 4DC Realty. His family describes Weisser as accepting, patient and loving. TIMOTHY L. WEISSER

You’ve got options CAREER LAUNCHPAD PROGRAM PROVIDES MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS.

BY DAN VACCARO

What if one class could change the trajectory of your career? That’s the premise of the new Career Launchpad at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Here’s how the program works: Let’s say you’ve been thinking about starting (or transitioning into) a career in a high-demand field such as health care or cybersecurity. At MSU Denver, you can take an affordable introductory class in that subject. You’ll take the course online at the pace that feels right to you. You’ll even get an advising session with a leader in the field. After successfully completing the noncredit class, you’ll receive a digital badge embedded with the competencies learned that you can include on your résumé or LinkedIn page or in your portfolio. That alone might be enough to propel you into the workforce. And if you want to take another step, you can convert the class to credit and work toward a certificate or full bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver. It’s a small way to take a big first step toward your dream job.

Career Launchpad Course Schedule for Fall 2022 • Health Navigation Fundamentals • Introduction to Cybersecurity • Space Flight Operations • Design Thinking • Introduction to Business • Principles of Public Health Launching in Spring 2023 • Construction Project Management • Introduction to Addictions • Survey of Advanced Manufacturing and Survey Preparation

LEARN MORE: msudenver.edu/innovative-lifelong-learning/career-launchpad

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Q&A

SOCIAL WORK ALUMNA SANDRA REISMAN HELPS HER CLIENTS NAVIGATE HOUSING INSECURITY

BY CORY PHARE

ALYSON M c CLARAN

SO THEY CAN GET THEIR FEET ON SOLID GROUND.

Home is where your heart is With the soaring cost of living in Boulder County, housing security was a challenge even before the December Marshall fire displaced so many people. Sandra Reisman is meeting that challenge head-on, helping people find a stable place to call home. As housing case manager at the Emergency Family Assistance Association, the 2018 Metropolitan State University of Denver Social Work graduate oversees intake and screening and assists clients in achieving self-sufficiency. RED Magazine caught up with Reisman to learn more about her unique life and career journey as well as how she works with clients to navigate housing insecurity. She also shared what she learned from MSU Denver’s Social Work program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Talk about your journey from Peru and the resulting career change. The immigration process takes a long time, so when my father received his residency, we decided to move. The city where I’m from, Huaraz, is near the mountains, so the elevation and climate were very similar to Denver’s. I loved my previous career as a nurse, but with all the requirements I needed to meet in the U.S., it would have been like starting over. I’m a

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helper, though, so I wanted to find a career that allowed me to focus on people. Social work was a natural fit. What are some of the unique challenges in housing access? They differ by person. Some people have immigration statuses that prevent access to employment. Without a Social Security number, you’re limited with many governmental resources. Others are dealing with mental health issues or other crises, which take a longer-term approach. We do have affordability programs for low-income individuals, but those also have barriers: rental history or previous felony convictions. All those little check boxes can keep someone from finding a place to live. Given that, how do you help people? I try my best to reach every person exactly where they are. That starts by talking and listening to them. It’s so crucial because once they shut down, you can’t do anything. I credit my MSU Denver education for helping me there, specifically training on oppression, systemic poverty and generational poverty. It’s so easy to lose someone in this kind of work. But I also learned there’s hope when you find connection. There’s always something you can do. My job is to help — the key is to be patient and have a little faith.

DARRAL FREUND

A March to remember The Metropolitan State University of Denver women’s basketball team in March took home its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament championship since 2005. Led by tournament Most Valuable Player Morgan Griego and Tosjanae Bonds, the team rallied to defeat Colorado State-Pueblo 76-68 in a closely contested finals matchup, earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. “Just the fight and the refuseto-lose mentality that we’ve had … we weren’t going to be denied,” said coach Tanya Haave. “I’m so proud of our group.” The Roadrunners made their ninth trip to the national tournament in program history and finished the season 22-9 after falling to Texas Woman’s University in overtime in the first round.

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