University of Colorado Denver

Continued on page 2

SPRING 2014

dear alumni,

it’s an exciting time to be at Cu denver. We recently welcomed our first undergraduates in education and architecture, and more people earn their master’s degrees here each year than at any other public university in the state. our new advertising campaign tells the world how our students “Learn with purpose.” and near the corner of Speer and Larimer, con-struction is wrapping up on our new academic building, slated to open this fall.

to continue to foster our students’ success regardless of their background, we recently launched Cu denver’s largest scholarship initiative ever. through the “1,000 More” cam-paign, we hope to provide financial support for an additional 1,000 Cu denver students every year, tripling private support for scholarships by the year 2020.

Your Cu denver alumni association is contributing to the 1,000 More campaign through alumni events such as the annual Rock Bottom Ruckus annual fundraiser held in February. in fact, since the inception of its scholarship program in 1990, the association has disbursed more than $1.2 million in scholarships to Cu denver students.

Having been a Cu denver student yourself, you know that although our students’ stories are all unique, they share common threads: perseverance, a commitment to learning, and the desire to follow through on a dream. For those who lack financial resources, scholarships provide the one missing element they need.

We’re proud of the many accomplishments of our alumni, and also for the way our alums give back to Cu denver. to be a part of the 1,000 More campaign or to contribute, visit www.cufund.org/alumnischolarship.

Best,

don elliman Chancellor

Tune in To KS 107.5 radio station on a weekday afternoon, and you can hear the voice of a CU Denver alumnus. His name is mario rodriguez, BS Music ’01, better known as “DJ Chonz”, a long-time disc jockey for Denver’s largest hip-hop station and one of Colorado’s most well-known DJs.

“My roots are in hip-hop—that’s what I’m known for,” said Rodriguez, a Denver native who began spinning records in 1993 in his parents’ base-ment. Three years later, a year out of high school, he began getting paid gigs with Pepsi Co. and opening for famous groups like De La Soul. But he knew that getting a college degree was essential for his long-term success.

He chose to get his bachelor’s degree and, in 2001, became the first

person in his family to graduate from college. Now, more than a decade—and thousands of radio hours—later, he’s back to get a graduate certificate in public relations.

“If you want to be good at any-thing, you have to continue to sharpen your skills,” he said. “I’m coming back to CU Denver so I can learn how to communicate better.”

Rodriguez has worked alongside famous musicians (Wu-Tang Clan and A Tribe Called Quest, to name a couple), received many awards for his DJ-ing and created his own music business, Radio Bums. But his success didn’t always seem inevitable.

“It was looking like I wasn’t going to go to college at all,” said Rodriguez, who struggled with standardized test taking in high school. He spent several

years at a local community college

before transferring to CU Denver’s

College of Arts & Media to earn a

degree in music industry studies.

“I worked from the very bottom all

the way up,” he said. Refusing to take

out student loans, he DJ-ed at night

clubs to pay his tuition, sometimes

working until 1 or 2 in the morning

and then waking up for his 8 a.m. class.

“I have this desire and grind,” he

said. “If that’s what it takes, then that’s

what I’ll do.”

Rodriguez said his career ad-

vanced, in large part, because of a

50-page term paper he wrote—a

special assignment an instructor gave

him that allowed him to miss classes

while touring as a DJ and complete

the course.

Arts & mediA

Alum on the Radio

2

hoRIzoN

2

Rodriguez transformed the paper into an opportunity to map out his future career goals.

“It became a blueprint for the next five to 10 years of my life,” he said. “I [researched] local radio and record labels and laid out how I would start a record pool. Without me writing it like that, it probably would’ve just been ideas in my head. Everything I said in that paper, I’ve done.”

While a CU Denver student, Rodriguez got an internship with Cali Kings, a music promotions company in Los Angeles, before landing the DJ job with Denver’s KS 107.5.

Among the things Rodriguez has done is build a stronger DJ culture and community in his home city. While working with big record labels in California, he witnessed the impact of record pools, which are grassroots music-sharing groups that empower DJs to develop their careers.

“I wanted to do the same thing in Denver,” he said. So, he created Radio Bums, a record pool that has since developed into a worldwide DJ network and non-profit foundation. After he became the first Denver DJ to perform live on commercial radio, he began helping others do the same.

“I opened the door for DJs like myself to be heard commercially,” he said. “I’m good at introducing people who I think could work well together. It’s all about relationships.”

To increase his networking and communications skills, Rodriguez returned to CU Denver this year to study public relations in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Being a student again has been a challenge for him—especially (this may come as a surprise) the public speaking.

“At five o’clock, I talk to [an audi-ence as large as] three Invesco Fields at one time,” he said of his radio station work, “but when I have to speak in class and I’m being critiqued, I still

get nervous. I don’t want to leave out any details.”

Not everyone with Rodriguez’s success would make the choice to go back to school, especially with a well-established career, a wife and two kids. But this CU Denver student is not just anyone—he’s DJ Chonz.

“I’m at the top of my game, but I don’t like to be complacent or lazy,” he said. “I’m always looking to challenge myself, both personally and professionally.”

radio continued from page 1

Volume 25, Issue 1

(top) Alumni volunteers weathered the cold during the CU at the Parade of Lights event.

(middle) Mutton Busters were all thumbs up before riding the sheep at the CU Family Night at the National Western Stock Show, one of the favorite events during the evening’s pro rodeo.

(left) CU alumni, friends and their families took to the court after the Nuggets win over the Wizards at the CU Nuggets game on March 23.

“I’m always looking to challenge myself, both personally and professionally.”

cu on The h0rizon is published twice annually by the University of Colorado Denver for alumni and friends of the Office of Alumni Relations.

CU Denver Alumni RelationsCampus Box 189P.O. Box 173364Denver, CO 80217-3364

The alumni office is located at 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 1300303-315-2333Email: UCDalumni@ucdenver.edu

Editorial Management: Julie Mullin

Creative Direction: Micheline Heckler

Writing: Anne Button, Chris Casey, Linda Castrone, Vicki Hildner, Elizabeth Leach, Erica Lefeave, Faith Marcovecchio, Leslie Petrovski, Amy Vaerewyck

Editing: Anne Button, Julie Koeppe, Elizabeth Leach, Faith Marcovecchio, Julie Mullin

Design and Production: Stevinson Design

Photography: Scott Arnold, Glenn Asakawa, Jathan Campbell, Casey Cass, Tom Cherrey, The Denver Post, Michael Ensminger, Eric Heights, Hakeem Khaaliq, Julie Mullin, Christopher Yakacki

3

engineering

Engineering students create a solution for neurosurgeon at CU School of Medicine

laST fall, dr. aviva aboSch, associate professor in neurosurgery in the CU School of Medicine, had a problem. She found that while prepar-ing for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery on patients who suffer from tremors, whether from Parkinson’s disease or other causes, it was difficult to get a good, quality image during a preoperative MRI or CT scan. She approached chriSTopher YaKacKi, assistant professor in mechanical engineering, for a solution.

“Dr. Abosch asked if we could design and manufacture an adjustable adapter that attaches to the MRI table and secures the head frame on the pa-tient to prevent any movement caused by tremors,” says Yakacki, whose research focuses on smart materials for biomedical devices. “Currently, no manufacturer produces this type of adapter.”

According to Abosch, DBS has become the standard of care for the treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. DBS surgery involves the implantation of an elec-trode into a precise target in the brain that serves as a node in the control of function—for example, the control of movement in the case of Parkinson’s disease. These targets are very small, measuring less than 1 cm in diameter, and they are situated approximately 9 cm from the brain’s surface.

Because of the complex location of these targets, surgeons use a technique known as stereotaxy to determine the placement of the node. Stereotaxy is based on the premise that all points in three-dimensional space can be defined by an x, y and z coordinate.

To prepare for DBS, a head frame, which serves as a coordinate system, is attached to the patient. Then, through an MRI or a CT scan, imaging of the patient’s brain in this frame is obtained and the x, y, and z coordinates of the target structure are

determined. These coordinates allow the neurosurgeon to place the tip of the DBS electrode into the brain target. To achieve the best image possible, the patients need a head restraint during the MRI or CT scan—something to connect the existing brace to the table.

“Any movement of the patient’s head during stereotactic imaging, i.e., an MRI and CT of the brain in the head frame, can lead to inaccuracies of the target coordinates,” says Abosch. “This, in turn, results in the DBS electrode being placed in the wrong location in the brain, resulting in side effects or diminished efficacy.” The development of this new adapter would greatly reduce the chance for movement during the imaging process.

“When Dr. Abosch and I first dis-cussed this project, I estimated that it would take approximately three to four months to complete,” says Yakacki. “However, she explained there was an immediate need for the device and would like it in three to four weeks.” To complete this

project so quickly, Yakacki turned to two mechani-

cal engineering students for help: eric loSTY, a senior, and Sean mcdonough, a graduate student.

“I chose Eric and Sean for their individual strengths and skill sets,” says Yakacki. “Sean does really well with design, and Eric has great machining skills.”

Losty and McDonough met with Abosch and her team to get measurements of the MRI table and the existing head frame. They used rapid prototyping techniques, such as laser cutting and three-dimensional printing, to test their designs quickly.

“We started with one design, but had to make minor changes once we began machining the parts,” says McDonough. “We went with a modular design that breaks down into pieces,” adds Losty. “That way, it’s easier to machine, test and iterate on the design, if needed.”

Because of the nature of the imaging process, there were some limitations and challenges to developing a

solution.

“MRIs use magnetic waves, which limits the materials that can be used for such an apparatus,” says Losty. “The fi-nal product is made with aircraft-grade aluminum, titanium and brass.” Other challenges included creating a system that was lightweight yet robust enough to prevent movement in a patient with a significant head tremor. The students were able to perform stress analysis tests through their SolidWorks design software.

The project took just over 100 hours to complete, and was finished within a month. The adapter has been used successfully in more than a dozen DBS cases to date. In January, the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office filed a patent application for the adapter designs. In February, Losty and McDonough also designed and built a similar adapter for the CT scan table, and those concepts are also covered in the patent application filed by the university.

Abosch and Yakacki plan to con-tinue their collaboration and develop solutions for pediatric DBS. “Projects like these are great opportunities to build relationships with the CU School of Medicine,” Yakacki says. “They also enable our students to work on interdisciplinary projects in a way that advances their education beyond the classroom.”

Yakacki believes this project is a prime example of CU Denver becom-ing a premier institution. “The rate at which this project was completed is unprecedented in my experience,” says Yakacki. “I don’t think that there is a group in America, either in academia or industry, that could design and manufacture a medical device faster than we did.”

Editor’s note: In March, Children’s Hospital Colorado approved a one-year stipend for Sean McDonough to continue making these devices, and potentially more, for pediatric deep brain stimulation cases.

An adjustable adapter that attaches to the MRI table and secures the head frame on the patient to prevent any movement caused by tremors.

Eric Losty, right, senior in mechanical engineering, helped design and machine the piece.

Architecture And PlAnning

Born again: The metamorphosis of South Lincoln Homes

nonprofit Arts Street, and classrooms where residents get health training, was joined by two additional buildings last summer and fall. They offer an additional 93 total units of affordable and market-rate apartments along with the nonprofit tenant Youth on Record. Another 87 units of mixed-income apartments and townhomes will come online in 2014. And by 2015 there will be an additional 170-plus units of affordable and market-rate apartments and townhomes, along with new retail and office space and an early childhood education facility and daycare.

The impetus for redevelopment came from the community, which was frustrated by the neighborhood’s higher-than-average crime rates. “When we started looking at South Lincoln Homes,” says Crangle, a DHA senior developer, “we were hearing from residents that some things needed to change. They loved being a part of a community that was rich in culture and history and diversity, but there were things that were less desirable that weren’t good enough.”

To gain a better understanding of the area, the DHA invited members of the community to serve on a steering committee, implemented a strong com-munication plan and held numerous meetings—120 in all—even interviewing individuals with language interpreters to obtain a deep and authentic perspective.

What emerged was a picture of a neighborhood where three languages predominate in addition to English—Spanish, Vietnamese and Somali—and where residents required increased safety but wanted to maintain South Lincoln’s diverse character while adding more ac-cess to community services, jobs, health care and educational opportunities.

“We were trying to understand what the community wanted [in order] to act as a conduit for positive change,” Crangle says. “The question was, could we make positive change without diminishing the great things that already existed?”

In accordance with community wishes, DHA took a phased approach to the demolition of South Lincoln Homes,

going so far as to purchase adjacent land for Tapiz to minimize disruption to the neighborhood. When the project is complete, Crangle estimates that about 45 percent of South Lincoln Homes’ previous residents will remain at Mariposa, a much higher retention rate than at other such redevelopments. And though the project is only about halfway built, Crangle says crime has already diminished.

Jennifer STeffel JohnSon, an expert on affordable housing and as-sociate chair of the Urban and Regional Planning Department at CU Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning, takes her Urban Housing class on tours of Mariposa to show students what’s possible.

“Mariposa is such a wonderful example of how to do it right,” Johnson says. “I think it’s fabulous that a CU Denver urban and regional planning alum is running the show.”

4

iT’S a quieT TueSdaY afternoon on a blustery January day. Two small children clutching schoolwork run toward the brightly colored La Alma Recreation Center located in the heart of Lincoln Park, just southwest of downtown Denver. Nearby is the strik-ing new eight-story Tapiz at Mariposa apartment building. It is distinguished by a 90-foot-tall mural depicting the faces of an African and a Latina woman—and butterflies—symbolic respectively of the neighborhood’s diversity, metamorphosis and name.

The LEED Platinum-rated Tapiz apartment building, which opened in 2012 and provides public housing for seniors and disabled residents, represents the first of six phases in the Mariposa redevelopment project led by alumna Kimball crangle, MURP ’03. It stands in stark contrast to the remaining South Lincoln Homes, the now run-down public housing project that has defined its section of the La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood since it was built in the 1950s.

Located at 11th and Osage, the 100-unit Tapiz is the result of an intricate, multiyear Denver Housing Authority (DHA) initiative to transform South Lincoln Homes into a next-generation public housing experiment, one that doesn’t cordon low-income residents off into identical, drab spaces but rather integrates people across incomes into a larger, thoughtfully created community. This project honors the past while look-ing to a future that embraces alternate forms of transportation, sustainability, health and food access.

Already, Mariposa has become a modern mixed-income community punctuated by pedestrian walkways, a community garden and public art, and designed with health in mind. Adjacent to the 10th and Osage light-rail stop, a B-cycle station stands at the ready; low-income residents can ride the bikes for free. And buildings have bike storage closets, making it easy for people to incorporate bicycling into their lives.

Tapiz, which houses the student-run job training restaurant Osage Café, the

on Sept. 25, 2004, Tim gelSTon, BA English and Political Science ’91 and MA Urban and Regional Planning ’97, a native Coloradan, flew into orlando. it was the same day Hurricane Jeanne, the deadliest hurri-cane in what had already been a devastating season, made landfall. He was starting his first planning project for the Federal emergency Management agency (FeMa).

at the time, gelston was working for the planning division of uRS, a global engineering, design and construction firm that did contract work for FeMa, among other agencies. Much of his career to that point had involved public sector planning work and, he says, he was looking for something more compelling than whether “someone’s porta-potty was in the wrong place.”

in Florida, gelston served as part of a team of FeMa planners who helped the town of arcadia and deSoto County develop a recovery plan. Since then, he has been deployed to Mississippi to help with planning in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, to new York post-Sandy, and he also shepherded the town of Minot, north dakota, in its post-flood planning efforts.

today, as FeMa’s Region 8 Community planning Capacity Building Recovery Support Function regional coordinator, gelston is spear-heading the FeMa-sponsored community plan-ning for the towns of Lyons and Jamestown, Colorado, both of which were devastated by the 2013 Colorado floods. Helping communi-ties identify their priorities and even reinvent themselves involves countless stakeholders, agencies and experts, gelston explains. though Colorado recovery plans are just getting under way, they will involve everyone from individuals who lost homes to the Colorado department of Local affairs to the Cu denver College of architecture and planning, which has launched the Resilient Colorado initiative to help.

“there aren’t many silver linings when there’s a disaster,” gelston explains. “But these events have the power to bring communities together and strengthen community bonds.”

The fix: Helping communities plan for a post-disaster future

5

Business

Global Energy Management: Alums working around the world

in eaST africa, Oscar Ngaiza managed a major upgrade project for a Kenya refinery. In Australia, Eryn Bergin is helping her company appraise its assets for a project that will liquefy natural gas for export. In Washington, D.C., Julie Hughes directs special clean energy initiatives for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). And in Denver, Joel Poppert is pioneering innovative clean energy solutions and helping to put geothermal on the table. All turned to CU Denver’s Global Energy Management (GEM) program for the business skills they needed to excel in the global energy industry.

oScar ngaiza, MS GEM ’10, and a native of Tanzania, has spent 30 years as a chemical engineer in the oil and gas industry, most of it advising energy companies on ways to improve the performance of capital projects. While working with CH2M Hill to improve the performance of projects in Abu Dhabi’s onshore oil fields, he enrolled in the GEM program and spent the next 18 months taking courses, completing assignments and meeting with classmates, all online, and every three months traveling to Denver for three-day classroom sessions. The com-mute was challenging, he admits, with day-long flights on Thursdays, classes Friday through Sunday afternoon and day-long return flights to be back in Abu Dhabi Tuesday morning. But he also knew that if he wanted to move from advising to executing energy projects, “a business-related degree would be necessary.”

Armed with an industry specific Masters in Business, Ngaiza returned to East Africa with a contract to help Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited upgrade its crude oil refinery in Mombasa. After three years, he is considering a job with a multinational company interested in expanding in the region.

erYn bergin, MS GEM ’12, missed her graduation because she had already taken a job with Santos

in Australia. Soon after, she was made responsible for appraising its assets in Queensland, determining how much natural gas is in them and identifying new opportunities. Bergin is a geo-logical engineer, with bachelors and masters degrees from the Colorado School of Mines, and entered the GEM program to gain business skills.

“The courses that really opened my eyes were Global Energy Economics by dr. Janie chermaK and the 21st Century Global Energy Issues and Realities taught by dr. maTThew

clarKe,” she said. “They make you think about the industry as a whole.” The program also helped her under-stand the global context. “Each course emphasizes not just the American experience, but how the industry is

evolving all over the world. I am now able to intelligently discuss the global energy sector and my company’s role within it.”

Julie hugheS, MS GEM ’11, represents the intersection of energy, business and government, working as a policy advisor for the deputy assistant secretary of DOE’s office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Put simply, her job is ensuring that EERE’s customers are served well, especially states and the private sector. Among her assignments is overseeing a federal advisory board of energy experts who recommend ways DOE can help state and local governments accomplish their clean energy goals. As a liaison, she gathers feedback, communicates it to DOE and facilitates action. For DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge, she helps private companies set public goals for improving energy use in their buildings, then ensures DOE provides the right assistance.

She honed her energy policy skills while working for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. Experienced in policy, Hughes wanted an energy-focused graduate program that would enhance specialized busi-ness and organizational skills she uses

to get things done at DOE. “The profes-sors were energy professionals, so they talked about concepts they practice on a day-to-day process,” she said. With a strong, interesting group of classmates, Hughes found her husband, Camilo Lopez, who works for the World Bank. “In many class discussions, we were the only ones coming from a clean energy perspective, compared to others from the oil and gas industry,” Hughes said, “but the most useful thing for me was getting a sense of the energy sector as a whole and how it works together.”

Joel popperT, MS GEM ’13, started his nine-year energy career with a drilling company but soon found himself focused on the geothermal heat pump industry. “It’s a mature energy technology that addresses many 21st century energy problems,” he said. Poppert co-founded Alpine Geothermal Drilling, led the State Geothermal Association and has become active in clean energy policy. For his work with renewable energy, he was featured in the Denver Business Journal’s 2012 and 2013 “Who’s Who in Energy” issue.

An entrepreneur at heart, Poppert says he came away from the GEM program with the knowledge and network necessary to prosper in the energy industry. With classmates, he launched GEMM7, LLC, a collective of professionals determined to develop profitable strategies that address the complex and continually changing energy market.

Oscar Ngaiza Julie Hughes Joel Poppert

Eryn Bergin

“The courses that really opened my eyes were Global Energy Economics...and the 21st Century Global Issues and Realities...”

PuBlic AffAirs | liBerAl Arts And sciences

Alums in emergency management aid in flood recovery

6

in SepTember 2013, some Colorado counties received more rain in a matter of days than they typically get the entire year. Colorado flooding made national headlines with what some experts called a 1,000-year rain and a 100-year flood.

Behind the scenes, state, local and federal experts in emergency manage-ment worked to respond to crises, assess damage, prioritize resources and advise communities on recovery. Many of those experts serving in key positions are CU Denver alumni and graduate students.

“Our students learn technical skills, which they blend with emer-

gency management know-how,” said Deborah Thomas, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences and co-director of the School of Public Affairs program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. “Their skills are so marketable.”

Traditionally, emergency managers have come from military backgrounds, but in the past two decades, the field has been professionalized, with more people seeking degrees specializing in emergency management. For interested students, CU Denver has several options:

• The Master of Public Administra-tion (MPA) with a concentration in

Emergency Management and Homeland

Security prepares students for non-

profit, government or private sector

jobs handling all phases of hazards

and disasters.

• The Bachelor of Arts in geogra-

phy with the Geographic Information

Science (GISci) Certificate prepares

students to work with geographic

information systems (GIS) similar to

Google Earth.

• The GISci Certificate is also an interdisciplinary option for graduate students from all schools and colleges.

“Disasters can be depressing—it’s disease, injury, death—but we prepare students who can then go out and change the world,” said Thomas. “They do amazing things.”

Meet four alumni and current students who are making a difference in the lives of Coloradans in the aftermath of the 2013 floods.

7

amY danzl

“How are we going to get resources to Boulder?”

degree: Mpa with concentration in emergency Management and Homeland Security (in progress)

currenT poSiTion: emergency Management Specialist, Boulder office of emergency Management

what did you do during the floods?

Well, the response was quick and intense, and it didn’t let up for nearly two weeks. We ran our emergency operations center 24 hours a day for the first eight days, then moved to 16- to 18-hour days for another six. The rains started three years to the week after the Fourmile Canyon fire. With burn scars in two steep canyons, we knew to expect flash floods and had been planning for them, but flash flooding typically comes quickly and then subsides. This time, the repeated flash flooding over four days was more serious than anything we had expected, and it hit every single drainage system in our county.

I was working as logistics section chief, mobilizing resources into Boulder County. My husband was in Denver, and he called to say he was stranded because all the roads into Boulder were closed. Suddenly, I thought, “If he can’t get in, how are we going to get resources into Boulder?” But we did it. We brought in rescue teams, aircraft, generators, water, [portable restrooms], shelter supply trailers, cots, blankets and meals.

what’s rewarding about your job?

I love that we actually make a difference. We are doing things that potentially save lives. I also love that we are quiet and behind the scenes. We aren’t on the front lines like law enforcement and firefighters, but we have broad and great impact.

niKKi robleS

“it’s always haunting to look at the images that come in.”

degree: Ba geography and giSci Certificate ’09

currenT poSiTion: geospatial analyst, Federal emergency Management agency (FeMa), Region Viii

what did you do during the floods?

As the lead GIS coordinator with FEMA during the flooding event, I was coordinating the gathering of data as the flood moved across the state. I worked with the State of Colorado to determine locations where we should send planes to take pictures of flooded areas, and as the flood moved down-stream, I worked with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to task satellites to give us the best picture of what was happening on the ground. From those images, we could get a bigger picture of what areas had more damage so we could prioritize our assets to provide assistance. One day, we would say, “Jamestown needs help” or “Lyons needs help.” Another day, it was “Boulder needs help.”

It’s always haunting to look at the images that come in. I spent three and a half months working on GIS on the East Coast after Hurricane Sandy, but this event hit [me] harder because I was born and raised here. I remembered an Estes Park coffee shop I liked, and then I could see from the images that it was really flooded. This hit in my backyard.

what’s rewarding about your job?

By providing scientific information to decision makers, I can help them make better decisions for the future. If I can show policymakers with my data that an area is vulnerable—that perhaps people should mitigate their risk by adopting better building codes—then I help these communities. I can’t lift walls of homes or dig holes, but this is my way of helping the community.

iain hYde

“all disasters are local.”

degree: Mpa with a concentration in emergency Management and Homeland Security (in progress)

currenT poSiTion: State disaster Recovery Manager, Colorado division of Homeland Security and emergency Management

what did you do during the floods?

I started my position the day before the Waldo Canyon fire began, in June 2012. With the floods in 2013, we have had back-to-back disasters. There was a lot that was surprising about the floods. We saw rivers moving into new channels, we saw entire neighborhoods cut off because roads were washed out, and the sheer duration of the storm was something I had not seen in my lifetime. Our focus at the state level is to provide support, with many other state agencies, to local communities in the midst of a disaster, support that will help both short-term and long-term recovery.

All disasters are local. They start local, and they end local. The true champions of disaster recovery are local—the nonprofits, the citizens, local governance. Our role at the state level is to support them in any way we can. We attend meetings, work through the multitude of recovery issues that arise throughout the process, help communi-ties with grant applications, coordinate other agencies and resources that are needed and support planning for the future. The community that has gone through the disaster has to drive the vision of what it can be in the future. Our goal is to help a community realize that vision.

what’s rewarding about your job?

Everything is rewarding. We have the tools to provide support, and we’re in a position to help folks’ lives get bet-ter. That’s what gets you up every day.

JeSSe rozelle

“We’re using cutting-edge technology to help people.”

degree: Ba geography and giSci Certificate ’07

currenT poSiTion: Risk analyst/giS Coordinator, FeMa, Region Viii

what did you do during the floods?

We watched reports from the weather service very carefully, and when we saw flooding, we started mapping the extent of the flood inundation. Our main goal was to paint a comprehensive picture of the extent of damage from community to community. That helps provide deci-sion makers with the best information possible on communities impacted so they can triage, do search and rescue, start recovery efforts and fix roads. We were very busy, and we still are.

These floods were challenging be-cause for two weeks we had significant cloud cover, and that made it difficult to gather plane and satellite imagery. When we finally got the images, there were many shocking ones, but the sheer extent of the flooding damage in Lyons really stood out.

I live in Golden, and there was a stream near my house that rose to high levels. I was working the flood all day and then going home and keeping an eye on the river by my house.

what’s rewarding about your job?

We provide decision makers with information on the impact of disaster as quickly and efficiently as possible to help them respond with staff and supplies. We’re using cutting-edge technology to help people.

“Disasters can be depressing—it’s disease, injury, death—but we prepare students who can then go out and change the world,” said Thomas. “They do amazing things.”

8

educAtiOn

New BA in education offered

in JanuarY 2014, Tina SmiTh

was one of the first students to begin work toward a BA in Teaching, Learning and Development, the first undergradu-ate degree offered by the School of Education & Human Development (SEHD).

“This program… was exactly what I was looking for,” Smith said. To have a BA from a school like CU Denver is outstanding.”

The degree trains undergraduate students to become teachers in three areas: early childhood education (birth through age 8), elementary education (ages 5 through 12) and special educa-tion (ages 5 through 21). A fourth area of specialty, in human development and family relations, will begin in the fall of 2014. The Colorado Board of Education unanimously approved the new four-year, 126-credit-hour degree in August, calling it “extremely high-quality.”

Even though she had taught at a Montessori school for more than a decade, Smith needed a degree to main-tain her status as a lead teacher. She will get a head start in the program by transferring credits earned back in what she calls her hippie days at CU-Boulder, along with credits she has earned at the Community College of Denver.

“Finally, I am getting both the university and the degree I wanted,” she said. “CU Denver has a long history in education, and you are supported in the classroom as you learn to teach. They will do everything in their power

to help you succeed, and that makes a huge difference.”

U.S. News & World Report has ranked SEHD as one of the top education

schools in the nation. The undergraduate program

adds dimension to an already well-regarded

school.“ We a re n o w

able to leverage the incredible strength

we have always had at the graduate level in the

undergraduate experience,” said barbara Seidl, PhD,

SEHD associate dean for academic pro-grams and undergraduate experiences.

The school’s Urban Community Teacher Education program has

already established rich partner-ships with local schools and

teachers during the past 20 years.

“Participants in this new BA program will benefit from strong school and community partnerships that are unmatched in the state,” said rebecca KanTor, SEHD dean. “In a state and country that are becoming more and more diverse, the skills that we provide are extremely valued by employers.”

Unlike many traditional under-graduate teacher education programs, which consign student teaching to 12 weeks in the fourth year of preparation, the clinical education experiences in this program are threaded throughout the four years. Graduate students are required to have 800 clinical hours; undergraduate students will be required to have even more than 800 hours, starting in their first year.

“This program is a fusion of theory and practice,” said Seidl.

The BA in Teaching, Learning and Development is also distinguished from other programs by its focused and consistent commitment to social justice.

“We recognize that children come from different cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and our students learn to teach in the context of diversity,” said Seidl. “We don’t just pay lip service to these differences. Our students get real-life experiences in diverse communities, and they are changed by the experience.”

elYSia vigil, who is midway through her freshman year in the

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), will be one of the first current students to move into the program. Inspired to become a teacher by her aunt who was a kindergarten teacher in Denver Public Schools, Vigil could see the difference teachers make dur-ing her high school years at St. Mary’s Academy.

“Teachers have so much impact,” Vigil said. “The support I got from teachers helped me learn to stand up for myself and gave me so much confidence.”

The experienced SEHD faculty know what happens to ill-prepared teachers who are not ready for the real demands of teaching. They quit. SEHD’s goal is to turn out first-year teachers who behave more like second- or third-year teachers.

Ultimately, the new program will build its reputation through students like Vigil and Smith. Listen to them talk about their love of teaching and you have a sense of what kind of students will make this program a success.

“When I would help my aunt in the classroom, children would come and ask me questions,” said Vigil. “Their eyes would light up when they finally understood a concept. That’s so amazing to watch.”

“You get a child young and build on their enthusiasm, and you’re open-ing doors for them,” said Smith. “You can show them anything they want to do is possible.”

“CU Denver has a long history in education, and you are supported in the classroom as you learn to teach. They will do everything in their power to help you succeed, and that makes a huge difference.”

wheRe have

9

the world moves at lightning speed these days, and we’d like to keep up with you. Share your news—promotions, awards or anything you find noteworthy —and let us know where you’ve been. You may also submit Class notes online at www.ucdenver.edu/classnotes.

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE/ZIP

TELEPHONE (DAY)

TELEPHONE (EVENING)

EMAIL

MAJOR

GRADUATION YEAR

NEWS

Stay involved!

i’d like to join other alumni by:

Selecting alumni award recipients

assisting with commencement

Working on legislative issues and promoting the university as a Cu advocate

Volunteering for special events

providing information about my career field to students and alumni

Selecting scholarship recipients

Raising funds for scholarships

Calling and welcoming new students

mail To: CU Denver Alumni Relations Campus Box 189, p.o. Box 173364 denver, Co 80217-3364 email to uCdalumni@ucdenver.edu call 303-315-2333

iveThe KenKel learned that she shares a birthday with a cool down-town cat: Milo the Lynx. She already feels a special kinship—not to men-tion pride in her new school—thanks to the young and spry CU Denver mascot.

Kenkel, a transfer from Southern California, started at CU Denver this semester to study criminal justice. She wasn’t about to miss Milo’s 1st birthday celebration, which drew about 300 students, faculty and staff for everything a first birthday should have: hats, cupcakes, popcorn, piñatas, cotton candy, cookies, face painting, gifts and balloons.

“I had to come and share my birthday with him,” said Kenkel, who was turn-ing 27. “I love it here at CU Denver. I love the downtown location and everybody is really friendly. I’m from Los Angeles, so I’m used to the city life. I fit right in.”

And so does Milo, who was cre-ated by the Student Government Association as a way to give CU Denver a sense of its own commu-nity, identity and spirit.

As the loudspeakers in Tivoli Turnhalle blared the Beatles’ “Birthday,” the CU Denver Cheer and Dance team danced with Milo while students, faculty and staff checked out the party-style booths filling the room. Raul

Milo turns one!

Cardenas, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, gave the furry crit-ter a big birthday hug on the Turnhalle stage. “This is a historic moment for us,” Cardenas said. “Milo, you’re tre-mendous, a little furry, and really cute. What we heard from our students was that they wanted something to be a part of, something that represented our community, something that repre-sented CU Denver.”

Other mascots from the Auraria Campus joined in the celebration. Swoop (Community College of Denver) and Rowdy (Metropolitan State

University of Denver) presented gifts and danced with Milo before attendees cut his cake, adorned with a large glitter-spangled No. 1, and sang a boisterous “Happy Birthday.”

Milo, who was created by the Student Government Association as a way to give CU Denver a sense of its own community, identity and spirit.

1010

1970sdiana flahive, MA Educa-tion ’76 and Denver Community Leadership Forum Certificate ’92, is a community minster for Capitol Hill United Ministries. Among other accomplishments, Flahive helped create the com-munity schools for Denver Pub-lic Schools, started the after school and childcare program for Kaleidoscope Korner, and created Escuela de Guadelupe, a dual language school for low income, Latino children. Other life experiences include dancing with the Dali Lama and having an art show in Thailand.

1980sSandra l. huSK, PhD Edu-cation ’89, is the chief executive officer for AVID, a nonprofit corporation which prepares students for four-year college eligibility. Prior, Husk was super-intendent of both Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Salem, Ore.

1990sSarah aurich, BS Account-ing ’95, has been appointed deputy director of the Office of Long Term Care for the Colorado Department of Human Services. Aurich streamlines services and implemented recent state audit recommendations in addition to developing new performance measures related to services.

michael KounTze, MBA ’93, is vice president, business development officer with Wells Fargo Bank in San Antonio, Texas. Kountze is responsible for

providing real estate and equip-ment financing, treasury man-agement, payroll, insurance and merchant services for companies in the San Antonio metro area.

roY wilSon, MA Humanities ’90, published “The Windmills of Your Mind,” the second volume of his series, “Mulling Over School and Life.” This book studies thirty-nine individu-als from his high school class to examine the relationship of reflexivity to the level of social status they reached; it discusses reflexivity, having conversations with yourself silently in your head and/or thinking things over, and is available in print, digital and audio.

2000sSandra l. JohanSSon, BA International Studies with an emphasis on Latin America ’06, is obtaining her PhD in political science at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. She has been working on peace and conflict issues in Colombia, completing research projects, working for non-government organizations and teaching uni-versity classes since 2009. She plans to write her dissertation on mining, the private sector and conflict in Colombia. Her other research interests include child recruitment into armed conflicts, gender issues in cultures of vio-lence, and primary commodities and conflict duration.

Karen maeSTaS, MS Civil Engineering ’01, was honored by the American Council of Engi-neering Companies of Colorado

as the 2014 Outstanding Woman in Engineering. Maestas was recognized as a woman in a leadership role with outstanding achievements, as well as being a role model for young engineers.

SpiroS proTopSalTiS, PhD Public Affairs ’08, joined the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development in the U.S. Department of Education.

laura m. randall, BS Ge-ology ’04, is a geologist at Border to Border Exploration.

brandY reiTTer, MPA ’08, has been named town adminis-trator for Buena Vista. She was featured recently in the Chaffee County Times.

Sarah SillS, MS Technical Communications and MPA ’08, is the director of Budget and Policy for the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Sills was the legislative liaison for CDHS, and prior, was the government and community relations manager for Denver Health and Hospital Authority.

nancY STohlman, BA Eng-lish Writing ’01, released a second novel, The Monster Opera. Her other books include Searching for Suzi (2009), Live From Pal-estine (2003) and three antholo-gies of flash fiction, including Fast Forward: The Mix Tape (2010), which was a finalist for a 2011 Colorado Book Award. She is a founding member of Fast Forward Press, the creator and curator of The F Bomb Flash Fiction Reading Series in Denver, and her work was nominated for The Best of the Web.

aLUMNI

Sarah SillsKaren Maestas Brandy ReitterSarah Aurich

in memoriam

Submit your class notes online: www.ucdenver.edu/classnotes

1970sb. carol adamS, BFA ’76, died January 13, 2014.

marie l. rogne lacY, PhD Education ’74, died February 19, 2013.

1980snina forgo, MBA ’86, died November 1, 2013.

JanYce anne lindgren (woodY), MA Education ’81, died February 18, 2014.

caTherine nolan, MBA ’88, died March 23, 2013.

1990sKemme marie bucKner-luKeS (bucKner), MA Counseling Psychology/Counselor Education ’99, died February 19, 2014.

JoSeph dale farmer, BS Chemistry ’94, died August 19, 2013.

rebecca lYnn green (Scamman), MBA ’98, died February 2, 2014.

paul evereTT groTh, XMBA ’93, died September 4, 2013.

ThomaS f. KerShiSniK, XMBA ’95, died September 23, 2013.

Karen g. KnuTSon, BA History ’84 and MBA ’90, died February 3, 2014.

david clarence maSTin, MArch ’92, died September 3, 2013.

richard l. SimpSon, MBA ’94, died October 6, 2013.

2000sbeTh marie renninger, MA Special Education ’03 and Specialist in Education ’08, died December 24, 2013.

2010smargareT e. miSTrY, PhD Education ’12, died September 13, 2013.

Trevor rowleY, Accounting Degree in Process, died September 8, 2013.

did you know...the denver Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award winners included Sabrina d’agosta, MA Political Science ‘03; Kelli Kelly, BA Communication and Theatre ‘98; and Jennifer Leitsch, MBA and MS Marketing ‘08.

2010scorrêa d’almeida, PhD Public Affairs ’10, adjunct associ-ate professor at the School of In-ternational and Public Affairs at Columbia University, created the new Development Practice Lab to give public affairs students hands-on learning opportunities.

marK goldfarb, MPA ’13, accepted an accounting position with the global nonprofit, Water for People.

daniel huTTon, MPA ’13, was selected for a position as management analyst for the City of Centennial.

marina STuKova, BS Biol-ogy ’13, is part of the National Cancer Research Training Award fellowship with the National In-stitutes of Health National Can-cer Institute in Washington, DC.

11

financial ServiceS*www.ucdenver.edu/downtownalumni/benefitsBANKING• Checking, money market accounts, CDs

and iRas• Auto and mortgage loans and HELOC• Home banking and bill pay• Branches throughout the metro area

HEALTH/DENTAL• GradMed – Short-term major medical insurance• AlumniMed – Renewable major medical

insurance• AlumniDent – Dental Insurance• Alumni Disability Income – Long-term

disability insurance• AlumniLTC – Long-term care insurance• SupliMed65+ – Medicare supplement• AlumniHIP – Hospital indemnity insurance• AlumniAbroad – Travel health and trip

cancellation insurance• Custom Travel – Travel health and trip

cancellation insurance for groups• Alumni PetHealth – Accident and illness

protection for cats and dogs• Travel Assist – Emergency travel assistance• Alumni ID Recovery – Service for identity

theft victims• AlumniAnnuity – Fixed annuity for

retirement planning• AlumniTerm – Group term life insurance• AlumniTerm 10/20 – Level 10- and 20-year

group term life insurance• AlumniTerm 50+ – Group term life insurance

renewable to age 95• AlumniAD&D – Group accidental death and

dismemberment insurance

AUTO/HOME• Exclusive offering to alumni for auto, home and

renter’s insurance

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCEthe ultimate Roadside assistance emergency benefits include:• Extended Towing Service – up to 25 miles from

point of pick-up• Delivery of Supplies (water, oil, gas)• Services for Flat Tires• Battery and Locksmith Service• Unlimited Occurrences (one emergency road

service every 72 hours)The Ultimate Roadside +Plus offers the above benefits plus:• Automobile Deductible Reimbursement – up to

$500 (comprehensive/collision claims)• Key/Key Fob Replacement• Medefile Basic Membership – Maintain your

personal medical records online

USING MILES MEMBERSHIP• Register for a FREE lifetime membership (retails

at $29.99/yr.) to the service that helps save time and money ... and all your miles and points

• Easily track all your loyalty programs in one place, from airlines to groupon to Rei

• Find ways to get free travel and more with your miles, points or credits. earn more points with access to thousands of bonus deals in all of your favorite loyalty programs

alumni online communiTY

alumnilink.ucdenver.edu• Receive periodic e-newsletters and updates from

the school or college you attended• Search for former classmates in the

online directory• Register for Alumni Association events

cu advocacY program303-860-5600 | cuadvocates@cu.edu www.cu.edu/cuadvocates• Promote CU’s value and contributions around the

state with elected officials, media, businesses and civic groups in Colorado and across the country

• Share your story of CU’s importance—these stories help put a face on the university and will provide compelling evidence for state investment

campuS recreaTion303-556-3210 www.ucdenver.edu/campusrec• Enhance your level of fitness at the Campus

Recreation Center for $100 per semester

career cenTer303-556-2250 www.ucdenver.edu/careercentertake advantage of the Career Center’s Just aSK! Job Link for free during 2013. Benefits for this service and more include:• Access to all available job announcements• Two resume reviews through the 15-minute

Quick tip appointments• Access to the on-campus interviewing program• Notification of all Career Center job fairs,

networking events and workshops• Access to the career resource library, including

Focus2, goinglobal, Career Briefs and CareerSpots videos

librarYwww.ucdenver.edu/downtownalumni/benefitsthe auraria Library is pleased to offer Cu denver alumni access to Sage publications • Includes more than 645 scholarly and

professional journals • Access is available online, on an any time, any

place basis

cu licenSe plaTeS303-315-2333 www.ucdenver.edu/licenseplates• Cost includes a mandatory $50 donation to the

alumni Scholarship Fund• CU plates may be purchased upon completion

of an application and receipt of an approval certificate from the alumni association

• An additional $50 county clerk fee and your standard vehicle registration fees are applicable

*these affinity partnerships benefit alumni association programs and scholarships, including CU on the Horizon.

Dave LaceyDr. Maria Uribe Dan Pabon

Alumni Award WinnersThe univerSiTY of colorado

denver alumni aSSociaTion honored at Spring Commencement three remarkable Coloradans whose contributions have directly benefited the university and Denver community.

Alumni Leadership Award winner dr. maria uribe has affected thou-sands of lives through her outstanding leadership and service in the Denver Public Schools and with the teacher candidates from CU Denver. Her con-nection to the university runs deep: she earned her doctoral degree in 2004 and is currently a senior instructor in the university’s School of Education & Human Development.

For the past 22 years, Dr. Uribe has worked in the Denver Public Schools at Goldrick Elementary School, as a bilingual teacher, assistant principal and principal. Goldrick is an urban, largely bilingual school, where over 68 percent of the children are English language learners; it has partnered with CU Denver for 20 years. Dr. Uribe was the coach and the site coordinator for CU Denver’s Professional Development School partnership with Goldrick for seven years. Her advice is often sought by professionals at the district, state and university levels to help improve education for children and teachers.

An alumnus of both the Denver Campus (Biology ’76) and the Anschutz Medical Campus (MD ’83), Alumni Appreciation Award winner david laceY has given back to his alma mater in substantial ways over the years.

Dr. Lacey recently retired from a successful career in pathology as a clinician and researcher, spending years at biotechnology firm Amgen and rising to become senior vice president of research. After years of contributing to the CU School of Medicine, he and

his wife established the David L. and Nancy M. Lacey Scholarship Fund at CU Denver in 2007 to provide scholar-ships to students with disabilities. They continue to support the fund.

The Laceys’ most recent generosity will establish the first-ever assistive technology lab for the University of Colorado Denver’s Office of Disability Resources and Services. The compre-hensive new suite, to be named after Nancy Lacey, will be located on the second floor of the new Academic Building, scheduled to open in August. The center is expected to make a dif-ference in hundreds of lives, now and into the future.

Finally, Alumni Legislative Award winner and State Representative dan

pabon is a champion for CU, often working behind the scenes to advance the university.

Representing Colorado’s District 4 in northwest Denver, Rep. Pabon is as-sistant majority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives, and serves on the appropriations and finance committees, as well as the legislative council. In his leadership position he has worked to influence the caucus to support higher education and the University of Colorado in particular.

Rep. Pabon grew up in the same community he is now serving in the Colorado House of Representatives. Pabon attended CU-Boulder, where he was elected student body president his senior year, and class president while in law school. Rep. Pabon also worked on higher education issues as the vice-chair of the Auraria Higher Education Center Board.

To nominate someone for an award, contact the Alumni Association at 303-315-2333 or ucdalumni@ucdenver.edu.

Non Profit OrganizationUS PostageP A I DPermit #831Denver, CO

Office of Alumni RelationsCampus Box 189P.O. Box 173364Denver, CO 80217-3364

AlUMni EVEnTSRECRUIT DEnVER ALUMnI OnLY CAREER EXPOWednesday, June 18, 2014 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Denver Marriott Tech Center

alumni and career offices for colleges and universities are teaming up with MyWorkster for the Recruit denver alumni only Career expo for their graduates. employers from a variety of industries will be present to meet outstanding alumni to fill professional positions.

Registration is required, but the event is free. please register by June 13. Questions? Contact the Career Center at 303-556-2250 or www.ucdenver.edu/uCdalumnievents.

ALUMnI ASSOCIATIOn AnnUAL MEETInGSunday, June 22, 2014 4 p.m. Palm Restaurant, Downtown Denver

Meeting: Free and open to all alumni

agenda: election of officers and board members, committee reports, bylaws ammendments and other business that may come before the members.

optional dinner following: $15 per person.

Register by June 16.

A ROARIn’ GOOD TIMEWednesday, July 23, 2014 6:30 - 9 p.m. Denver Zoo

What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys? the whole zoo, of course! imagine frolicking with your family, playing with the pandas and cavorting with the carnivores.

the denver Zoo will open its doors to Cu alumni, friends and their families on Wednesday, July 23, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for children 3 – 12, free for kids under 3

Register by July 14, 2014

naMe

addReSS

CitY State Zip

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CAREER EXPOnuMBeR attending

AnnUAL MEETInGnuMBeR attending x $15/peRSon =

DEnVER ZOOnuMBeR attending x $15/aduLtS =

x $10/KidS 3-12 =

x KidS undeR 3 FRee

Your payment is your reservation.

queSTionS/more informaTion: 303-315-2333 www.ucdenver.edu/uCdalumnievents

maKe checKS paYable To:Cu denver alumni association

mail To:Cu denver alumni RelationsCampus Box 189, p.o. Box 173364 denver, Co 80217-3364