Feb 21, 2023

For Aaron Franz, a CU Denver student and veteran, the future is always on his mind. That’s why he decided to meet with CU Denver’s February Alumni Resident: Denver City Council Member Chris Herndon MPA ’13. As an International Studies major hoping to pursue a career in public administration, Franz had the opportunity to talk with Herndon about transitioning to being a civilian after serving, higher education later in life, and future career goals.

Jan 31, 2023

Imagine if your day job involved stewarding a public education system with nearly 900,000 students and 178 districts? That’s the reality for Katy Anthes MPA ’01, PhD ’07 Colorado’s Commissioner of Education and two-time graduate of CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs (SPA). A self-described “education policy wonk,” Anthes earned a master’s and a doctoral degree from SPA and taught statistics and public administration as an adjunct faculty member. These experiences laid the groundwork for her current role leading education policy on a statewide level.

Feb 28, 2023

Look around you: From roads that link neighborhoods to city governments that introduce recycling programs, to people that raise funds to build playgrounds and concert venues, our world is shaped by civics and public affairs. And students who are interested in a career in these sectors can make big impacts in their communities. At CU Denver, students can choose an educational path that focuses on public administration or public affairs—but how do these degree choices differ?

Feb 28, 2023

This year, as CU Denver celebrates its own golden anniversary, SPA is also celebrating 50 years of education, research, and outreach that helps cities and communities operate better and more equitably.

Feb 27, 2023 by Toula Wellbrook

CU Denver’s new Center for Policy Democracy, (CPD) housed at the School of Public Affairs and co-directed by Professors Tanya Heikkila and Chris Weible, hosted the inaugural Conference on Policy Process Research (COPPR) on the Auraria Campus from January 12 to 14, 2023. Of the nearly 400 policy process researchers who attended the hybrid conference, more than half represented institutions outside the U.S. An evening reception was hosted at the Tivoli Turnalle on January 13.

Feb 17, 2023 by Toula Wellbrook

The School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver established the new Center for Community Safety and Resilience (CCSR), a collaborative and innovative center whose mission is to advance research-based evidence and practice toward individual and community safety, resilience, and justice through effective programs, practitioner and community education, and public policy advocacy and analysis.

Feb 7, 2023

Professor Tanya Heikkila, Co-Director of the Center for Policy and Democracy at the School of Public Affairs, and co-author Andrea Gerlak, offer their perspective on navigating the Colorado River crisis.

Jan 24, 2023 by Toula Wellbrook

The Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) program at the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is ranked among the top 25 programs in the nation for online graduate criminal justice, for a fourth consecutive year according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs rankings.

Dec 2, 2022 by Joan Fishburn

Jennifer R. Darling (MPA '00) is the president and CEO of Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation. She has worked in the nonprofit sector since earning her bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Northwestern University in 1991. She earned her master's degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs in 2000. Now in her 14th year of service at Children's Colorado, she is also an effective community volunteer. She was actively involved in forming the Institute for Leaders in Development and continues to serve as a program instructor and former Board member.

Nov 16, 2022

Since 2017, students in Randy Harrison’s ‘Economic Development’ class (PUAD 5630) have had the opportunity to engage with Colorado communities in an experience unlike any felt in a typical classroom. Through its partnership with Downtown Colorado, Inc., this SPA course allows students to become project coordinators in a process known as the Colorado Challenge Program; here, students connect with community members and experts in the field to establish a plan of work to engage public, private, and non-profit partners in addressing a significant community challenge over the course of their semester. Through their partnership, SPA students and DCI have connected with and created initiatives for almost 30 Colorado communities.

Nov 2, 2022 by Joan Fishburn

Sara Reynolds is the Vice President of Operations for the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. She oversees the daily operations of COGA, including financial management, membership development, programs and events, and community investments.

Oct 18, 2022 by Joan Fishburn

For more than three decades, Michael Penny (MPA '97) has exemplified the ideals of leadership, collaboration, partnership, and teamwork as the administrative manager for both large and small municipalities across Colorado. His passion and dedication to building robust communities that address the critical needs of citizens, businesses, and industry are evidenced by the strong footprint Michael has left in each community he has touched.

Sep 30, 2022 by Joan Fishburn

Joan Fishburn, Career Services and Alumni Engagement Manager, recently interviewed Nga Vương-Sandoval (MCJ' 02) to talk about her lifelong commitment to advocating on behalf of refugees, immigrants, and other displaced people here in Colorado and around the world. Nga speaks from experience. As a child, Nga and her family fled their homeland due to the Việt Nam War and became refugees. They were displaced in refugee camps before resettling in the U.S. and were known as "boat people."

Sep 1, 2022 by Joan Fishburn

Graduate academic advisor Antoinette Sandoval has been an integral member of the CU Denver School of Public Affairs staff since 1997 and has positively impacted hundreds of students throughout her career. Antoinette retired from SPA on August 31, 2022. Learn more in this Q&A with Antoinette.

Jul 12, 2022

Jun 27, 2022

Jun 24, 2022

This month, a group of 23 young professionals traveled from their homes in Africa to the University of Colorado Denver, as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. The fellowship is a six-week leadership and academic program, where participants can further their careers and make international connections.

Jun 25, 2022

Since its inception in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship program has seen participation from more than 5000 young African leaders from all countries on the continent. That’s according to the Department of State’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) program website.

May 23, 2022 by Maria Limon

Maria Limon, Rural Technical Assistance Manager and Fostering Youth Leadership Specialist for the Center on Domestic Violence at the CU Denver School of Public Affairs, shares powerful experiences of working with Team Unstoppable, a group of youth leaders at several high schools in Denver for the last year and a half. They are “an unstoppable movement using humanity’s compassion and love to end all forms of violence.”

May 10, 2022

One faculty member from each school and college has been selected to receive the TIAA Chancellor’s Urban Engaged Scholars award for the second year. Presented by CityCenter, this award recognizes the outstanding contributions of CU Denver faculty to the Denver-metro region through research and creative activities that drive our community forward.