Colorado & communities

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 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 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.

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.

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.

Jan 10, 2024 by Ellen Patterson

Colleen Maleski is a ­­­public affairs and management consultant for GBSM, supporting nonprofit and government clients to improve organizational processes, effectively communicate with key audiences, and meaningfully include community members they serve in their decision-making processes. Previously, at StriveTogether, she supported more than 70 communities to facilitate cross-sector collaboration to improve student outcomes through continuous improvement, events, trainings, grants, and community co-design. Colleen started her career in corporate social responsibility, executive communications, and public affairs at Raytheon.

Dec 13, 2023 by Ellen Patterson

Kharis Eppstein is an audit manager with the City and County of Denver Auditor’s Office and will celebrate her seven-year work anniversary in January 2024. She works primarily on performance audits and has audited topics such as Homeless Encampment Response, Affordable Housing, Parks Management, Mental Health Services in Jail, and the Denver Botanic Gardens. She has also been a field active volunteer with Alpine Rescue Team — a backcountry search and rescue team based out of Evergreen — since 2019 and has been the President since January 2022.

Dec 6, 2023 by Ellen Patterson

Thanks to her credentials from CU Denver as a Master of Public Administration and Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP), Alaina McWhorter catapulted her public service career from an entry- to mid-level financial analyst to a government affairs specialist advising executive leadership at the State Legislature, the City and County of Denver, and numerous nonprofit partners on best practices to achieve policy goals and program outcomes.

Nov 29, 2023 by Ellen Patterson

Joel Gunn is a Deputy Coroner and Coroner Investigator for the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office in Golden, Colorado and has held this position for for the past three-and-a-half years. Prior to working for Jefferson County, he was a Deputy Coroner for the Douglas County Coroner’s Office in Castle Rock.

Nov 15, 2023 by Ellen Patterson

Naureen Singh is a Youth Support and Development Specialist at the Asian Pacific Development Center and the Policy Director of Colorado Sikhs. Naureen has also earned her commission and currently works on addressing claims of unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment in the United States Air Force. She graduated with her Master of Criminal Justice degree from the University of Colorado Denver. Singh has extensive professional experience with grassroots organizing, interfaith coalition building, and community building. Recently, she has been selected to lead the Colorado Sikh History Project.