University of Denver Autumn 2024

3 DU Days in Denver p. 20 Research at 14,000 Feet p. 28

Time Capsule p. 34

AUTUMN 2024

CONTENTS

20 Our alumni keep busy day in and day out making Denver a great place to work, live, play and visit, so we created a 72-hour itinerary that showcases some of the best they and the city of Denver have to offer. 3 DU Days in Denver

CONTENTS

28

Research at 14,000 Feet

The Velotta Lab seeks to understand how tiny mammals have genetically adapted to survive at Colorado’s highest altitudes.

Photos from the archives explore how campus has evolved throughout the years. Time Capsule 34

Departments 4 INBOX 6 NEWSROOM 10 ATHLETICS 13 PUBLIC GOOD 14 RELEASES 16 ACADEMICS 18 ARTS & CULTURE

Forever Crimson & Gold 42 Class Notes 52 In Memoriam 54 Alumni Stories

On the Cover Students from the 1930s in front of today’s University Hall.

3 DU Days in Denver p. 20 Research at 14,000 Feet p. 28

Time Capsule p. 34

Digital Exclusives du.edu/magazine Inbox: Move-In Memories RadioEd: Season 5, Episode 1 DU Stories in Motion: The Denver Difference Campaign Launch AUTUMN 2024

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

Inspired by entrepreneurs in his family, Zak Mbereko came to DU with a dream of being an entrepreneur. At DU, he found a community that championed his entrepreneurship dreams and scholarships that laid the groundwork for his success. Zak combined his passions for shoes and art into a thriving custom sneaker business. He has customized shoes for the DU gymnastics team, the Colorado College hockey team, and the University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders and family. With the launch of The Denver Difference campaign, we were excited to work with Zak to create custom sneakers for DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. The project was a showcase of Zak’s 4D Experience and his entrepreneurial excellence—and a celebration of DU’s future made possible by the campaign.

His DU journey is the 4D Experience: where academics, well-being and character development feed into career

preparation and post graduation success.

Check out the video of his process and the surprise reveal:

Help students like Zak achieve their dreams by making a gift in support of entrepreneurship or scholarships today! give.du.edu/scholarships

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

FROM THE CHANCELLOR

Welcome home, DU

Autumn 2024

Volume 25 | Issue 1

Welcome to the new academic year! There is so much to look forward to in the coming months, but what I am most proud of is how the University of Denver is leaning into our commitment to free expression and pluralism. We are entering the heat of election season, with feelings, passions and ideas burning brightly on all sides. It is in these charged moments when higher education can serve as a model for the power of intellectual curiosity, engagement and humility. From presidential debate watch gatherings, a “DU Votes” campaign and robust dialogue between experts and community members to politics hours, community roundtables on issues impacting our city and a suite of Constitution Day programming, DU is prepared to help our community and students navigate this election season. I hope you join us. In this issue of the University of Denver Magazine, we celebrate the alumni in the Denver area who make our city a great place to live and visit. The “3 DU Days in Denver” travel itinerary highlights local businesses and institutions owned by alumni or connected to DU. Spend time with the photo

Senior Vice Chancellor of University Relations Brad Bohlander Associate Vice Chancellor of Communications & Issues Management Shira Good Director of Communications Gretchen Pressley Director of Creative & Brand Management Amy Miller Managing Editor Joy Hamilton Senior Editor Heather Hein Production Designer Todd Fisher Contributing Writers

Emma Atkinson Janette Ballard Jordyn Reiland Connor Mokrzycki (BA ’22) Contributing Designers Evan Cotgageorge Miles Woolen Photographer Wayne Armstrong Multimedia Producer Carri Wilbanks Associate Multimedia Producer Katie Polson Distribution Coordinator William Colner

essay, “Time Capsule,” which shows campus scenes from the past contrasted with how they look today. As we reflect on how far we’ve come, I am proud of the difference DU has made in our community and world. You can see this impact in other stories about the groundbreaking research lab on Mount Blue Sky, 50 years of women’s sports, and the accomplishments of our faculty, students and alumni in the fields of science, education, communications, art and more. As campus comes alive with the promise of another academic year, I am excited to see the innovation and success that lies ahead and the difference we will all make across disciplines and our communities—here at home in Denver and beyond.

Printed on 100% PCW recycled paper

The University of Denver Magazine is published three times a year (fall, spring and summer) by the University of Denver Division of Marketing and Communications, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816. The University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) is an equal opportunity Institution.

magazine.du.edu dumag@du.edu • 303.871.2711

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

INBOX

Another reason to love DU I just finished reading “50 Reasons to Love DU” in your spring issue. My wife and I enjoyed your overview, and we learned much about DU that we didn't know before. As residents of the Highlands Ranch Golf Club community (now the University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch), we have to point out that you missed one of the key aspects of the DU community: the DU golf course. In our opinion, it was a massive gift to DU and will serve the institution for decades to come. Our youngest son, Jordan (MBA ’13) graduated with the five-year dual engineering/MBA program. That unique option was very instrumental in his choice to attend DU. He is doing well and has a wonderful, challenging job—now married, and they are expecting their first child later this year. Jerry and Ann Rath Highlands Ranch, Colorado Buchtel and a forgone rivalry I always enjoy reading the DU alumni

grandfather’s daily calendar while he was chancellor of DU and governor of Colorado. He was a Methodist minister, and invoking a higher power’s help in a football match with CU shows how serious he was. “Moving in a Green Direction” (#27) was also a pleasure to see because Buchtel Tower, with its new recycled copper dome, is the only remaining part of Buchtel Chapel, which suffered a devastating fire in 1983. Readers might be interested to know that when my great-grandfather was both chancellor and governor, the copper dome of the state capitol building was covered with gold leaf (1908). The gold was probably not recycled, but it was plentiful in those days ($20 per ounce). Henry A. Buchtel IV Ann Arbor, Michigan

magazine, but two of the “50 Reasons to Love DU” in the spring issue were particularly interesting because of their significance for our family. Taking sports rivalries seriously (#6) has a very long tradition, as evidenced by a 1908 entry in my great

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

INBOX

Lakewood, Colorado

We learned much about DU that we didn’t know before.” Jerry & Ann Rath

Adam Plotkin (BA ’90, JD ’93)

Did you know? DU’s signature brick paths were inspired by

#TENver The celebration after the game with a newly mounted National Champions “hat”! Enjoying the win with fellow Pios Andy Weiner (BA ’90) and Neal Dermer (BSAC ’91).

Chancellor Emeritus Dan Ritchie’s renovation of his California home (formerly owned by actress Elizabeth Taylor). Practically speaking, the bricks allow water to penetrate the ground and support greenery on campus—and they age well and are easy to maintain. But the bricks winding paths mimic the journey a student takes while in higher education and remind us of the importance of the journey, not the destination. serve a metaphorical purpose as well: The

We want to hear from you! Email us at dumag@du.edu to share your DU memories.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

NEWSROOM

The Class of 2028 at a glance The University of Denver welcomed its newest undergraduate students to campus on Sept. 3. Here’s a look at who they are and where they come from.

1,350 new students

47 states represented

35 countries represented

30% from Colorado

14% from the Northeast

4% are international

18% from the West

17% from the Midwest

12% from the Southwest

5% from the Southeast

62% come from 500+ miles away

30% are students of color 4 Boettcher scholars

19% are first-generation students

3.76 average GPA

6 Daniels Fund recipients

27 Davis New Mexico Scholars

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

NEWSROOM

Certificate program trains new generation of housing affordability experts

The affordable housing crisis in the West and across the United States has led to skyrocketing demand for professionals who have the knowledge and technical skills to build more affordable housing and more equitable communities. In response, the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management in the Daniels College of Business has partnered with the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute at the Sturm College of Law to offer the Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing, a non-degree program that will provide a focused, fast-tracked pathway for participants to learn the complexities of affordable housing development and the practical skills needed to work in this specialized sector. The eight-module, eight-month online program is designed to “upskill” professionals currently DU in the news Below is a sampling of the wide range of the people and topics that have appeared in some of the nation’s biggest media outlets. Chancellor Jeremy Haefner on freedom of expression Chancellor Jeremy Haefner appeared on the PBS program, “The Open Mind,” along with Rutgers University president Jonathan Holloway, to discuss speech, protest and the importance of civil discourse in an episode called “Campus on Edge: Civics to the Rescue.” Seth Masket on presidential politics and online enthusiasm Seth Masket, political science professor and director of the Center on American Politics, has been everywhere in this presidential election

working in the sector or “reskill” those looking to transition into the field. This includes real estate professionals, developers, planners, policy makers, attorneys, civic leaders, housing advocates, property managers, architects, lenders and others. “We’re uniquely positioned at DU to help meet this demand,” says Vivek Sah, co-director of the program and director of the Burns School. With interdisciplinary coursework in social and public policy issues, regulatory and legal frameworks, project finance and funding mechanisms, and construction management and design, as well as project development and property management tools, he says, “We are training professionals to not only understand the broad scope of affordable housing issues but also how to best address them.” Learn more du.edu/affordablehousing . year, writing about and being interviewed about everything from debates to whether memes can help win elections. He has appeared on several local news programs (KUSA, KMGH, KDVR and Fox 31 Denver) and has been quoted by the Associated Press, the Atlantic, MSNBC and Voice of America. Venezuelan election puts Francisco Rodríguez in the spotlight Francisco Rodríguez, the Rice Family Professor in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, was interviewed by—or his research cited by—the New York Times and the Washington Post, among others, on the turbulent presidential election in his home country of Venezuela. The economist also wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling for a possible resolution to the disputed results, and he was interviewed about the crisis on National Public Radio.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

NEWSROOM

DU announces solar energy partnership A new partnership with solar energy company Pivot Energy will help the University of Denver offset 100% of its campus electricity use over the

For us, it’s the key step on the roadmap to carbon neutrality. It's huge—the size of these projects— and I think ultimately, it’s pretty awesome to be able to say that that we will be 100% on renewable electricity.” – Lynn Bailey, director of energy and sustainability facilities management

next three years—just one phase of its three step plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. “I am so proud of the University of Denver for its commitment to ensuring we do our part in reducing carbon emissions and slowing the advancement of climate change,” says Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “By undertaking these projects, we are making a measurable difference not just for our community, but for the world.” In addition, DU will offset travel-generated carbon by investing in reforestation, renewable energy and land management as well as eliminate natural gas emissions with conservation measures, efficiency upgrades and electrification of existing on-campus heating systems. 6 off-site net metering solar arrays Built in Larimer, Adams, Mesa and Weld Counties, the solar arrays will also provide educational opportunities for DU students.

1 new on-site solar project on the roof of the Ritchie Center 36 100% renewable electricity after project completion

months to complete solar arrays

RadioEd returns for Season 5 Looking for a new podcast for your commute? Join co-hosts Emma Atkinson and Jordyn Reiland for Season 5 of DU’s RadioEd podcast to hear from faculty publishing groundbreaking research and dig deep into the stories behind the studies. Don’t miss the most popular episodes from last season on Nazi-era art restitution, the effectiveness of timeouts in the NBA and short-term rentals. Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

ATHLETICS

How Far We’ve Come Celebrating 50 Years of Women’s Sports at DU

By Jordyn Reiland

“Be happy with what you have” is what women’s basketball head coach Doshia Woods recalls being told during her collegiate playing career in the late 90s and early 2000s. “I think then it was just a lot of ‘be grateful that you have the opportunity’,” Woods explains, referring to the chance to play basketball beyond high school. No longer is that the case. At a time when women’s sports are undeniably having a moment—at DU and across the country—Woods has seen that message she heard more than

two decades ago at Western Illinois University transform into something much greater. “Now female athletes are able to push the envelope a little bit more. You can say, ‘I’m grateful for this opportunity, but I also want to maximize the opportunity that I have,’ and they have a chance to do that,” Woods says, who will enter her fifth season at the helm of the women’s basketball team. Fifty years after women’s teams started competing at DU, it’s time to look back at how far we’ve come—and where we’re going from here.

Five Decades of Firsts

DU Athletics becomes a Division I program. Kutcher-Rinehart is hired as the head gymnastics coach.

Gymnastics becomes the first women’s program to be crowned national champions.

DU sanctions its first women’s varsity programs—basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, skiing and tennis—as members of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).

1982

1999

Lacrosse has its first season.

1974

Gymnastics wins another national championship and becomes a Division I program in 1984—the first women’s sport to do so at Denver.

DU launches its varsity women’s swimming program. 1979

1992

Burns is inducted into the DU Sports Hall of Fame.

1997

1983

1970

1980

1990

1993

Basketball qualifies for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time.

Diane Wendt is appointed DU’s first director of women’s athletics and later as senior associate athletics director.

1981

Joy Burns becomes the first woman to chair the University’s Board of Trustees in 1981, serving as board chair from 1990-2005 and 2007-2009 before she retired in 2017.

1998 Golf enters its first season of competition.

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ATHLETICS

Looking ahead Head coaches Liza Kelly, Doshia Woods, Alicia Hicken-Franklin and Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart see a bright future ahead, for the female athletes at DU and women’s sports more broadly. “As a woman in sport, for so many years, you never saw women on TV—that wasn’t a thing. So, just knowing the girls that are growing up now are seeing (female athletes on TV regularly) is powerful,” Hicken-Franklin says.

Woods sees this moment as time to build on the momentum and keep moving the needle forward to increase opportunity for women, at the collegiate level and beyond. Kelly agrees. “I want young girls to dream bigger than where we are right now and know that they can stand on the shoulders of these incredible women who went first, that truly were pioneers, that pushed the envelope, that demanded attention and support—and to use their platform to continue to grow women’s sports.”

Lacrosse advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and records its first tournament win over Jacksonville.

The co-ed ski team earns its first D-I national title since 1971.

DU welcomes women’s triathlon as its 18th varsity sport.

2000

2020

2013

Gymnastics wins its first Big 12 Conference Championship and lacrosse wins its first Big East Tournament title.

Golf wins the school’s first ever Sun Belt Conference Golf Championship, and tennis finishes 20-2 on the season, earning its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.

Volleyball qualifies for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. 2014

2021

2004

2000

2010

2020

2019 Basketball wins its first NCAA postseason game in a Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) victory against top-seeded New Mexico.

2001 Basketball and soccer advance to the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time. Gymnastics earns its first-ever bid to the NCAA National Championship. Kutcher-Rinehart’s 26-season tenure has included 25 consecutive appearances at NCAA Regionals and six NCAA Nationals team berths.

2023

Lacrosse completes a perfect regular season with a 17-0 record and advanced to the program’s first-ever NCAA Championship Semifinal.

Alicia Hicken-Franklin is hired to lead the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

Don’t Stay So Low Take Your Team Higher

go with your corporate team for a meeting, conference or retreat du.edu/kmc/book-your-event

go with your former DU classmates on the Mile Maker Trails

du.edu/kmc/give-now

go with your family on one of our new via ferrata routes

du.edu/kmc/via-ferrata

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du.edu/kennedy-mountain-campus | 303-871-5355 | kmc@du.edu

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

DU-Magazine-KMC-Ad-revised.indd 1

9/13/24 3:27 PM

PUBLIC GOOD

Research Roundup Researchers are shaping the future of education in Denver and beyond. Here are five research projects you should know about.

A brighter future for youth in foster care Only 30% of Colorado’s students in foster care will graduate alongside their peers. But a program called Fostering Opportunities, supported by DU’s Colorado Lab, dissolves barriers between child welfare, schools and other agencies through transparent communication and data sharing agreements, working on the premise that educational agencies should lead interventions. During a pilot program in Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado Lab’s evaluation demonstrated improved attendance and class pass rates. Now funded through the Foster Care Success Act, Fostering Opportunities is expanding to additional districts and gaining national attention. Women make up just 34% of the workforce in professional STEM fields. Jennifer Hoffman, Shannon Murphy and Robin Tinghitella, faculty in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, want to increase that number by putting theory into practice. Together, the trio have co-hosted science summer camps for middle school girls and study the effects of these camps on girls’ scientific self-efficacy, which they have found to increase after just one week at camp. Listen to the full story on the RadioEd podcast at du.edu/girlsinstem . A one-of-a-kind preschool on wheels Kristopher Tetzlaff, a PhD student in the Morgridge College of Education, is a co-founder of You Be You Early Learning, Colorado’s first and only nonprofit mobile preschool. After noticing Read more at du.edu/fosteringopportunities . Empowering the next generation of women in STEM

an abundance of places without affordable and equitable access to early childhood education programming—Tetzlaff and his colleagues partnered with the Aurora Housing Authority to bring school to local communities. The nonprofit has two mobile preschools—a converted library bus with a bathroom, Wi-Fi and small library, which serves the Willow Park community, and a converted RV, serving the Peoria Crossing area. Read more at du.edu/mobileearlylearning . Supporting Colorado’s school boards Provost Mary Clark, Morgridge College of Education Dean Michelle Knight-Manuel and Emeritus Chancellor Dan Ritchie came together to address a question frequently on their minds: How might DU support the important work of Colorado school boards? The result was the first-ever School Board Symposium, in which school board directors from 29 districts across the state gathered on campus for day of discussion, networking and, ultimately, action to address K-12’s most pressing challenges, like mental health, teacher retention and school closures. Read more at du.edu/schoolboards . An innovative way to evaluate teachers Teachers are there for every second of the 160-day school year. There are systems in place to educate and evaluate teachers on best practices in the classroom—but are we doing enough to make sure teacher training is culturally sensitive? In her latest book, “Teacher Evaluation as Cultural Practice: A Framework for Equity and Excellence,” María del Carmen Salazar, associate dean of the Morgridge College of Education, examines the existing state of teacher evaluations and recommends how things can be improved. du.edu/culturallyresponsive .

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

RELEASES

Top Picks for the Season New books and music to cozy up with this autumn

By Janette Ballard

Juris Ex Machina John W. Maly (JD ’08)

Landing Uphill: Seven Years at San Luis Eleanor Herz Swent (MA ’47)

In a future where AI has replaced judge and juror, the justice system has become airtight in this sci-fi legal thriller. Yet somehow a well-intentioned young kleptomaniac named Rainville falls through the cracks and is wrongfully convicted of mass murder. He’s exiled to Wychwood Prison,

As a young bride in 1947, Eleanor Herz Swent travels to the San Luis mine in Mexico to join her husband Langan, known locally as “el niño Americano”—the American boy. Swent is both an insider and a newcomer. She has BA and MA degrees but has never ridden a mule,

seen a cockroach or cooked on a wood stove. She visits remote ranches where a priest comes to perform marriages and baptisms. She earns the confidence of women and teaches family planning. Seven years and three children later, she and Langan leave the Mexico they love and return to the United States with mixed feelings.

where the dead outnumber the living, and where the inmates are also the guards. He soon becomes a marked man. In a race against time, Rainville must escape and save not only himself, but the city that cast him out.

The Darcy Myth: Jane Austen, Literary Heartthrobs and the Monsters They Taught Us to Love Rachel Feder, associate professor, Department of English and Literary Arts What if we’ve been reading Jane Austen and romantic classics all wrong? Literature scholar Rachel Feder offers an eye-opening take on how contemporary love stories are actually terrifying. Mr. Darcy is the brooding, rude, standoffish romantic hero of “Pride and Prejudice” who eventually succumbs to Elizabeth Bennet’s charms. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers plot, one that has influenced our cultural ideas about courtship. But what if this classic isn’t just a grand romance, but a horror novel about how scary love and marriage can be for women?

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

RELEASES

Q&A with Trisha Teig

In Her Own Name: The Politics of Women’s Rights Before Suffrage Sara Chatfield, assistant professor, Department of Political Science

“Rooted and Radiant: Women’s Narratives of Leadership,” co authored by Trisha Teig, former faculty director of the Colorado Women’s College Leadership Scholars Program, shares narratives of 39 women exploring their own stories of leadership and gender. Why share these narratives? There are not enough voices shared from historically marginalized identities in our society. We know that women of color make less money, have less access to educational spaces where networks can be formed, and face more challenges in discrimination and bias once they move up the ladder of leadership. All of these data inform the fact that we do not have a current structure that supports women’s access to leadership, but it also offers a clear indication that we are defining leadership in a narrow and outdated way. This book was written to address the latter issue. What challenges do women in leadership face? The traditional understanding of who a leader is—what they look like, how they act—does not align with stereotypical gender expectations for women. This creates a double standard where women and men in leader roles are treated differently. Adding to the complexity, women of color face compounded gendered and racialized biases. These underlying biases built on our gendered socialization creates an environment where a woman cannot catch a break; she is always too much or not enough.

In the early 19th century, a married woman had hardly any legal existence apart from her husband. By the 20th century, state-level statutes, constitutional provisions and court rulings had granted married women a host of protections relating to ownership and control of property. “In Her Own Name” explores the origins and consequences of laws guaranteeing married women’s property rights,

focusing on the people and institutions that shaped them. Sara Chatfield demonstrates that the motives of male elites included personal interests, benefits to the larger economy and bolstering state power, and that married women’s property rights could serve varied political goals across regions and eras—from temperance to debt relief to settlement of the West.

Good Tension Carrie Jennings (BM ’14)

Vocalist Carrie Jennings teams up with fellow Lamont grads Kevin Matthews and Thomas Jennings on her debut EP, “Good Tension.” Four songs explore a different representation

of “good tension,” whether that is embracing the pain of transformation (“Bothered”); honoring the love we deserve, even after being forgotten (“Adored”); holding both profound love and fear of loss in our hearts (“Maybe”); or recognizing the weight of our own agency (“Funny”). “The process of recording my original music with musicians I love and trust, folks I have been playing with for over a decade, was an absolute joy,” said Jennings.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

ACADEMICS

Marketing Meets Science Students in the Professional MBA program get real world experience helping an engineering professor market a social robot that helps children with autism.

By Connor Mokrzycki (BA ’22)

Students in the Daniels College of Business are no strangers to using case studies to learn, but Michael Myers, associate teaching professor and academic director of the MBA program, decided to take it a step further: Why not give students the chance to collaborate with DU researchers on marketing real-world products created right here on campus? For students Jacquelin Lalor and Ashley Hill in the Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA) program, that led to working with Mohammad Mahoor, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, to help market a robot he developed to improve the social behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders. Much of Mahoor’s research focuses on computer vision, machine learning and algorithm development with the goal of building social robots that can socially interact with humans and enhance their lives in a variety of ways. Previously, Mahoor and his fellow researchers developed Ryan, a companion robot designed to assist patients with Alzheimer’s. When Myers partnered with Mahoor to bring the project into his classroom, it immediately drew the attention of Hill and Lalor, who said it was a “perfect fit” for their interests. Lalor, who has a background

in school nursing, was drawn to the child health aspect, and Hill, who is also assistant director of Equity Labs in the Graduate School of Social Work, has a background in accessibility and inclusion. The two started their marketing plan by researching the existing market, competing products and potential demand for their product. They spent much of their time researching the target audience— because, as Hill says, the user “drives everything.” In this case, she adds, balancing the needs of a multi-faceted user base with those of the client was a challenge, but Hill enjoyed trying to “home in on what was important to users” while also making sure they kept in mind the relationship between the user and the researchers— and gave them something to build on. They also had to educate themselves about the product and the science behind it so that they could distill the complex information into something more practical and engaging for their audience. “It’s a project that I could have worked on for months,” says Lalor. “But we had to focus on what was being asked of us and rely on the subject-matter experts to get the project finished.” It was also exciting to have the opportunity to do real, meaningful work with researchers on campus, Lalor says. “We do a lot of case studies, but this is personal. We met these people; we know what their work is—that’s very different than reading and responding to a case study.” The two got to see up close what is meant by doing research for the public good. “They want to help people and do research that is meaningful, important and generative. They’re looking for a

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

ACADEMICS

Professor Mahoor’s work developing humanoid social robots for interaction and intervention for children with special needs and elderly with depression and dementia has received more than $6 million in research funding.

better future. It was really refreshing and inspiring for me to be in conversation with this internal team and with Dr. Mahoor’s folks and to know that that alignment is out there,” Hill says. Myers says the project is part of a push to provide students opportunities to work with intellectual property and gain valuable, real-world skills and knowledge, which he says is crucial for preparing students for their careers. “In the business school, we fight to bring reality in—because abstraction doesn’t help,” he says. Myers is looking for more opportunities across campus for these types of experiences. “The buffet is open. We would like [faculty] to bring in their projects—and we will help you execute them,” he says. “If you have a need, I’ve got a small army of brilliant students who will do great work.”

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

ARTS & CULTURE

Through the Eyes of a Student Photographer

By Emma Atkinson

“Hawai‘i, Uncovered” reveals a side of the islands that goes unseen by vacationers.

Born and raised in Hawai‘i, physiology and art student Lauren Tapper says that when she came to the mainland, she noticed a discrepancy between what outsiders believe about the Hawaiian Islands and what she knows to be true. So she chose her home state as the subject of her undergraduate research project, which she presented at the annual Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Showcase last spring. The black and white photos of “Hawai‘i, Uncovered,” Tapper says, are meant to explore

the “conflicting aspects of identity” in Hawai’i by distinguishing the popular perception of the state from the realities experienced by locals. Her photos capture the subjects—landscapes, people and urban scenes—through a candid and observational lens. “The idea of community and belonging are both the saving grace and downfall of these islands, allowing many to be proud and excited about who they are while also leaving some cast out and forgotten,” Tapper says. “Both the romanticized and ignored aspects of these islands are what make the

This page: Surfers converse after a morning in the water. Opposite page, clockwise from top: Hand making a pikake lei at the Hilo farmers market; tourists stop for ice cream along the famous road to Hana.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

ARTS & CULTURE

To read more about research presented at the showcase, visit du.edu/ugradshowcase

state unlike anywhere else in the world and are essential in defining Hawai‘i in an honest fashion.” Tapper was one of 21 undergrads who participated in the showcase, with projects ranging from photography and set design to examining the role of peer mentoring in STEM career development. Senior Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education Corinne Lengsfeld says DU offers premier research opportunities for undergraduates, some of whom receive grants from the Undergraduate Research Center. These awards fund opportunities like summer research projects and travel to academic conferences and meetings. “We provide students with rigorous opportunities to work with thought leaders from across campus, flexing their muscles as thought explorers, translating and learning critical skills and building the confidence to tackle the problems of tomorrow,” Lengsfeld says.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

Lady Justice Brewing

Make the most of 72 hours in the Mile High City with some of the best alumni owned and DU-connected places to eat, drink, shop and be entertained.

By Jordyn Reiland

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2024

Tocabe Prodigy Coffeehouse

R eturning to a place where you have fond memories— no matter how long it’s been—can evoke the sense of coming home. For alumni visiting Denver, what could make you feel more at home than spending your time at places around town with a connection to DU? Our alumni keep busy day in and day out making Denver a great place to work, live, play and visit, so we’ve created a 72 hour itinerary that showcases some of the best they and the city of Denver have to offer. But this is just a sampling. Before you begin exploring, follow the alumni-owned Instagram account Mile High and Hungry , run by Haley Paez (BA ’21) for the best of Denver’s food scene.

the ins and outs of running a business and interacting with the community through professional development and hands-on learning; the second half focuses on the “prodigies” becoming the teachers. Executive Director Jeslin Shahrezaei (MA ’07) has been at the helm of the organization since June 2023. Prodigy—which was founded by Hillary Frances (MA ’09) and her wife, Stephanie Frances—will celebrate its 10th year in business next year. Prodigy has put nearly $2.5 million in wages back into northeast Denver. TIME TRAVEL THROUGH 150 YEARS OF ART After breakfast, head to the Golden Triangle neighborhood to spend the morning rewinding

Day 1 JUMPSTART YOUR DAY WITH A CUP OF COFFEE (OR TWO) What better way to prepare for a busy day than with a caffeinated beverage from Prodigy Coffeehouse in Globeville, which was recognized in 2023 by USA Today readers as one of the 10 best independent coffee shops in the country. Prodigy Ventures, the nonprofit organization at the center of it all, not only serves up great coffee but also provides 12- to 18-month paid apprenticeships at its two coffee shop locations to young adults who live in northeast Denver. The first half of the program is geared toward understanding

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Ben Jacobs and Matt Chandra

DU really created the foundation for us to learn how to be challenged and adapt throughout our business careers.”

do Indian tacos, melting pot salad, stuffed fry bread, posu bowls or bison ribs sound? Tocabe , located in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood, is more than the only American Indian owned and operated restaurant in the metropolitan area specializing in Native American cuisine. Co-owners Ben Jacobs (BA ’05), a member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, and Matt Chandra (BA ’05) see it as “a community-driven, American Indian-focused food experience.” The duo also has an online Indigenous marketplace where customers can purchase Native and Indigenous-sourced ingredients—which supports the building of food systems, Chandra says, while also creating economic growth for economically disadvantaged communities.

history at the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art . The museum—which opened its doors in 2018—was named after innovative modern artist and educator Vance Kirkland, who came to Denver from Ohio in 1929 and founded what is now DU’s School of Art and Art History. Here you can find more than 30,000 works shown in “salon style” from three distinctive collections: international decorative art, Colorado and regional art, and Vance Kirkland and the Original Studio. Professor Emeritus and ceramicist Maynard Tischler also has his work featured in the museum. ENJOY A MEAL THAT TELLS A STORY Getting your steps in by wandering through a museum can make anyone hungry. How

BEN JACOBS, Tocabe

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Stanley Marketplace was heavily influenced by his community in the Daniels College of Business, including faculty members who were mentors and advocates, alumni who became tenants and his co-owner and business partner, Megan VonWald (MBA ’11), who was there every step of the way. Day 2 Grab a pastry (they go quickly) and your favorite hot or iced beverage to enjoy on the idyllic, spacious patio at Steam Espresso Bar , founded by twin brothers Hani (MS ’08, MRLS ’10) and Zahi Yaafouri (MS ’01, MRCM ’01, MBA ’03) in 2013. If you’re in the trendy Highlands neighborhood, you can also check out their other location inside an old firehouse. INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH Stargazer Fine Chocolates and Coffee is truly a family affair. From father John D’Onofrio and daughter and master chocolatier Karen Ziegler (BA ’07) to a son-in law, grandchildren and siblings, everyone in the family has been involved in one way or another since Stargazer opened in 2017. The cozy shop, located just east of the Denver Botanic Gardens, offers coffee drinks, handcrafted truffles, candy bars, specialty hand-dipped items, hot chocolate and custom A PATIO BREAKFAST ON SOUTH PEARL STREET

The two met as students and neither followed a “traditional” business or hospitality path. Jacobs studied history with a focus on American Indian studies, and Chandra majored in digital media studies. “DU really created the foundation for us to learn how to be challenged and adapt throughout our business careers,” says Jacobs, who was appointed in 2023 to serve a two-year term on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

OPTIONS APLENTY FOR A DELICIOUS DINNER

Denver’s culinary scene is thriving, so why not seize the opportunity to try a little bit of everything at the Stanley Marketplace in neighboring Aurora? The former aviation manufacturing facility now houses 57 retailers, service providers and eateries, including Chi Lin Asian Eatery , Maria Empanada , and Rolling Smoke BBQ . Co-owner and founder Mark Shaker (MBA ’11) says

Mark Shaker of Stanley Marketplace

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logo chocolate bars for special occasions or corporate events. Ziegler has long had a love for chocolate; she just took a bit of a winding path to get to where she is now. After graduating from DU, she spent a year in Guam and two years in Congo, eventually earning a master’s degree in theology in 2015. While she wasn’t totally sure what her career had in store, she always knew chocolate would be a part of her future. First working out of their dining room, she and her dad then spent a short time in a commissary kitchen before churning out chocolate in their church’s basement for about a year before moving to their current location. “I really love coming up with new flavors and putting things together and seeing how they come out,” Ziegler says— which explains the watermelon If playing a round is your kind of entertainment, the University of Denver Golf Club in Highlands Ranch is a beautiful course to spend a few hours improving your handicap. And for a kit fit for the links, look no further than alumni-owned women’s apparel company Prio Golf — named after eccentric British golfer Gloria Minoprio, who dared to wear trousers during a competition in the 1930s. If you’re looking for a more leisurely outing, take the Downtown Denver Public Art lime and gin fizz truffles. STRETCH YOUR LEGS TWO DIFFERENT WAYS

I really love coming up with new flavors and putting things together and seeing how they come out.”

KAREN ZIEGLER, Stargazer Fine Chocolates and Coffee

Cracked Pepper Pile-Up are just a few on the list—and don’t forget a milkshake. We recommend their location in the River North Art District (RiNo) so you can also explore the city’s creative hub. Pete Newlin (MBA ’11), co-founder of Gastamo Group, and his partner Jean-Philippe Failyau are the founders of several other Denver-based restaurants including Birdcall , Homegrown Tap & Dough , Perdida , Lady Nomada and Park & Co .

Walking Tour . You’ll see the famous towering sculpture called “I See What You Mean,” fondly nicknamed the Blue Bear— created by the late Lawrence Argent, who taught in the School of Art & Art History. LUNCH AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER BAR Self-described as “hi-qual food and low-key vibes,” Park Burger offers chef-inspired burgers—the Birria Burger, Getting Figgy Wit It and the

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“I See What You Mean,” photo courtesy Visit Denver.

UNCOVER THE CHARM OF THE RINO ARTS DISTRICT

With galleries, restaurants and bars, markets, performances and more, there’s always something going on in RiNo. One spot you won’t want to miss is a “day-to-evening lounge” called The Blind Tiger . Denver’s first hard kombucha taproom, The Blind Tiger features Hooch Booch —a brand launched in 2021 by Anna Zesbaugh (BSBA ’18), who came up with the idea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hooch Booch’s three flavors, the Bee’s Knees, the Lounge Lizard and the Clover Club, can also be found in hundreds of liquor stores, restaurants and venues across the state, including Magness Arena. Zesbaugh has since launched a nonalcoholic, tea-based drink brand called Corpse Reviver . DINNER AND A SHOW Come to Luca hungry so you can dig into their house burrata, house-cured salumi and a handmade, hearty bowl of pasta, among other mouthwatering menu items. Named after his son, this Frank Bonanno (BSBA ’90) concept, located near Governor’s Park, is described as a love letter to his family. Bonanno has opened several food and drink establishments in Denver over the years, including Mizuna , Osteria Marco , Vesper Lounge , Salt & Grinder , French 75 and Salita —a coffee and cocktail bar that sits right next door to Luca.

Photo courtesy Daniels College of Business

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The Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts

Once sufficiently full, take in a bit of entertainment at the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts. During the 2023-24 season, the Newman Center hosted 270 ticketed performances and welcomed more than 100,000 patrons. Day 3 IT’S TEATIME Quench your thirst at Tea Street , offering anything from classic teas, milk teas and tea-free items like bubble tea or Vietnamese coffee. Victoria Lam (BSBA ’14, MBA ’19) and her brother Patrick developed an affinity for milk teas while traveling abroad and, wanting to fill a gap in the Denver market, Tea Street was born. With its convenient location in Denver’s Glendale neighborhood, you can sip while shopping at the nearby Cherry Creek Shopping Center. GET TO KNOW DU’S HOFERS We’re starting the day a little differently and getting a bit of a later start—you’ve earned a little rest. Colorado’s Sports Hall of Fame is conveniently located at Empower Field at Mile High, where you can also buy tickets to tour the stadium. The museum honors several DU sports standouts including hockey coaching icons George Gwozdecky and Murray Armstrong, hockey stars Keith Magnuson and William “Bill” Masterton, ski coaching legends Gordon “Gordy” Wren and

Willy Schaeffler, and renowned skier Marvin I. Crawford. EXPLORING SOBO Fast casual shouldn’t be confused with fast food when it comes to lunch at Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery in Denver’s eclectic South Broadway, or “SoBo,” neighborhood. Menu items include 48-hour slow

cooked short ribs, crispy fried all-natural chicken, grilled achiote salmon filet and a roasted sirloin French dip. Founded by Christian Anderson (BSBA ’05), Derek Nelson (BA ’04) and Clint Wangsnes, Chop Shop prides itself on offering its customers great food without having to go to a full-service restaurant.

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donates percentages of their earnings to Colorado nonprofits that empower women, girls and nonbinary people. “At Lady J, we’re entirely focused on our community and in the connections that we make with our communities,” says co

founder and co-owner Betsy Lay (BA ’04). “We want people who don’t necessarily feel like they have a sense of belonging in other similar institutions to walk into Lady J and feel like, ‘Oh, this is a place for me.’” Lady Justice also regularly hosts watch parties for women’s sporting events— including this past season’s women’s NCAA tournament. A NIGHTCAP TO THE PERFECT TRIP Put an exclamation point on the evening with the Colorado Symphony or Dazzle Jazz — both conveniently located in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Dazzle Jazz has been a longtime mainstay for Lamont faculty and student musicians, who grace the stage often—like award winning composer Annie Booth. Night owls can enjoy a night cap or snack at the El Chapultepec Piano Lounge inside Dazzle, named after the famed jazz club once located in LoDo. Are you the owner of an alumni-owned business? Submit your information to become part of our new network. Visit du.edu/alumniowned to get started.

A PINT FOR A GOOD CAUSE Home to one of the few fully woman- and queer-owned breweries in the country, Lady Justice Brewing offers great beer—and a whole lot more. The Englewood business has a social enterprise mission and

We’re entirely focused on the community.”

BETSY LAY, Lady Justice Brewing

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The Velotta Lab seeks to understand how tiny mammals have genetically adapted to survive at Colorado’s highest altitudes. by Emma Atkinson | Photography by Wayne Armstrong Research at , Feet

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“Life finds a way,” Dr. Ian Malcolm famously said in the movie “Jurassic Park.” Actor Jeff Goldblum’s character may have been talking about dinosaurs, but his words ring true for biologists studying species in the modern world. From the bottom of the ocean to the hottest desert

and coldest tundra, you’ll find evidence of life almost everywhere on Earth. For University of Denver evolutionary biologist Jon Velotta and his team of dedicated student and postdoctoral researchers, the place they prefer to study is the summit of one of the highest peaks in Colorado: Mount Blue Sky. Reaching 14,268 feet,

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Mount Blue Sky’s looming peak can be seen from Denver, as far south as Castle Rock and as far north as Fort Collins. Predators like mountain lions and black bears roam the windswept terrain, preying on bighorn sheep, mountain goats, marmots and pikas. Among the mammals lives the deer mouse, a seemingly inconsequential animal that can be seen scurrying among rocks and alpine tundra way above the tree line. Up so high, where the air is thin and predators are few, the mice eke out a living in an unforgiving atmosphere—a place where most among us struggle to breathe, let alone make a home. While the deer mouse may be easy to miss amidst the more physically impressive and photogenic mountain goats that call Mount Blue Sky home, the Velotta Lab team are singularly captivated by this tiny mammal. Why? Deer mice possess the answer to a question that has interested researchers for years: How do these mice survive—and thrive— at the world’s highest altitudes? Velotta’s study of deer mice began long before his tenure at DU. While he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Montana, Velotta began working with his advisor, Zac Cheviron, to study the adaptation of deer mice to high elevations in the Rockies. Cheviron’s own advisor had been doing the same work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for more than two decades. When a job opened up at DU in 2020, Velotta said it felt serendipitous. “Since about 2015, I had been coming down here every year from Montana and studying these populations,” he explains. Now, Velotta gets to continue the work of his advisor (and his advisor’s advisor) much closer to the environments they study.

Professor Jon Velotta sits next to the old A-frame building at the summit of Mount Blue Sky, holding a metal trap used to catch deer mice.

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