University of Denver Autumn 2025

ACADEMICS

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[DU] feels like a bit of a best kept secret, and

Here are six things you might not know about our new provost: 1. Higher education transformed her life.

here, and so much great work already happening—from the 4D Experience to the Kennedy Mountain experience to the beauty of campus itself. It feels like a bit of a best kept secret, and I hope to help change that.” 5. Elo’s background in STEM—and appreciation for the liberal arts—makes her a perfect fit for DU. With her engineering background, Loboa approaches complex institutional challenges with analytical rigor and creative problem-solving. “I’m used to working in interdisciplinary, collaborative teams. I see challenges as opportunities to really think outside the box,” she says. She sees DU as uniquely positioned to blend its liberal arts strengths with cutting-edge STEM programs to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world. 6. She has a life beyond the office, and it involves horses. Outside of work, Loboa embraces an active lifestyle with her husband, Todd, and their horses and dog. “We like to be outside and focused on nature. It puts me in a Zen state,” she says. She also enjoys walking, hiking, and exploring Denver’s local dining scene. The nickname Elo comes from her junior college days— she says it was part of a refrain in a catchy ’90s song she can’t quite remember the name of—and has since been a term of endearment used by those around her. I hope to help change that. ”

Born and raised in northern California, Loboa took an unconventional path to higher education. She lived in Modesto and attended Modesto Junior College while working as a legal secretary in San Jose—commuting 90 minutes each way three times a week. Her persistence paid off: She went on to study mechanical engineering at UC Davis and biomedical engineering at Stanford, where she also discovered her passion for research and teaching. “It was pivotal for me to be able to attend a strong four-year college and be exposed to higher education,” she says. 2. She’s a firm believer in mentoring the next generation of leaders. When the University of Missouri approached Loboa about becoming dean of the engineering school, she admits she was intimidated. A quick Google search, however, shifted her perspective. She counted just 12 female engineering deans nationwide. “And I thought, I have to do this. I wanted to help show that engineering is for everyone. So, I went for it,” she says. She went on to serve for five years as the school’s first female dean of engineering. 3. She draws strength from personal experience. Loboa, a mother of five adult children, has long balanced the demands of work and family, often drawing on personal experiences to shape her professional path. Early in her career, when one of her daughters contracted a MRSA bacterial infection at a YMCA camp, she began exploring how smart biomaterials could combat drug-resistant bacteria. Even now, she says, “I’m always wearing two hats: provost hat and mom hat. I have kids still in college, and every decision I make, I think about its impact on students like them.” 4. The people at DU made an impression on her. As she learned more about the University, Loboa says, “It was fulfilling—but maybe not surprising—to see how deeply people care about the University. I mean, they really care.” She sees that passion as one of DU’s greatest strengths. “There’s so much opportunity

Loboa and her husband, Todd, look forward to exploring Colorado’s great outdoors—especially on horseback.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2025