University of Denver Spring/Summer 2023

Working full time and pursuing two master’s degrees are not easy tasks, but graduate student Cordell Covington is not one to balk at a challenge. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2011, Coving ton enlisted in the Army, completed basic training and was deployed to Fort ONE TO WATCH An Army veteran can’t wait to implement positive change

At DU, students can choose from more than 100 clubs that can engage their passions, connect them with their community and promote their well-being. In addition to dozens of Greek organizations, club sports and department-affiliated clubs, registered student orga nizations—established and managed by students—cover everything from knitting and Dungeons & Dragons to jet engines and mock trials. Here’s a taste of some of the fastest growing and most active clubs on campus: DU Radio Station New in the 2022–2023 academic year, DU Radio Station already has more than 100 members and aims to expose the DU community to new music and dialogues about important topics. Fashion & Sewing Club Since its inception in fall 2021, this club has grown from 10 members to more than 200. It offers fashion fanatics of all skill levels a place to grow their skills, explore their creativity and connect with fellow fashion lovers. The Neurodiversity Resource Group Established in 2020–2021 and recognized as an affinity group, this club aims to break down the stigma surrounding students with learning differences. Open to all students, members advocate for neurodiverse students, create programming for students, faculty and staff, and offer a wel coming environment for neurodiverse students to connect. Society of Physics Students (SPS) SPS brings together undergraduate physicists, scientists and curious individuals to discuss physics and dabble in fun experiments. They actively interact with K-12 students to demonstrate physics and get young people excited about science and how the world works. Undergraduate Women in Business (WiB) One of the most active clubs on campus, WiB’s motto is “empowering the next generation of businesswomen.” Members hear from guest speakers and participate in professional development opportunities that increase their communication and leadership skills. LIFE ON CAMPUS Fast-growing student clubs offer a bit of everything

Carson in Colorado Springs. There, he served as an oper ations and supply chain manager until 2016. That’s when Covington jumped into a role with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Later, he took on man agement positions at Oracle and the Colorado Athletic Club. In 2020, just as the coronavirus

pandemic came into full swing and he landed a new job at a startup, he saw the transition to remote work and school as an opportunity to continue his education. “COVID hit, and I was like ‘Hey, perfect, I’ll go get my master’s degree,’” Covington says. Attracted by University College’s hybrid and online classes, he decided to pursue a master of science in organizational leadership, with a concentration in strategic innovation and change. “I started that in June 2020,” he says, “and then it just turned into a double master’s.” A year into his studies, Covington was accepted into the professional MBA program at the Daniels College of Business. Optimizing his course work around his passions, he added a custom concentration in sustainability. When he graduates in June, Covington aims to put his DU education to work, but perhaps not on day one. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife and their two dogs, a Weimaraner named Storm and a German Shepard Belgian Malinois mix named Atlas. He also plans to head for the mountains, return to the basketball court and perhaps take a vacation. But before long, he says, “I want to dive into a new career.” He hopes for a position focused on diversity, equity and inclusion or management consulting. And with his passion for environmental and social sustainability, Covington has set his sights on making a substantial difference. “I’m here to implement some of the positive change that we need in the world.”

Learn more about student clubs at crimsonconnect. du.edu.

Photo by Wayne Armstrong

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