Early Bird

Inside the President’s Cabinet

Presentations on the upcoming Professional Development Conference and a number of exciting events filled this month’s agenda.

By Lindsey Coulter

April 8, 2019

Couldn’t make it to the President’s Cabinet meeting Wednesday? The Early Bird has you covered. Here are the highlights.

Provost Vicki Golich, Ph.D., leading the meeting in place of President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., kicked things off by welcoming Amber Mozet, coordinator of the Center for Equity and Student Achievement and special projects, and Scott Bergman, coordinator of Summer Bridge programming. Mozet and Bergman are co-chairs for this year’s Professional Development Conference on May 30.

The theme of the annual conference is “Shape Our Systems for Collective Success” and will tie into a keynote address by Ruha Benjamin, Ph.D., author and associate professor of African American studies at Princeton University. More information will be available in the Early Bird in the coming weeks.

Next, University Counsel Nick Stancil, J.D., presented on updates to the University’s Shared Governance Policy. Specifically, he noted how a change of phrase to “organized constituent groups” is now more prescriptive. Cabinet members voted to recommend approval, and the updated policy will move to the Board of Trustees.

Faculty Senate President Matt Makley, Ph.D., shared progress on updates to disciplinary policy. He also announced that work on the Intellectual Property Policy should conclude this semester and that the Online Teaching Policy will advance to the Senate’s Executive Committee.

Interim Assistant to the President for Diversity Shawn Worthy, Ph.D., provided updates on the search for the University’s next chief diversity officer. To underscore the critical nature of diversity work, the role of associate to the president for diversity and inclusion will be elevated to the vice-presidential level. Likewise, the role of associate to the president for Hispanic-Serving Institution will become the executive director of HSI and inclusion. Worthy is heading a search committee that aims to select a new associate vice president for diversity and inclusion by the end of June. Learn more by visiting this recent Early Bird article.

Cathy Lucas, chief of staff and vice president of strategy, reiterated several updates to the President’s Advisory Councils. Matt Forcella, Professional Academic Advisor, psychology, and Kristy Lyons, Ph.D., assistant professor, psychology, will lead the Academic Excellence and Student Success Advisory Council, and Bill Carnes, D.M., professor, management, and John Kietzmann, associate director of athletics for marketing, promotions and external relations, will head the Workplace and Culture Advisory Council. Associate Vice President for Administration/CFO Interim Vice President for Administration George Middlemist will serve as interim co-chair of the Built Environment and Infrastructure group together with Amy Kern, assistant professor, industrial design. The three remaining councils were sunset earlier this year after completing their work.

Updates:

• Lucas announced that MSU Denver will partner with TEDx Cherry Creek to host a TEDx conference Sept. 12. The theme, “Reimagining Possibilities,” will seek to engage faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. Stay tuned to the Early Bird for more details and a call for proposals.
• Lucas added that the annual Spring Update will take place April 18, and an HSI Celebration for Roadrunners and community partners will follow the Faculty/Staff BBQ and Distinguished Service Awards on May 9.
• The Strategic Plan 2025 process heads into its next phase Friday with a training session for Strategic Planning Team members. Members will be prepped to work with stakeholders across campus to gather information on MSU Denver’s 2025 goals. The Early Bird will have more details as they become available.
• Christine Márquez-Hudson, vice president of University Advancement, announced a new Presidential Speaker Series. On May 2, MSU Denver will host influential political strategists who collaborated on the book “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics.” Look for more details in the Early Bird.
• Márquez-Hudson also highlighted the development of the Philanthropy Fund as well as several large monetary and in-kind gifts to the University, including two Cessna 150 airplanes to the Aviation program for use by the Precision Flight Team. More details on a large gift to the School of HEaT will also be available soon.
• Anthony Grant, director of athletics, invited the campus community to the Military Appreciation Fireworks Game on April 26 and to the Annual Scholarship Auction on May 31. More details to come in the Early Bird.
• Golich reminded everyone to RSVP for the inaugural Roadrunners Who Soar event, which takes place today.
• Middlemist announced that Chief of Staff to the Vice President for Administration Leone Dick will serve as interim facilities director following the departure of Tina Wells.
• Middlemist also provided an update on the search for a new associate vice president for Human Resources and hopes to have a successful candidate in place by the end of the fiscal year.
• Staff Senate Co-president Evan Bowles announced that the Senate has completed a bylaws draft, which should be put to a vote this month. The body will also hold elections in May. More details on a June 19 inauguration picnic will be available soon.
• Will Simpkins, vice president of Student Affairs, announced that the first meeting of the C2 Hub development group will be April 12. The C2 Hub Building Steering Committee, together with design firm Perkins+Will, will also begin program planning soon.
• Kevin Taylor, chief information officer, shared how Information Technology uses Spring Fling to reach students and briefed members on the upcoming Windows 10 rollout. More information will be available in the Early Bird’s Technically Speaking series.
• Makley closed the meeting by thanking all those who participated in the search process for a vice president for Finance and Administration and announced that Larry Sampler has accepted the position. See this article for more details.