Early Bird

In memoriam

MSU Denver mourns the loss of student advisor Michelle Dupuis.

By Lynne Winter ’17

March 15, 2021

Michelle Dupuis, an individualized-systems specialist with the Center for Individualized Learning, died Feb. 15 at age 56. Her family and friends honored the beach lover’s final wish to be near dolphins with a memorial service March 10 in Galveston, Texas.

“Michelle was a warm and caring colleague,” said Matt Kring, associate director of Student Support and Retention. “I will remember fondly her love of advising students, many lunches together and her fascination with dolphins. Her generous spirit will be missed.”

An active member of the Roadrunner family for over a decade, Dupuis spent much of her career in academic advising and student retention. She took great pride in developing improved student-progress tracking systems and being a resource for other advisors. Known for her cheerful willingness to collaborate, Dupuis was frequently sought out by staff members for her expertise.

“Michelle loved everything about MSU Denver – from the mission to the people she worked with,” said Stephanie Allen, director of Advising Systems, Academic Affairs. “She was always welcoming and ready to extend a hand to someone in need.”

Dupuis forged a genuine connection with the Metropolitan State University of Denver students she served and was honored to support them as they worked toward achieving their goals. As a first-generation student who put herself through undergraduate and graduate school, earning a B.S. in Communication Disorders and an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Pennsylvania State University, she empathized with their struggles to balance work and school.

“Michelle was supportive and highly knowledgeable,” said April Peterson, assistant director, C2 Hub. “She had a gift for seeing and validating the potential of every student she spoke with. It’s been a terrible loss for all who knew her.”

Robert Ingle, Human Resources learning-and-development specialist, fondly recounted a time when Dupuis’ fun-loving nature put him in a tight spot – literally.  

“Michelle used to pop into my office often and move things around on my desk,” he said. “One day, when I heard her walking down the hall, I dove under my desk and pulled the chair in to make it look like I was not in the office – I wanted to catch her in the act and surprise her!

“I waited for about 10 minutes in a cramped fetal position, not realizing she didn’t end up walking by my office. It was so funny!”

Outside of work, Dupuis loved swimming – never missing a chance to visit the beach – and cooking, often sharing her delicious and healthy recipes with others. Her family, friends and colleagues will miss her “don’t just try; do it” attitude and infectious optimism.