Davidson’s Desk: Excellence Is Our Word of the Year. Here’s Why.

While I was in California at the annual Davidson Pickleball Smackdown, I met the father of a Roadrunner graduate. The man, who noticed the ever-present MSU Denver swag at any Davidson confab, told me all about his son – our alumnus. His son was a first-generation college grad whose MSU Denver professors helped him chart his course into a purposeful career. The dad was beaming with pride.

In mid-May, nearly 1,600 graduates crossed the stage and we were able to bring thousands more family members and supporters into our Roadrunner flock, like that dad at the pickleball courts. This pride comes in doing hard things and doing them well. As Pearl S. Buck said, “The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”

“Excellence” is my 2025 word of the year. I chose “excellence” because I am reminded of MSU Denver’s excellence every day – and I want to make sure our community knows about it! If you’ve been paying attention to the local news, you likely saw the stories of our amazing grads – from our youngest grad who is on course to a career in air-traffic control to the Provost’s Award winner who received just about the best scholarship you can get to follow her dreams of becoming an attorney.

These graduates themselves are excellent, and they’re fueled by our faculty members, who make a difference every day. In the spring semester, two Early Education professors and longtime faculty members were chosen as Bell Policy Center 2024-25 Economic Mobility Fellows.

Excellence is embedded in what we do at MSU Denver – not just in the outcomes but in the commitment, resilience and heart behind them. Whether faculty and staff members, students or alumni, Roadrunners consistently rise to meet challenges and seize opportunities.

As we celebrate 60 years of transformation and launch the most ambitious campaign in our history, I hope you’ll help us share the stories of excellence that define this University.

Sincerely,

Janine Davidson, Ph.D.
President, MSU Denver

MSU Denver in the News

What Memorial Day means to servicemembers (Colorado Public Radio)
Hope Szypulski, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, discussed her journey as an Army nurse and veteran.

MSU Denver graduates, families reflect on significance of Commencement (Denver Gazette)
About 1,600 students received diplomas at the Denver Coliseum

Orgullo latino: estudiantes celebran logros académicos en MSU Denver (Univision)
Ambos formaron parte de los 1,230 estudiantes que celebraron su graduación en MSU Denver.

These pilots are flipping planes on purpose (Rocky Mountain PBS)
Describing the performances of the MSU Denver Aerobatics team is enough to turn a stomach. A RED story contributed to the coverage.

MSU Denver students beat the market in investment class — using real money (The Colorado Sun)
Two student-managed funds have performed 20 percentage points better than the Russell 3000 since the funds’ inception in 2020. But 2025 has been more challenging and student funds had mixed results. A RED story contributed to the coverage.

Stories from MSU Denver

New Aerospace Missions program to lift off this fall
The countdown has begun to a new degree that will see more MSU Denver students joining the space race.

Engineering students get real skills, virtually
A private donation provides cutting-edge technology to prepare students for modern manufacturing and design jobs.

Dreams come true for students in the environmental sciences
With support from the NSF ASCEND Engine, MSU Denver helps build the green workforce of the future through funded internships.

Upcoming MSU Denver Events

Sept. 23  | 12:30 p.m.
Tivoli Turnhalle  
SAVE THE DATE: The Importance of Freedom and Free Enterprise in America with Steve Forbes
The MSU Denver Economics Department’s Exploring Economic Freedom Project, in collaboration with Young America’s Foundation, will host Steve Forbes. Stay tuned for more details!