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The MSU Denver Office of Alumni Relations is looking to hear from our alums. While your journey began on campus, it has taken you many places, however windy it may have been.
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Christian David Abeyta '16
For Christian David Abeyta ‘16, choosing Metropolitan State University of Denver was both a practical and personal decision. He wanted an urban campus close to home and one that reflected his community and allowed him to stay connected to friends and family.
Read Christian's story
Ty Antikainen '15
When Ty Antikainen (’15) first arrived on the Auraria Campus, he was a small-town kid eager to experience the energy and diversity of city life. What he found at Metropolitan State College of Denver (before it became a university) was more than an education, he found opportunity, purpose, and a community that empowered him to lead.
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Jim Balutowski '01
For Jim Balutowski, a childhood dream of flying for the military could have ended before it began. Growing up inspired by the Top Gun generation, he dreamed of a life in aviation. After receiving rejection letters from the Service Academies, he wasn’t sure where to turn, but a mentor helped him discover the Aviation program at MSU Denver (then MSCD).
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LaTerrell Bradford '13
For LaTerrell Bradford ’13, the idea of attending university was once just a suggestion from a mentor. While working at Lutheran Social Services in Long Beach, California, her supervisor, an MSW graduate, encouraged LaTerrell to pursue higher education. That moment sparked a journey that would eventually lead her to Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she found the education, support, and confidence to thrive.
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April Axé Charmaine ’02
When April Axé Charmaine first stepped onto the Auraria Campus, she didn’t yet know she was beginning a lifelong dance of creativity, leadership, and transformation. Recruited through MSU Denver’s STAR program, she arrived eager to explore — and quickly discovered that this university would become a place where she could craft her own rhythm.
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Alex Clarke '19
Alex Clarke entered MSU Denver in the spring of 2014, unsure what to expect from university life after high school. What he found, however, was a place that would ignite his passion for learning. Initially planning to pursue only a Computer Science major with a math minor, Alex soon discovered that his interest in mathematics went far deeper than he anticipated.
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Josh Cozart '18
For Josh Cozart ‘18, the path to broadcast meteorology was clear early on. He had long envisioned a career explaining the weather to the public, and MSU Denver offered the ideal place to turn that ambition into a profession. Drawn by the university’s respected meteorology program and hands-on broadcast opportunities, Cozart found an environment that combined access, mentorship and real-world preparation.
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Jameer Fitch '20 & '23
From the Navy to corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, Jameer Fitch has built a career defined by service, resilience, and creating opportunities for others. A 2020 graduate of MSU Denver’s Individualized Degree Program (IDP) in Legal Analytics & Organizational Leadership and a proud MBA alum, Jameer continues to credit the University with setting the foundation for his success.
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Ally Garcia '11 & '13
Dr. Ally Garcia’s passion for education began at MSU Denver (then MSCD), where she studied Speech, Language, and Hearing Science. Fascinated by language development, linguistics, and anatomy, she immersed herself in learning. “I loved working with children and families navigating autism resources. Being part of a team that helps someone communicate is incredibly rewarding,” Ally reflects.
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Arlan Grover '88
When Arlan Grover (’88, Aviation Management) first enrolled at MSU Denver, he was already well into a successful career at Lockheed Martin (then Martin Marietta). But when his supervisors told him he’d need a bachelor’s degree to keep advancing, he started searching for a program that could fit his demanding full-time schedule.
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Matt Jones '11
For Matt Jones ‘11, weather was never just a subject — it was a lifelong calling. Drawn to the science of the atmosphere from an early age, Jones chose MSU Denver not only for its strong meteorology program, but for its accessibility and proximity to family and friends. That decision set him on a path from the classroom to the broadcast studio, where he now plays a critical role in keeping communities informed and safe.
Read Matt's story
Zander Keig '99
When Zander Keig (’99) first set foot on the Auraria Campus, he wasn’t sure what to expect. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran and high school dropout who had once been placed in special education, Zander questioned whether he could succeed in college. But what he found at MSU Denver was a community that not only believed in him, but empowered him to believe in himself.
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Kailey Maness '23
When Kailey Maness arrived on campus, she was navigating the dual demands of being a collegiate soccer player and a marketing student. MSU Denver’s accessible, student centered environment made it possible to pursue both, an approach that reflects the University’s mission to create pathways for students balancing academics with work, athletics and leadership.
Read Kailey's story
Citlalith Medrano '22
When Citlalith Medrano ‘22 enrolled at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2018, she was searching for more than a degree, she was looking for belonging. As a first-generation Hispanic student, navigating higher education came with challenges. But MSU Denver’s commitment to access opened doors that would shape her future.
Read Citlalith's story
Evan Jovon Morrison '16
When Evan Jovon Morrison ‘16 arrived at MSU Denver, he wasn’t certain college was something he would finish. Raised in Aurora, Colorado, the university’s proximity and accessibility made it a practical choice — but it quickly became much more than that. By committing to just one year, Morrison took a chance on himself, one that would ultimately lead to two degrees, a PhD, and a career in biomedical research.
Read Evan's story
Chucky Moss '88 & '91
The Bird Talk podcast, produced by the MSU Denver Alumni Association, has released a new episode featuring Chucky Moss (’88, ’91), a two-time graduate of MSU Denver’s College of Business and a 30-year veteran of Wolters Kluwer. Hosted by Jamie Hurst, the episode traces Moss’s journey from Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood to a successful global career in finance and accounting.
Listen to Chucky Moss's episode of BirdTalkPatsy Marcely Mundell '85
When Patsy Marcely Mundell ‘85 enrolled at what was then Metro State in 1980, college was not guaranteed, it was a risk. With four siblings and parents who could not afford tuition, higher education felt out of reach. Mundell lived at home, worked to support herself and commuted to campus at a time when residence halls did not exist.
Read Patsy's story
Karen J. Nuñez Sifuentes ‘21
When Karen J. Nuñez Sifuentes ‘21 began applying to college, she did not yet understand how deeply her identity as an immigrant would shape her path to higher education.
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Araceli Palacios '23
When Araceli Palacios ‘23 transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver in January 2020, they carried more than just textbooks and ambition, they carried the weight of a difficult decision. After investing over $30,000 in an engineering program, Palacios chose to walk away from a path that didn’t align with their passions.
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Lillian Pérez '20
When Lillian Pérez (’20) arrived at MSU Denver, she was searching for more than a degree; she was looking for a community that believed in possibility as fiercely as she did. What she found was a university that not only opened doors but stood beside her through some of the most defining moments of her life.
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Stephen Rosenthal '92
When Stephen Rosenthal (’92) relocated from Chicago to Denver in 1983, he didn’t yet imagine his career would one day lead to the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives. His first job, a bartender at the Stapleton Plaza Hotel, sparked an unexpected passion for the hospitality industry and set him on a path of lifelong service, leadership, and connection.
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Naleia Sowell '25
As a student-athlete, Naleia Sowell experienced a version of college life that was demanding and distinct. Athletics, she said, did not overshadow her education, it enhanced it. MSU Denver’s commitment to access allowed her to pursue both high-level athletics and meaningful academic engagement on an urban campus designed to support students from diverse paths and priorities.
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Jonathon Stalls '09
For Jonathon Stalls (’09), the road to purpose has always been one walked—literally—one step at a time. When Jonathon arrived at Metropolitan State University of Denver, he was looking for more than just a degree. “I needed a flexible and more affordable experience to move with the many questions I carried around career,” he recalls. “I also wanted quality art and design courses and good transit access.”
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Ramon Orlando Trujillo III '19
For Ramon Orlando Trujillo III ‘19, art is more than expression, it’s livelihood, legacy, and connection to community. As a displaced Aurarian, Ramon was given the opportunity to attend college through paid tuition and could have chosen any institution. He chose Metropolitan State University of Denver, a decision that would shape both his artistic voice and his future.
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Juliana Wierimaa '13
For Juliana Wierimaa ‘13, MSU Denver was not her original dream school. It was, however, the place that made it possible for her to stay close to home during one of the most difficult seasons of her life.
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Maddy Wilson '24
Maddy Wilson ‘24 arrived at MSU Denver as a student-athlete, recruited to play softball and drawn to a campus that offered both opportunity and belonging. What she found was more than a place to compete—it was an environment that combined academic access, personal connection and preparation for a career rooted in service. Graduating in 2024 with a degree in psychology and a pre-healthcare focus, Wilson’s journey reflects MSU Denver’s mission to empower students from all backgrounds to translate education into meaningful social impact.
Read Maddy's Story
Ron Willson '74
When Ron Willson (’74) enrolled at what was then Metropolitan State College, he was a newly married U.S. Army veteran seeking an education that would connect his hands-on technical experience to real-world applications.
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Lincoln Yersin '85
When Lincoln Yersin ‘85 (Finance) first arrived at Metropolitan State University of Denver, he thought he’d spend only a single semester on campus before transferring to the University of Colorado. But MSU Denver had other plans.
Read Lincoln's story