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Contact UsRunning His Own Road: Paul Anderson’s Journey from Student to Professor
Access That Changes Trajectories
For Paul Anderson ’07 & ’21, MSU Denver wasn’t originally part of a grand plan. It was, however, the place that made it possible for him to build a future rooted in curiosity, courage and reinvention.
A fourth‑generation Coloradan raised in the San Luis Valley, Anderson arrived at MSU Denver after starting at Arapahoe Community College. He balanced work, life and academic uncertainty. But from his first semester, he encountered something uncommon in higher education: a university that met him exactly where he was.
During a required English course, one he had failed twice elsewhere, Anderson struggled. Rather than letting him slip through the cracks, his professor invited him into her office, asked questions and taught him not just course content, but how to be a college student.
“That mentoring wasn’t a one-off,” Anderson said. “It kept happening. Here, we teach and we care how students learn.”
That moment sparked the confidence that would carry him through his B.S. in Aviation Technology, earned summa cum laude in 2007, and ultimately back again for his MBA in 2021.
Academic Excellence Built Through Curiosity
Anderson’s academic and professional journey has never followed a straight line. He has been a DJ, a commercial pilot, a flight instructor, a professional poker player, a corporate executive and now a professor.
Each chapter, though eclectic, revealed a throughline: an obsession with understanding systems, people and leadership.
He calls it his version of “corporate anthropology.”
“I would walk out of meetings, sit in my car and take notes for 20 minutes,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t realize it, but I was conducting years of organizational research.”
Even his time as a professional poker player offered lessons in human behavior, risk assessment and decision‑making under pressure.
Those insights now anchor the way he teaches.
Hands‑On Learning That Reshaped His Future
When Anderson decided it was time to pursue teaching, “phase two,” as he calls it, he approached the transition the same way he approached everything else: intentionally.
He wrote down what he wanted.
Teacher.
Professor.
Professor at MSU Denver.
Professor in the College of Business.
Today, he teaches in the College of Business, leading courses in capstone strategy and managerial decision-making. His students consistently describe him as clear, empathetic and deeply committed to their success.
He also mentors students, serves on the MBA Advisory Board and brings students with him to alumni events so they can access networks that often feel out of reach.
Purpose‑Driven Teaching and Real‑World Insight
In the classroom, Anderson emphasizes application, correlation and the conditions that create “magic” in learning.
“There are four pillars: memorization, understanding, application and correlation,” he said. “Correlation is where creativity starts and that’s what I want students to experience.”
He creates a safe space for honest conversation, diversity of thought and meaningful mistakes, which is an environment where students can practice navigating real corporate dynamics before encountering them in their careers.
“Run your own road. Don’t let the road run over you,” he tells them. “And take care of your future self.”
Coming Full Circle: A Mission Reflected in One Roadrunner
Anderson’s connection to MSU Denver extends well beyond his degrees. He credits the University not just with academic preparation, but with the values he now strives to model.
“This place aligns with everything I believe makes the world a great place,” he said. “I feel lucky every day I walk across campus.”
His journey, from struggling early‑semester student to multi‑industry leader to beloved professor, illustrates MSU Denver’s mission in action.