A collage of photos from the College of Business Connect Week
A collage of photos from the College of Business Connect Week

Connect Week took a different approach this spring and showed up right when students needed it most. The message was simple: keep going, you’re closer than you think, and you’ve already accomplished more than you realize. To match that energy, this year’s race car theme brought a sense of momentum, speed, and finish-line focus to campus.

Beyond the theme and activities, Connect Week was ultimately about connection. Faculty, staff, and student workers created meaningful moments with students across campus, offering encouragement, conversation, and support when it mattered most.

Jon Wilkerson Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics

Jon Wilkerson, Event Lead

“Beyond the numbers, all of the volunteers had a big and important impact on our amazing students. Most of the students left smiling and many were quite emotional, saying things like “Thank you so much for doing this for us!” (One student told me, “I wish my mother said the things that you guys said to me today!”) All the staff and faculty delivered on our Connect Week mission: to make our students feel seen, admired, appreciated, and supported as they cross the finish line for this academic year. I am so grateful for you all.”

Connect Week Statistics

This year’s event was an incredible example of the College of Business coming together to support our students. Here is a glimpse into some statistics collected about the results of this year’s Connect Week:

  • Over 500 students engaged across two days
  • 400+ donuts distributed
  • 6 bunches of bananas, 12 lbs. of apples, and 10 lbs. of oranges provided
  • 4 boxes of peanut butter crackers and four boxes of cheese crackers distributed
  • 6 boxes of chips and four large cookie platters shared
  • A wide variety of candy distributed throughout the event
  • Hundreds of meaningful student interactions
  • Strong emphasis on student support, encouragement, and engagement

Faculty Appreciation

A special thank you to the faculty who participated and made Connect Week 2026 a meaningful experience for students:

Catherine Jackson
Angelica Bahl
Devika Banerji
Biff Baker
Aaron Templer
Sally Baalbaki-Yassine
Donald Chang
Lina Xu 
Clay Daughtrey
Owen Herman
Alysyn Harvey-Green
Ugur Sener
Yaw Tyng Tim Sheu
Jenny Chen
Satvika Marrapu
Brian Lambert
Elizabeth McVicker
Apryl Brodersen
Cynthia Sutton
Debbie Gilliard
Raj Khandekar
Maria Quijada
Austin Elsey
Silu Cheng
Andy Proctor
Su-Jane Chen
Amanda Jo Erven
Greg Clifton
Kishore Kulkarni

An additional thank you to the amazing College of Business staff, student workers, and supporting partners whose dedication and coordination made this event possible:

Pam Packer, Laurie Nakauchi, and Lindsey Wadle for their leadership and organization, along with the continued support of our dean, Ethan Waples. Additional thanks to Lauren Shaffer, Wendy Walker, Jennifer Marquez Mendoza, Donna Ries, and Clare Fidler for their valuable contributions. We are also grateful to those who tabled at the event, including Oliver Dickhousen and Andy Proctor of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute, as well as the members of Pi Sigma Epsilon.

A very special thank you to Jon Wilkerson for his leadership, care, and dedication in bringing Connect Week 2026 to life and for his unwavering commitment to supporting and uplifting our students.

Learn more about the College of Business

Connect Week Photo Gallery

Where Ambition Meets Opportunity

Support comes from MSU Denver’s College of Business, offering flexible programs with real‑world projects and support. Committed to empowering graduates to lead, solve, and inspire.

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Crowd of students clapping and cheering during the MSU Denver Athletics Department Season Kickoff.
Four MSU Denver students stand smiling and laughing together in front of a large inflatable Roadrunners mascot holding a “GET ROWDY!” sign. They are outdoors on a sunny day with a grassy hill and a bright blue sky in the background, celebrating school spirit and camaraderie.