Catherine Kleier, Ph.D., officially rejoined the Metropolitan State University of Denver community April 13 as associate vice president for Faculty Affairs. Kleier, a former adjunct faculty member and visiting assistant professor in the Department of Biology, will serve remotely until July.
Kleier is a biology professor turned administrator with 20 years’ experience in higher-education classrooms. She has taught within the Regis University Department of Biology for nearly 15 years, where she served as department chair among other leadership roles. She most recently served as associate dean of the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences since August 2020. Additionally, she has authored two courses about plants through The Great Courses.
Kleier earned a doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UCLA after receiving a Master of Science in Botany and Plant Pathology from Oregon State University and a bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Population and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Kleier join our Academic Affairs leadership team as the new AVP for Faculty Affairs following a national search,” said Interim Provost Maria Mora, Ph.D. “With more than two decades of experience as a faculty member along with her academic leadership roles – including helping faculty find ways to cultivate student success – she will be an asset to MSU Denver as we continue to expand faculty programming opportunities in Faculty Affairs. She will also be able to tap into her experience in building equitable environments to support our faculty and department chairs as we work together to implement our 2030 Strategic Plan.”
As a higher-education leader, Kleier strives to build equitable environments by creating fair policies and operating according to the servant-leader model. In exploring the AVP position, she was particularly drawn to the excellent faculty professional-development modules offered by the Center for Teaching, Learning and Design.
“They have an extensive catalog of help for faculty, and that’s exciting to see faculty development supported so well,” she said. “I was also interested in ideas that promote inclusive pedagogy.”
Kleier spoke with the Early Bird about her lifelong commitment to education and her thrill-seeking hobby.
Q&A
Why were you initially drawn to academia, and what has driven you to build a career in higher education?
I love to learn, and I especially loved learning from enthusiastic professors. When I went to college, active learning and inclusive pedagogies were not commonplace. I was drawn to the idea of trying to create a better classroom experience, especially for the students who didn’t understand everything right away. I love higher education because I believe it creates opportunities — not just for economic advancement but the advancement of humanity, too.
How would you describe yourself as a leader?
I embrace the servant-leader model in that I view my role as having an obligation to remove barriers for people and also create equitable pathways, too. I think the best leadership advice I’ve heard is the adage of speaking less and listening more.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I like traveling and trekked the Milford and Routeburn tracks in New Zealand earlier this year. I also had my first go at bungee-jumping at the first commercial bungee site in the world: the Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand.