Metropolitan State University of Denver has officially established the new Office of University Events. Formerly a part of University Communications and Marketing, the team has been formalized into an office under University Advancement to establish a centralized unit for events and event support. This move strategically positions the events team to impact engagement, cultivation and public-relations efforts across the University.
Focus and services
The Office of University Events plans, coordinates and executes high-level strategic events for MSU Denver, including Universitywide and presidential events such as Commencement, Fall Welcome Back, the Spring Update, the President’s Fireside Chat and the President’s Speaker Series.
The office also provides strategic-event planning and promotion guidance to the University community through event-planning templates and resources and select support services. Following a new tiered structure, the Office of University Events will offer training and audio/video consultation to organizers of division-level and departmental-level events. Due to capacity constraints, all event-support requests must include full confirmed event information and be submitted with at least six to eight weeks’ notice.
Expanding the team
The office is seeking a director of University Events who will be responsible for the strategic development and execution of University-level and presidential events. The director will play a critical role in planning strategies and implementing tactics for external and internal audiences to advance MSU Denver’s visibility, grow engagement and inspire giving. Reporting to the associate vice president of Strategic Engagement, the director will serve as the primary campus liaison and strategist for University events and will position the Office of University Events as a resource for campus partners. The office hopes to have the position filled by October.
The office is located in Jordan Student Success Building Room 403, and team members include:
- Cora Potter, associate director of University Events
- David Sharman, associate director of Event Operations
- Ned Howesich, office systems manager
- Toby Hatcher, AV/IT technician
- Kylie Miller, assistant director of Marketing and Event Production
Virtual information session Sept. 9
Office members will host a virtual info session Sept. 9 from 1-2 p.m. during which faculty and staff members can virtually ask questions, get to know the office’s new processes and receive a brief training on event best practices.