Rowdy in celebratory pose in front of Tivoli.
Rowdy in celebratory pose in front of Tivoli.

In addition to Faculty Citings, the Early Bird shines a spotlight each month on the accomplishments of Metropolitan State University of Denver faculty and staff members and University partners.

If we missed an award, accolade or opportunity to celebrate an accomplishment big or small, please email us at [email protected].

Prestigious programs

Online MBA Coach recently ranked MSU Denver’s Master of Business Administration program among the most affordable online MBA programs for 2022. To help students pursue a quality education within their financial means, Online MBA Coach cross-referenced leading institutions with top online MBA programs with their associated costs and fees. The organization ranked MSU Denver No. 93 out of 100 top programs. The ranking indicates MSU Denver’s affordability and highlights the University’s commitment to making excellent education accessible to all. Hats off to the program’s faculty and staff members and student employees who work tirelessly to enhance the Roadrunner experience for all learners! 

Remarkable resources

The Office of Online Learning is broadcasting success stories through the MSU Denver original podcast “Ready and Resilient.” Available on Spotify, each episode features insights from department professionals to help employees and students navigate the intricacies of online learning while celebrating one another’s academic journeys and successes. Well–done to the Online Learning team for telling important MSU Denver stories! 

Superstar students

MSU Denver Hospitality students served another round of winning dishes in the Colorado Dry Bean’s Bean Recipe contest. Jackson Lamb, professor and director of Culinary Management, conducted the five-category competition, which rewarded winners with cash prizes sponsored by Barber’s Farms and the Colorado Dry Bean Committee. Congratulations to students Belen Garcia, Sydney Beaty, Phillip Huc-Pham, Cora Howell, Lindsey Long, Kodi Clary, Kelly Domino, Jesse Verraco, Donna Quigley and Mari Sosa for their award-winning dishes. Check out the Colorado Dry Bean site to see top-rated recipes in the international, red kidney bean, black bean, garbanzo bean and black-eyed pea categories. 

A Roadrunner cheer for MSU Denver’s dance team, Club Poms, which has qualified for the National Dance Alliance College Nationals. All Roadrunners are invited to celebrate the team’s success at an April 4 sendoff event beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the PE/Events Center. Attendees will even get a sneak peek at the team’s hip-hop routine. Keep soaring, Roadrunners!   

Valuable volunteers 

Commencement wouldn’t be possible without the support of faculty and staff volunteers. The University Events team thanks the following approximately 200 employees for donating their time and talents to ensure that the biggest day of the semester runs smoothly and that proud graduates are celebrated and supported.  

Thank you to the following volunteers:

  • Lorri Wray, fiscal manager for the President’s Office, Accounts Payable
  • Rose Williams, admission and registration coordinator, School of Education
  • Roland Schendel, Ph.D., professor, Elementary Education and Literacy
  • Michael Jacobs, Ph.D., professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Bill Carnes, Ph.D., associate professor, Management
  • Salina Siddique, Ph.D., assistant professor, Accounting
  • Maddie Wright, academic advisor, School of Hospitality
  • Toby Eppard, Brewery Program director, School of Hospitality
  • Derren Duburguet, associate professor, Aviation and Aerospace Science
  • Mallory Brunel, M.S., R.N., associate professor, Nursing
  • Katie Joyce, special-projects manager and assistant, Dean of Students Office
  • Luz Alejandri-Lopez, M.A., office manager, University Advancement
  • Jenny Allert, DNP, RNC, assistant professor, Nursing
  • Corinne Anaya, accounts-payable specialist, Office of the Controller
  • Pamela Ansburg, Ph.D., professor, Psychological Sciences
  • Sylvia Arriaga Brady, Ph.D., lecturer, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • John Babcock, associate director, Orientation, Transfer and Reengagement
  • Mark Baccei, Ph.D., research analyst, Enrollment Management
  • Tyler Bachelder, M.S., associate professor, Aviation and Aerospace Science
  • Lisa Badanes, Ph.D., associate professor, Psychological Sciences
  • Brian Bagwell, Psy.D., MAC, LAC, professor, Human Services and Counseling
  • Biff Baker, Ph.D., lecturer, Marketing
  • Tiffani Baldwin, Ph.D., assistant director, Transfer and Adult Student Success
  • Sue Barnd, Ed.D., professor, Secondary/K-12 Education and Educational Technology
  • Cynthia Baron, Ed.D., associate dean, Center for Equity and Student Achievement
  • Maluwa Behringer, executive director of Industry Partnerships, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Jess Bertram, M.Eng., instructor, Mathematical and Computer Science
  • Erin Bissell, Ph.D., assistant professor, Biology
  • Joshua Bowens, Ed.D., financial-aid counselor, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
  • Laura Braunschmidt, lecturer, Aviation and Aerospace Science
  • Anna-Liisa Breit, associate director of Technology Support Services, Information Technology Services
  • Robert Brian, office coordinator, English
  • Charlie Buckley, Ph.D., assistant professor, Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
  • Lorretta Chavez, Ph.D., professor, Special Education, Early Childhood, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
  • Pablo Chavira Nieto, ESL and student-success specialist, Immigrant Services Program
  • Garrett Chism, MBA, program director, Master of Health Administration, Health Professions
  • Jacob Cho, Ph.D., assistant professor, Management
  • Michele M. Clark, J.D., assistant professor, Management
  • Dawn Clement, assistant professor and area coordinator, Jazz and American Improvised Music
  • Bridgette Coble, Ph.D., director of career engagement, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Colleen Colles, Ed.D., professor and assistant chair, Human Performance and Sport
  • Jeanne Connelly, Ed.D., assistant professor, Teacher Education Division-2 School of Education
  • Christopher Cooley, M.S., instructor, Biology
  • Ben Cooper, Psy.D., affiliate, Psychological Sciences
  • Rebecca Cottrell, Ph.D., online and hybrid development analyst, Social Work
  • Nhi Dang,M.A., assistant director, First Generation Initiatives
  • Denise Daphne, M.A., academic advisor and retention specialist, Biology
  • Jo Daugherty Bailey, Ph.D., professor and interim dean, College of Health and Applied Sciences
  • Lincoln Davie, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Hospitality
  • Lavierleon Dinh, advisor, Financial Aid
  • Sandra Maresh Doe, Ed.D., professor, English
  • Clark Dollard, Ph.D., associate professor, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Benjamin Dyhr, Ph.D., associate professor, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Karlett Eguiluz, counselor, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
  • Yonahiza Estrada, M.S., health-career navigator, Health Institute
  • Kelly Evans, Ph.D., assistant professor, Human Performance and Sport
  • Sonia Falcón, MSW, associate director of the Student Care Center, Student Affairs
  • Bryan Ferguson, M.A., associate director of Outdoor Pursuits and Leadership, Campus Recreation
  • Roberto Forns-Broggi, Ph.D., professor, Modern Languages
  • Joseph Foster, Ph.D., director, Veteran and Military Student Services
  • Julian Friedland, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Business
  • Meg Frisbee, Ph.D., associate professor, History
  • Jennifer Gagliardi-Seeley, Ph.D., professor, Biology
  • Steve Geinitz, Ph.D., assistant professor, Computer Science
  • Nicolette Giasolli, M.S., ATC, lecturer, Biology
  • Brandon Gilbert, Ed.D., assistant professor, School of Education
  • Krista Griffin, Ed.D., associate professor, Elementary Education and Literacy
  • Nicholas Grissom, director, Enrollment Call Center
  • Matt Griswold, Ed.D., associate vice president, Office of Online Learning
  • Johana Guzman, M.S, assistant to the director and office manager, Orientation, Transition and Reengagement
  • Evelynn Guzman de Leon, M.Ed, assistant director of academic achievement, College Assistance Migrant Program
  • Lisa Hagan, Ph.D., professor, Psychological Sciences
  • Kara Halley, Ed.D., associate professor, Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
  • Amy Hamik, M.S., senior HR partner, Human Resources
  • Tennille Hamler, M.A., events manager, MSU Denver Classroom to Career Hub
  • Tara Hammar, Ph.D., associate professor, Human Services and Counseling
  • Jeff Hammond, M.S., associate professor, Journalism and Media Production
  • René Haro Sipes, M.A., communications coordinator, Admissions
  • Elmer Harris, Ed.D., assistant professor, Early Childhood Education
  • Daniel Haupt, MBA, CIS advisor, Computer Information Systems and Analytics
  • Bill Herman, Ph.D., assistant professor, Marketing
  • Lori Herrera, MBA, chief financial and operating officer, MSU Denver Foundation
  • Cyndi Hill, MBA, academic advisor, Management
  • Katherine Hill, Ph.D., associate professor, Psychological Sciences
  • Matt Hooley, M.S., Application Services, ITS
  • Karla Horgan Arévalo, health-career navigator, Health Institute
  • Laurel Hyslop, Ph.D., lecturer, Psychological Sciences
  • Eric James, Ph.D., assistant professor, Communication Studies
  • Samuel Jay, Ph.D., director, Faculty Affairs
  • Michael Jennings, MBA, lecturer, Finance
  • Kathleen Jewby, creative director and production manager, Met Media
  • Di Jia, Ph.D., assistant professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
  • Sarah Kaup, M.S., international-admission specialist, Admissions
  • JT Kendall, student-success coach, Pathways to Possible
  • Kristina Kesselring, MPAcc, lecturer, Accounting
  • Jacqueline Kirby, program assistant and office manager, Communication Studies
  • Jessica Kirkpatrick, student-eligibility and graduate counselor, Financial Aid
  • Lisa Kirscht, J.D., M.S., individualized-degree specialist, Center for Individualized Learning
  • Nahum Kisner, executive director of Student Support and Retention, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Nursen Konuk, Ph.D., assistant professor, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Lauren Koppel, M.A., assistant director of scholarship support and retention, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Dagmar Kress, MBA, lecturer and coach, Aviation and Aerospace
  • Steve Krizman, M.A., associate professor, Journalism and Media Production
  • Elise Krumholz, M.A., coordinator for Student Conflict Resolution Services, Student Engagement and Wellness
  • Jackson Lamb, MBA, professor, School of Hospitality
  • Stephanie Lee, M.S., student-success coach, Pathways to Possible
  • Daniel Lefe, Admissions
  • Katrina Little, MSN-Ed., BSN, R.N., lecturer, Nursing
  • Christopher Looby, MBA, affiliate professor, Health Professions and Business Management
  • Jesselin Lopez, interim emergency-fund coordinator, Student Care Center
  • Sharon Lorince, M.B.A., director of operations and maintenance, Facilities
  • Lunden MacDonald, Ph.D., professor, Modern Languages
  • Andrea Maestrejuan, Ph.D., associate professor, History
  • Nicole Magloire, program manager, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Alyssa Marks, MSW, associate director of Industry Partnerships Classroom to Career Hub
  • Colette Martinez, MHA, affiliate professor, Health Professions
  • Adrienne Martinez, associate vice president, Classroom to Career Initiatives
  • Emily Matuszewicz, D.C., founding director, Health Institute
  • Leah McFail, M.S., industry navigator and event coordinator, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Timothy Meeks, associate director of industry partnerships, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Gregor Mieder, M.A., director, Immigrant Services Program
  • Angelica Moreno, M.Ed., manager of assessment and evaluation, Student Affairs
  • Chad Mortensen, Ph.D., professor, Psychological Sciences
  • Thyago Mota, Ph.D., assistant professor, Computer Sciences
  • Cassie Mullin, M.A., experiential-learning program manager, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Jim Murphy, MBA, instructor, Accounting
  • Erin Murray, Ph.D., assistant professor, Nutrition
  • Camelia Naranjo, M.A., associate director of Peer Mentoring, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Eboni Nash, M.T.S, diversity, equity and inclusion program recruitment manager, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Meredith Nation, interim coordinator, Honors Program
  • Jon Nguyen, tuition-classification officer, Admissions
  • Michael Nguyen, director of Enrollment Management Systems and Operations, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
  • Robert G. Niemeyer, Ph.D., assistant professor, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Kayla Nuanez, admissions processor, Admissions
  • Ann Obermann, LCSW, Ph.D., assistant professor, Social Work
  • Deserie Ontiveros, office manager, Admissions Processing, Office of Admissions
  • Elizabeth Parmelee, Ph.D., associate vice president, Undergraduate Studies
  • Bethany Perez, M.A., Pathways to Possible counselor, Admissions
  • Itzel Perez Galicia, admissions counselor, Human Services and Counseling
  • Jan Perry Evenstad, Ph.D., associate professor and director, Western Educational Equity Assistance Center
  • Adrienne Perucca, associate director of Admissions Systems and Data, Office of Admissions
  • Thuy Phan, executive assistant, Student Affairs
  • Ray Phillips, M.S., affiliate, Aviation and Aerospace Science
  • Nick Pistentis, M.S., executive director of Application Services, Information Technology Services
  • Shelley B. Poole, Ph.D., associate professor, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Erica Quintana-Garcia, MSW, director, Student Care Center
  • Joanely Ramos, interim outreach-and-enrollment coordinator, CAMP
  • Catherine Reddy, administrative assistant, Criminal Justice and Criminology
  • Sarah Reega, M.Sc., transfer evaluator, Office of the Registrar
  • Eunice Reyes, M.Ed., equity and career-success coordinator, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Jason Rice, MBA, food-services coordinator, School of Hospitality
  • Tana Ridgeway, temporary reengagement navigator, Orientation, Transfer and Reengagement
  • Waleska Rivera-Shon, MS, Pathways coordinator, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Marlynn Rocha-Vasquez, director of Internal Operations for Admissions, Office of Admissions
  • Angela Rodriguez, M.A., academic advisor and retention specialist, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
  • Amanda Ryder, MBA, associate director of admissions, High School Outreach, Admissions
  • Alfredo Sanchez, M.A., assistant professor, Journalism and Media Production
  • Prabhdeep Sandha, Ph.D., assistant professor, Nutrition
  • Megan Scherzberg, Ph.D., director, Orientation, Transfer and Reengagement
  • Sarah Schliemann, Ph.D., lecturer, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • April Schofield, MBA, lecturer, Marketing
  • Erin Seedorf, Dr.P.H., assistant professor, Health Professions
  • Corey Sell, Ph.D., associate professor, Elementary Education and Literacy
  • Rosa Serrano, social-media manager, Journalism and Media Production
  • Dorothy Shapland, Ed.D., assistant professor, Early Childhood Education
  • Shannon Sheaff, M.A., change agent, Financial Aid
  • Rae Shevalier, Ph.D., professor, Sociology and Anthropology
  • Eric Silva, MSE, director, Pathways to Possible
  • Helle Sorensen, M.A., professor, School of Hospitality
  • Eileen F. Starr, Ph.D., LCSW, associate professor, Social Work
  • Brandon Terry, M.A., operations coordinator, Financial Aid and Scholarships
  • Andrew Thangasamy, Ph.D., professor, Political Science
  • Vaughn Toland, M.A., executive director of Admissions and Outreach, Admissions
  • Tisha Townsend, associate director, TRIO Student Support Services
  • Pamela Troyer, Ph.D., professor, English
  • Sharon Twigg, Ph.D., associate dean, CLAS
  • Erin Ulrich, M.A., assistant director of high school outreach, Admissions
  • Kaden Van Hegewald, reengagement navigator, Orientation, Transfer and Reengagement
  • Jeremy VanHooser, M.S., diversity coordinator, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Kim VanHoosier-Carey, Ph.D., director, Center for Individualized Learning
  • Ally Veneris, M.S., industry navigator, Classroom to Career Hub
  • Peter Vigil, Ph.D., professor, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
  • Jimi Webb, career advisor and business-development coordinator, School of Hospitality
  • Jessica Weiss, Ph.D., associate professor, Art
  • Loriann Weiss, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
  • Elizabeth Wellington, M.A., senior HR partner, Human Resources
  • Emily Willan, director of operations and planning, Student Affairs
  • Whei Wong, MPA, associate vice president for marketing and brand, University Communications and Marketing
  • Kip Wotkyns, professor, Journalism and Media Production
  • Jesus Yañez, M.A., student-success coach, Pathways to Possible
  • Jennifer Zakotnik-Gutierrez, Ph.D., lecturer, Mathematics and Statistics