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 submit an announcement by completing the Service Request Form
Superstar students
MSU Denver Master of Accountancy students Christopher Ristuccia and Kathryn Rainwater attended the Institute of Internal Auditors 2023 Global Student Conference on April 16-18 with Jo Erven, CPA, CIA, CFE, director of Internal Audit Education.
Both students represented MSU Denver throughout the conference, including one of their teams winning the Internal Audit Case Competition. MSU Denver is one of only 56 schools globally that have been endorsed by the IIA and is a part of its Internal Auditing Education Partnership program.
In addition to being represented at the conference, MSU Denver is offering a certificate in Internal Auditing for undergraduate and graduate students in the 2023-24 catalogs for the first time.
The undergraduate certificate is called the Risk Assurance and Advisory Certificate, and the graduate certificate is called the Graduate Certificate in Risk Assurance and Advisory.
With these certificates, MSU Denver hopes to increase awareness of the Internal Audit Profession as well as increase career opportunities for students after they graduate.
COSI Board appointment
Nahum Kisner, executive director of Student Support and Retention in the Classroom to Career Hub, has been appointed as the four-year institution representative to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Board. This is an important step for MSU Denver because a significant amount of state funding that goes to students has been running through COSI over the past few years.
Free community music classes
The MSU Denver Music Department, in collaboration with the Latino Cultural Arts Center, The Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, Rocky Ridge Music Center and The Denver Municipal Band, held a weekend of free music activities for all ages April 29-30.
The event had 93 registrants, ranging from 14 months to 72 years old. Classes included guitar, mariachi, drum, brass, voice, piano and more. The full list can be found here.
The participants and their families expressed a great deal of joy and gratitude for this opportunity. Shane Endsley, faculty member in the Department of Music, says the department plans to run it again in fall with a bigger plan to expand to once a semester with rotating class offerings and co-hosting interest from other MSU departments as well.
Fantastic faculty
Bethany Fleck Dillon, Ph.D., professor of Psychological Sciences, received an award for her Distinguished Service at Research Mentorship at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association.
Cynthia Erickson, Ph.D., assistant professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, received an award for her Research Mentorship at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Her student recently received an award for research and presentation developed under Erickson’s guidance.
DPS students visit cybersecurity center
Alumna Charmaine Lindsay, a member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, and Career Education Center cybersecurity students visited with the MSU Denver Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics program to gain insight into the world of cybersecurity. Students were given an opportunity to learn how they can protect and defend their digital footprints and organizations against complex cyberthreats, attacks, intrusions and security breaches.
During their visit, the students were able to explore the various career opportunities available in this field as well as learn about professional certifications such as Amazon Web Services, ECCouncil, Microsoft, Network+, Linux, Security+ and more.
“I am committed to ensuring that all DPS students have access to quality educational resources that will help them succeed both now and in the future,” Lindsay said. “Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field with great potential for our students. I am proud that we are providing them with this opportunity.”
Deputy secretary of commerce visits campus
MSU Denver hosted Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves on campus for a roundtable on semiconductor production and workforce development.
The deputy secretary was on campus to highlight how the Biden administration is strengthening educational partnerships as part of the CHIPS and Science Act.