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Janine Davidson, Ph.D
President of MSU Denver
Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has served as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver since 2017. She is a national thought leader in higher education and on topics such as public service, U.S. foreign policy and national security.
As president of Colorado’s third-largest public university, Davidson is a fierce advocate for MSU Denver’s 17,000 students. From her first days on campus, she has championed the role public universities play in “holding the line on the American dream.” She has staunchly advocated for legal status for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and supported MSU Denver’s undocumented students, underrepresented students, and military and veteran students.
Davidson has spearheaded the development of high-quality, career-oriented undergraduate and graduate academic programs that serve Colorado’s communities and power its economy. She launched the University’s Classroom to Career Hub, connecting students with employers for a direct pipeline into the state and national workforce. She has also overseen the creation of the MSU Denver Health Institute – a collaboration of 10 academic departments in health-related fields that addresses state health-care-industry shortages – and the Institute for Public Service, which is focused on inspiring, preparing, and enabling students to serve with an emphasis on careers in government and the nonprofit sector.
Prior to her time at MSU Denver, Davidson served as the 32nd undersecretary of the U.S. Navy. Her appointment by then-President Barack Obama as Navy “under” followed nearly 30 years of academic, civilian and military service. She has taught at George Mason University, Georgetown University, Davidson College and various professional military schools, and was an aviation and aerobatics flight instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She recently returned to the classroom at MSU Denver, co-teaching a course on the philosophical and legal origins of freedom of speech in the United States. Davidson began her career as an Air Force officer and cargo pilot. She was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officer School and was the first woman to fly the Air Force’s tactical C-130.
John Masserini, DMA
MSU Denver Dean of CLAS John Masserini
John Masserini is the dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His focus is on the symbiotic nature of academic and organizational efforts that lead to student success.
His vision and daily work involve enabling academic units to demonstrate the interdisciplinary reality of the human experience to our students, through the lens of the humanities, arts and sciences. With a specific focus on those that are historically underrepresented and underserved, he looks to dismantle long-standing barriers in higher education by providing greater access and support that leads to meaningful careers and engaged citizens.
Masserini appeared in several international and national venues as a recitalist, concerto soloist, collaborative chamber musician and theater musician for national Broadway tours. He completed several grant-funded performance projects with longtime collaborator Melanie Kloetzel, professor of dance at the University of Calgary. Their work combines music, dance and various forms of media.
Masserini received his doctorate in music art, a master’s in in music performance from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s in music from the University of New Mexico.
David Fine, JD
MSU Denver General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Before becoming General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at MSU Denver, David Fine was a partner at the international law firm of Holland & Knight specializing in several areas of law, including higher-education law. He also served as the Denver City Attorney under Mayor John Hickenlooper from 2007-11.
David has been listed in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and 5280 Top Lawyers on multiple occasions. He serves on the board of the Florence Crittendon Services. David also served on the MSU Denver Foundation board.
David is a fourth-generation Coloradan and a proud graduate of Denver Public Schools. He received his Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Wisconsin and his Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University School of Law.
Naomi Amaha
Inaugural Director of Policy and Government Affairs for The Denver Foundation
Naomi Amaha is an award-winning public affairs leader with a reputation for excellence in public policy and government relations. With more than a decade of experience in advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and civic engagement, she advances systemic change.
She is the inaugural Director of Policy and Government Affairs for The Denver Foundation, the largest and most experienced community foundation in the Rocky Mountain West. She previously worked for The American Heart Association, where she was recognized for building strong stakeholder relationships and advancing policy change at the local, regional, and state levels in multiple states, including Colorado.
Naomi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communication from the University of California Davis, is a Certified Nonprofit Professional, and has earned a certification in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Colorado. She is a member of the City of Denver’s Housing Stability Strategic Advisors, a board member of the Alliance for Collective Action, Colorado Women’s Chamber Foundation, and Transportation Solutions, an advisory committee member of Community Investment Alliance, a steering committee member of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Urban Exploration, and member of the Colorado Black Women for Political Action and Sisters in Energy.
Katy Anthes, Ph.D
Director of the FORWARD initiative at the Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC), Founder of The Third Mile Group
Dr. Katy Anthes is the creator and director of the FORWARD initiative at the Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC) as well as a founder and partner of The Third Mile Group, a social policy consulting firm. The FORWARD Initiative — from polarization to progress— prepares leaders in public policy to prevent and manage political polarization in their communities and workplaces. Formerly, Anthes was the Commissioner of Education in Colorado from 2016- 2023, and is widely respected for her commitment to listen to diverse perspectives and develop solutions that are founded on productive middle ground.
Keeping students’ best interests as her top priority, she focuses on providing high quality expertise and support to policymakers, districts and educators working to enhance student achievement.
As Commissioner, Anthes worked with the Colorado State Board of Education, the Legislature and the Governor to craft and implement a vision of education for Colorado. She led the Colorado Department of Education, an $8 billion dollar agency, dedicated to helping districts achieve great things for students. During her time as Commissioner, she served on the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Board of Directors and the Education Commission of the States (ECS), Steering Committee.
Anthes holds a Ph.D. in public policy and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Colorado Denver. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Oregon. Anthes lives in Denver, Colorado.
Elaine Gantz Berman, MSPH
Friend of MSU Denver, Convener/Chair of the Colorado Trustee Network
Elaine has dedicated her professional work and community service to improving the lives of Colorado’s youth primarily through public education; both preK-12 and higher education. She was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to serve as a trustee on the board of MSU Denver. Prior to her higher education board service, Elaine was elected as Congressional District 1’s representative on the Colorado State Board of Education and was previously elected to two terms on the Denver Board of Education, serving for four years as its president. Governor Polis named Elaine as co-chair of his education transition committee when he was first elected governor.
Before serving in elected office, Elaine worked for 18 years as a program officer at the Denver-based Piton Foundation, focusing on a wide spectrum of children’s issues including child advocacy, child poverty, teen pregnancy, child health, and public education. She has served on numerous not-for-profit boards and commissions and helped to found the Colorado Children’s Campaign, the Adoption Exchange, the Colorado Education Initiative, and the Colorado Non-Profit Development Center. Elaine is the founding board chair of The Hart Center for Public Service.
Elaine’s life and work was strongly influenced by her late Cuban-born mother, as well as her two-year stint in Cali, Colombia, where she and her husband, Steve, worked in community health centers. She is fluent in Spanish and holds an MSPH from the School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Elaine has two sons and one granddaughter.
Jasmin Braund
MSUD Graduate, IPS Program Alumni
Jasmin Braund graduated from MSU Denver with a bachelor’s in political science and a minor in legal studies. During her time at MSU Denver she studied abroad in Hungary during the global pandemic, represented the Institute for Public Service in DC with Greenpeace and attended Model UN in Scotland. Jasmin recently completed her internship with the Attorney General’s office in the Criminal Appeals division. Jasmin is currently studying for the LSAT with the intent to start law school in the fall of 2025.
She is interested in pursuing criminal law with the dream of becoming a prosecutor. In her free time Jasmin likes to read narrative nonfiction books, listen to The Prosecutors podcast, and venturing to different parks in Denver.
Alisha Brown, MNM
Senior Vice President at The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities, Founder of “be well” Health and Wellness Initiative
Alisha Brown is the senior vice president at The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities. She established the be well Health and Wellness Initiative, a grassroots movement of communities coming together to take control of the health of their communities by addressing the social determinants of health.
Her work includes the creation of the well Block Captain community engagement model, an evidence-based approach that is known nationally and is supported by various organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
She speaks locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to demonstrate the importance of grassroots involvement. As a graduate of Regis University, she earned a Masters of Nonprofit Management and was a Colorado Trust Fellow. Alisha earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Langston University.
Mirella Chavez
Colorado Access Foundation program manager
Meet Mirella Chavez (she/her/ella), the Colorado Access Foundation program manager with a true passion for making a difference. In her role, leveraging her over 12 incredible years in the health care and nonprofit sectors, she will refine the Foundation’s funding priorities and grantmaking approach, bring forward grant recommendations, and develop collaborative partnerships with grant partners and community organizations. Mirella has worn many hats, gaining a true understanding of health care delivery, program management, strategic planning, and the power of collaboration with partners and the community.
She proudly holds a Bachelor of Science in health care management from Metropolitan State University of Denver. But Mirella’s story goes beyond her professional background. Growing up in and around disenfranchised communities has shaped her into the compassionate and driven individual she is today. She carries an unwavering dedication to health equity, always striving to enhance the well-being and empowerment of individuals and families across Colorado. It’s one of her driving forces.
Alejandra Colmenero, MBA
Director of Leadership Development at CLLARO
Alejandra Colmenero has been in the non-profit sector since 2011. Her journey began when she got involved with UNICEF USA in efforts to fight human trafficking and educate others on the global issue. Alejandra’s passion for UNICEF’s work led her to launch the first UNICEF college chapter in Denver: UNICEF at MSU, and then the first UNICEF Unite team in Colorado. Alejandra focused her efforts on advocating for children’s rights with Congressmen/women, both in Washington D.C. and in-district.
Her passion to make the world a better place led her to seek local involvement in non-profits. She joined the Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy Research Organization (CLLARO) coordinating the CLLARO Capitol Fellowship Program (CFP), and is now Director of Leadership Development at CLLARO. Alejandra obtained her B.A. from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in Hospitality, Tourism and Events, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
Hubert Farbes, JD
Partner at Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
For forty years, Hubert has handled the Front Range’s most complicated infrastructure issues and disputes, and it would be hard to name a large infrastructure project in the region where Hubert did not play a role. He draws on his lengthy experience to provide shrewd counsel to clients on construction, regulatory, and natural resource regulatory matters that are pre-suit and in litigation, so that clients can focus on what is paramount—seeing their projects through to timely completion.
Hubert works on some of the nation’s most sophisticated development and land use topics—public-private partnership developments, resolution of environmental impediments to redevelopment, and commercial construction defects dispute resolution. Hubert is one of the few attorneys to secure a FUDS (Formerly Used Defense Site) cost recovery judgment against the United States in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Having litigated more than 100 cases, he has unparalleled civil trial experience in multiple state courts, U.S. District Courts, and the Court of Federal Claims.
Tom Gougeon, MURP
President of the Gates Family Foundation
Tom Gougeon has served as the President of the Gates Family Foundation since August of 2010. Prior to Gates, Tom was a Principal and the Chief Development Officer for Continuum Partners (2000-2010), a developer and operator of mixed use urban real estate projects. Tom worked extensively on the Belmar redevelopment project in Lakewood, CO and the Union Station transit hub in central Denver among others.
Tom also served as the Executive Director of the W.M.B. Berger Foundation (1997-2000), the CEO of the Stapleton Redevelopment Foundation (1991-1996) and as Assistant to the Mayor of the City and County of Denver (1983-1991).
While in the Mayor’s office Tom was responsible for activities in the areas of budget and finance, planning, community development, infrastructure, and liaison with the state and federal governments. Tom was heavily involved in the development of Denver International Airport and had direct oversight of the project from 1987-1990. Tom also worked as an Associate in the Industrial Economics Division of the Denver Research Institute, as a policy analyst at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and on the staff of U.S. Senator Gary Hart.
Tom has served on the boards of numerous community organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Denver Civic Ventures, the Urban Land Conservancy, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, the Piton Foundation, Neighborhood Housing Services, the Stapleton Foundation, A+ Denver, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, Gary Community Ventures, RootED, the Barton Institute, Elevation Community Land Trust, Lyra Colorado, Colorado Charter Facility Solutions, and the Denver Water Board. Tom has a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Denver and a MURP from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Barbara Grogan
Friend of MSU Denver
Barbara Grogan founded Western Industrial Contractors (Western) in 1982 with a very inauspicious beginning. She bought a 1969 orange pick-up truck for $500, rented offices on an unpaved street, and hired her first three employees. Western made its mark that first year by moving an entire gasket manufacturing plant from New Jersey to Texas.
Western became a nationally recognized industrial construction company. They worked for some of the country’s most prominent companies nationwide and on security and baggage handling systems at more than 300 airports. They were the “white knights” who installed the alternate baggage handling system for Rapistan that allowed Denver International Airport to open in 1995. In September 2004, Grogan sold her interest in Western, and the company continued to thrive.
In addition to serving as the CEO and chair of Western, Grogan has served on several NYSE corporate boards. She was the first female chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch, and was the first female chairman of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Grogan has received numerous awards for significant accomplishments. She is the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advocate of the Year Award, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Business Leaders of the ’90s Award, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Responsibility Award.
In addition to business development initiatives, Grogan is deeply involved in the nonprofit community. She was one of the founding board members of Bright Beginnings. She was also the chair of Denver’s Road Home and Volunteers of America. She served on the board of the Denver Scholarship Foundation, the National Civic League, and the Denver Foundation.
Beverly Haddon
Friend of MSU Denver
Beverly Haddon’s 15-year tenure as chief executive officer for the Stapleton Foundation (“Foundation”) ended in 2016 – as the Stapleton Foundation’s goals became reality, but Beverly’s commitment to development and growth hasn’t taken a back seat. Today, the Stapleton International Airport has been transformed into a sustainable urban community under the Stapleton Foundation, becoming a model redevelopment model to combat urban sprawl.
Since then, Beverly has stayed in-tune with the evolving changes of the Denver Metro Area, strengthening her historic partnership with the Denver Foundation, which began in the 1990s. This has included creating endowed funds for law school scholarships, as well as for their field of interests, including supporting early childhood education and single-parent support services.
Beverly’s story started small, when in 1963 she entered the workforce as a secretary at United Banks of Colorado. Despite having degrees in business and journalism, this was the only position offered to her since women weren’t allowed into management training programs at the time. But Haddon was determined to change what was possible for herself and others. Within nine months, she’d earned her first promotion, and from there, she ascended steadily through the banking ranks, eventually becoming the bank’s first female senior executive vice president.
Today, her legacy continues through her long-tenured staff at two major Foundation programs: Angie Malpiede who runs Northeast Transportation Connections (a transportation management association), and Alisha Brown in charge of the be well Health & Wellness Initiative.
Hal Haddon
Friend of MSU Denver
As one of the founding members of Haddon, Morgan and Foreman, Hal Haddon’s practice focuses on representing individuals and companies in white collar crime, complex civil litigation, and government investigations. He has broad expertise in many areas of criminal and civil litigation in state and federal courts across the country. Hal consistently has been recognized by his peers as one of the top trial attorneys in the country and he is well known for his vigorous representation of individuals and companies in high profile criminal and civil litigation.
Before forming the firm in 1976 with Brian Morgan, Hal served as Chief Trial Deputy for the Colorado Public Defender’s Office and briefly taught criminal trial advocacy as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Denver School of Law.
He continues to lecture on criminal justice and litigation topics around the country. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Hal has served on numerous ABA national committees and task forces seeking to reform the criminal justice system.
Hal has been active in his community for many decades, serving on the Board of Trustees for Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado and the boards of directors for Fresh Start, Inc., the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Colorado and the Duke Law School Board of Visitors.
Hal was the Campaign Manager for Colorado U.S. Senator Gary Hart’s 1974 and 1980 campaigns as well as the National Political Director for Senator Hart’s Presidential Campaign in 1987. He also served as the Finance Chairman for Colorado Governor Richard Lamm’s 1978 campaign.
Chris Herndon
Herndon Leadership Institute Founder
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Herndon learned the importance of giving back and striving to make a difference at an early age from his mother, who taught in the Kansas City School District for nearly 40 years. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served nearly seven years in the U.S. Army, including deployments to Kosovo and Iraq. Following his military service, he served on the Denver City Council for 12 years, including four years as Council President and Vice President. He holds a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.
He has taught “Intro to Public Service and Leadership” at the University of Colorado Denver and earned a certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. His leadership and community impact have been recognized by the Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Denver Urban Spectrum’s African Americans Who Make a Difference.
David Miller
CEO of the Barton Institute for Community Action
David Miller is the CEO of the Barton Institute for Community Action. The mission of the Barton Institute is to support leaders and their communities who are working to develop and foster places for opportunity, connection, and belonging in Metro Denver. The Barton Institute began at the University of Denver in 2016 and in 2020 became an independent nonprofit organization.
Before the Barton Institute, David was President and CEO of The Denver Foundation from 1996 until 2016. The Denver Foundation is the oldest and largest community foundation in the Rocky Mountain region. Under David’s leadership, the assets of The Denver Foundation grew from $58 million to well over $700 million and generous donors contributed more than $1 billion to The Denver Foundation as a vehicle for their charitable giving.
David is a native of Denver and a fifth generation Denverite. He is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School. Since then, he has worked in all three sectors: public, private, and nonprofit.
David spent ten years in Colorado state and local government, serving as Executive Director of the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting under Governor Richard Lamm and Chief of Staff for Denver Mayor Federico Peña. After that and before coming to The Denver Foundation, he was a principal in Greenberg, Baron, Simon & Miller (GBSM), a strategic communications consulting firm. David currently serves on the Board of the Boettcher Foundation. He is married to Lisa Farber Miller. They have two children and four grandchildren.
William Parker
MSU Denver Professor, Parker Maritime Technologies Founder
William James Parker III, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor in the History Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His areas of expertise include world history, national security, epidemiology, maritime operations and diplomacy topics related to the United States, NATO, Russia, China, Turkey, North Korea, Iran and India.
With over 35 years of experience in the maritime industry and international conflict resolution, Parker is a retired senior naval officer who after leaving the military served as the president and CEO of the EastWest Institute and the National Defense University Foundation before launching WilliamJParkerIII.com and founding Parker Maritime Technologies where he is CEO.
Parker earned his doctorate degree in Philosophy, specializing in Biological Defense, from George Mason University, his master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Roy Romer
Former Governor of Colorado
Roy Romer was born in Garden City, Kansas, and grew up in Holly in southeastern Colorado. He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Colorado State University in 1950, and a law degree from the University of Colorado in 1952. He also studied ethics at Yale University. A member of the U.S. Air Force, he was a military prosecutor in Germany. From 1958 to 1966, he served in the Colorado House of Representatives and in the Colorado State Senate. Governor Romer returned to public service in 1975, first as Colorado’s commissioner of agriculture, then as the governor’s chief of staff.
He was appointed state treasurer in 1977. He was first elected governor of Colorado in 1986, reelected in 1990, and again in 1994, and, as a result of voter-adopted term limits, was the last Colorado governor to serve three terms. He was the general chair of the Democratic National Committee from 1997 to 2000. He was vice chair of the Democratic Leadership Council and chaired the Educational Commission of the States and the National Education Goals Panel. Romer was named Superintendent of Schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District in June 2000 and held that position until 2006.
John Walsh
Denver District Attorney
John Walsh was sworn in as Denver’s District Attorney on January 14, 2025. John grew up in the Denver area and has spent his entire career in law and public service. As the U.S. Attorney for Colorado under President Barack Obama from 2010-2016, John led efforts on gun violence prevention, federal sentencing reform, and community outreach with Colorado’s diverse populations, along with national efforts to combat the misconduct by large banks that led to the 2008 Financial Crisis. He also co-founded nonprofits such as Invest in Kids and continues to champion civil rights, equity, and justice across Colorado. A fluent Spanish speaker, John co-founded the Colorado Bar Association’s Spanish-Speaking Lawyers Committee and serves on the board of Escuela de Guadalupe in Denver, a dual-language school.
He has also built strong relationships with Colorado’s Black, Latino, Muslim, and tribal communities, working to address the many critical issues that affect them. Prior to being elected Denver’s DA, John was a partner at the law firm WilmerHale in Denver. In 2023, he was named Attorney of the Year by Law Week Colorado.