Request Information
Ready to find out what MSU Denver can do for you? We’ve got you covered.
Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact Us
The Office of Enrollment & Student Affairs introduced BRAVO! Awards to recognize both individual staff members and groups of team members within Student Affairs who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, outstanding contributions, or remarkable effort at MSU Denver. Nominations are open throughout each term, with winners being announced at an event towards the end of each semester.
Fall 2025 Individual Award Winners
Erika Truong (Administrative Coordinator and Office Manager, OTR) | EM
“Erika has gone above and beyond to create a vibrant, accommodating, supportive, and welcoming community within Enrollment Management. She single-handedly supported Enrollment Management departments through end-of-fiscal-year budget tie-ups, planned and executed amazing events for staff, and supported EM leadership through recent staffing changes to ensure they have the resources they need to be successful.”
PaviElle James (Transfer Evaluator, Office of Registrar) | EM
“Pavi not only works incredibly hard ensuring accurate transcript evaluations, but her commitment with Staff Senate as well. Pavi is genuine in her concerns about how best to support not only the students, but staff and faculty as well. She sees something and is determined to make a change. Her support for the individuals on this campus cannot be beat.”
Sarah Kaup (Assistant Director of International Admissions, Office of Admissions) | EM
“Sarah consistently goes above and beyond to support international students at MSU Denver, sharing her knowledge and thoughtful guidance to help them navigate complex processes with confidence. Sarah’s intelligence, hard work, and genuine kindness make her a pleasure to work with and an invaluable member of the team.”
Tamara McCool, Assistant Registrar for Transfer Operations, Office of Registrar) | EM
“In the heat of the Workday Student implementation Tamara has taken over the bulk of the daily oversight of transfer projects at the university level, including training, improved faculty guidelines, and serving on various committees and has made them soar. She has done this while also serving as the lead for transfer credit evaluation on the Workday Student project, managing her current team, and onboarding new employees. She is dealing daily with demands from her team, expected transfer turnarounds, university commitments, and increasing requirements from state legislation.”
Dr. Patty Gonzalez (Staff Psychologist & Outreach Coordinator, Counseling Center) | SEW
“Patty has significantly elevated the Counseling Center’s campus presence through creative outreach initiatives, including the Caring in Community Faire and expanded social media engagement. As the sole bilingual therapist, she provides exceptional care in both English and Spanish and ensures students of all backgrounds can access support. Her leadership has directly contributed to increased visibility, awareness, and student utilization of Counseling Center services.”
Stephen Cucchiara (Executive Director of Student Life and Belonging, CMEI) | SEW
“Stephen has truly brought new life to MSU Denver. With creative ideas like transforming Rowdy Rally into an exciting campus tradition and introducing Welcome Month to help students feel more connected, he’s made a real difference in how students engage and show up. His passion for student life and understanding of what our campus community needs have helped make MSU Denver feel more vibrant, welcoming, and full of energy.”
Melissa Cermak (Associate Director, Access Center) | SEW
“Melissa consistently goes the extra mile to support students with visual impairments by proactively coordinating meetings between students and their instructors to ensure all course materials are fully accessible. Her commitment to equal access exemplifies the highest standards of service and advocacy within our institution.”
Nhi Dang (Associate Director of API Student Experience and Belonging, CMEI) | SEW
“Nhi has made a powerful impact building community through meaningful events, programs, and student support. She continues to lead highly successful cultural heritage initiatives, including new Latinx Heritage Month events like the “La Bodega” Social with over 200 attendees. Her leadership has played a key role in expanding identity-based support initiatives, enhancing Rowdy Rally Convocation, strengthening Welcome Month programming, and launching Roadrunners After Dark.”
Mario Zarate (Administrative Assistant, Industry Partnerships) | C2Hub
“Mario is the glue that holds the Industry Partnerships Team together and enables the team to scale our impact. His ability to anticipate needs, manage the budget, keep all stakeholders organized, and smooth communication with faculty and industry partners has enabled the team to increase student career engagement by 70%. The team would not be able to have the scale of impact without his leadership on improving operational efficiencies for the team.”
Mariah Master (Scholarship Support Retention Specialist, Student Success Program) | C2Hub
“Mariah Master is a master collaborator. Whether it is with our colleagues in University Advancement through her scholarship program management or her facilitation of the C2Hub Champions Program, or in seeking to align student storytelling opportunities with the Call Me Mister Program, or even in working to align institutional learning outcomes across civic engagement, leadership, and community involvement.”
Group Award Winners
Admissions Systems and CRM Team
(Adrienne Perucca, Mitchell Teston, Jon Nguyen)
“I have been extremely impressed by this team’s dedication, skill, and effort in implementing the AMSA SAFE Admissions Tool to identify fraudulent applications and safely re-enable auto-admit. Despite significant challenges with the product and vendor, they remained persistent, collaborative, and worked diligently through a large applicant backlog while mitigating institutional risk.”
Office of Admission Counselors Team
(Darian Castor, Jose Arellano Ordaz)
“While our admissions counselors are out on the road recruiting students across Colorado, it is our on-campus counselors who consistently ensure our prospective students and their families feel welcomed, informed, and excited about MSU Denver when they visit campus. While they each have their own territories and student populations, Darian and Jose are ready and able to help any student who engages with our office.”
International Student Support Team
(Ash Lance, Secil Abbay)
“The ISS team has worked non-stop to ensure students’ awareness of new and changing laws and requirements and supporting them through the different processes they need to undergo. The ISS team cares so much for each student they serve and it constantly shows.”
Past Winners
Roadrunner Forward Award
2025 Spring – High School Outreach Team (Erin Ulrich, Hector Susano, Wyatt Kocol, Rosaisela Hernandez, Zach Colter, Paul Kubitschek, Emily Vega), Oanh Luong (Budget Analyst), Cande Martinez (Assistant Director of Academic Achievement)
2024 Fall – Monica Luckie (Administrative Coordinator and Advisor for TRIO Upward Bound), Lori Marie Huertas (Assistant Director of Industry Partnerships), Cassie Mullin (Experiential Learning Program Manager)
2024 Spring – Jewel Midelis (Director of Student Communications), Abbie Kell (Student Housing Project Manager), Michael Nguyen (Director of Financial Aid Systems)
Service to Students Award
2025 Spring – Benjamin Cooper (Hopes Program Coordinator)
2024 Fall – Steve Monaco (Executive Director of the Health Center at Auraria) 2023 Spring – Dr. Gail Bruce Sanford (Executive Director of Counseling Center)
Individuals
2025 Spring – Don Holtzen (Operations Coordinator for Office of Financial Aid), Leah Martinez (Associate Director for Financial Aid and Eligibility), Maribel Valadez-Palomino (Customer Service Manager, Office of Admissions), Michael Nguyen (Interim Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships), Andrew Sia, Ph.D. (Staff Psychologist & Associate Director of Training), Alicia Montoya (Program Coordinator for Engagement and Student Belonging), Rachel Quintana (Assistant to the Director of the Access Center), Sonia Adame Tarin (Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator), Melissa Cleaver (Pathways to Possible Director), Scott Bergman (Assistant Director for Scholarship Support), Katie Simonsgaard (Communications and Social Media Manager for Student Affairs)
2024 Fall – Victor Mata (Student Success Specialist, Immigrant Services Program), Tori Pacheco (Interim Associate Director Office of Financial Aid and Student Services), Sarah Goldenberg (Graduate School Pathways Coordinator), Ryan Smith (Scholarship Advisor, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships), Richard Miccio (Associate Director of Well-being, Inclusion, and Behavioral Intervention), Nahum Kisner (Assistant Vice President of Student Success), Jon Nguyen (Assistant Director of Admissions Systems and Data), Ione Priest (Associate Director of Accessibility, Technology, and Testing), Heaven Leigh Irwin (Assistant to the Registrar of Operations), Deserie Ontiveros (Processing Manager), Connie Sanders (Executive Director Registrar), Dr. Bridgette Coble (Director of Career Engagement)
2024 Spring – Andy Daniel Guerrero Angeles (Financial Aid Advisor), Kate Willers (Pathways to Possible Counselor), Robin Paulson (Accessibility Coordinator), Rebecca Rathburn (SNAP Coordinator and Case Management), Whitney Simkins (Marketing Communications Project Manager), Alysha Rowzee (Assistant Director of Admissions Visits & Events), Cassie Mullin (Experiential Learning Manager), Jada Szympruch (Industry Navigator)
2023 Fall – Andrew-Ortiz Martinez (Assistant to Associate Vice President), Carina Hernandez-Solis (Orientation, Transfer, and Reengagement), Dr. Isaac Tubb (Exploratory Advisor, Scholarship Support, and Rentention), Jake Beaudrie (Senior Scholarship Advisor), Dr. Jeanne Burkhart (Staff Psychologist), Nick Grissom (Director of the Call Center), Sandie Hubbard (Records Specialist), Tyrell Allen (Director of the LGBTQ+ Student Resource Center)
2023 Spring – Nate Turnhill (Interim Associate Director | C2 Hub), Haley Halkidis (Marketing and Outreach Coordinator | Campus Recreation), L Benton (Assistant to the Executive Director | Financial Aid), Catharine Ingram (Associate Director of Operations and Programs | C2 Hub), Dr. Cynthia Baron (Assistant Vice President | CESA), Kelly Findley (Associate Director of Scholarships | Financial Aid), Sarah Kaup (Senior International Admissions Specialist | Admissions)
2022 Fall – Loriann Ankele-Garcia (Degree Audit Coordinator | Registrar), Jackie Bullard (Accountant | Financial Aid & Scholarships), Karlette Eguiluz (Assistant Director | Financial Aid), Sonia Falcón (Director | Student Care Center), Jermaine Gunnells (Assistant Director | Brother to Brother), Chris Harder (Financial Analysis Manager | Student Affairs), Angie Moreno (Assessment & Evaluation Manager | Student Affairs), Eboni Nash (DEI Recruiting Manager | Industry Partnerships), Jon Nguyen (Tuition Classification Officer | Admissions), Thuy Phan (Executive Assistant, Vice President for Student Affairs | Student Affairs), Deserea Richards (Program Coordinator, Native and Indigenous Student Support | CESA), Ally Veneris (Industry Navigator | Industry Partnerships)
2022 Spring – Destiny Candeleria (Call Center Coordinator | Enrollment Management), Matt Kring (Associate Director of Student Support and Retention | C2 Hub), Oanh Luong (Program Assistant | CMEI), Ruby Matheny (Industry Navigator | Industry Partnerships), Amanda McClure (Communication and Social Media Manager | Student Affairs), Estéfani Peña-Figueroa (Student Success Specialist | Immigrant Services), Eunice Reyes (Equity and Career Success Coordinator | C2 Hub), Leslie Rodriguez (Associate Director | Veteran and Military Student Services), Brandy Schooler (Assistant Registrar of Transfer Evaluation and Prior Learning | Registrar), Brandon Terry (Operations Manager | Financial Aid)
2021 Fall – Dave Bourassa (Program Manager for Student Engagement, Travel, Professional Developoment), Johana Guzman (Office Manager and Admin Assistant | Orientation, Transfer and Retention), Diana Ibarra (Assistant Director of Events, Graphic Design and Social Media | CMEI), Nahum Kisner (Executive Director of Student Support & Retention | C2 Hub), Camelia Naranjo (Associate Director of Peer Mentoring | C2 Hub), Adrienne Perucca (Associate Director of Admissions Systems and Data | Admissions)
2020 Spring – Melissa Miller (Associate Registrar of Records and Registration | Registrar’s Office), Thanh Nguyen (Interim Director | Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion), Eric Silva (Assistant Director | TRIO Student Support Services), Pam Ansburg (Interim Director of Faculty Engagement | Classroom to Career Hub), Amanda Ryder (Associate Director of Admissions | Admissions), Maluwa Behringer (Director of Industry Partnerships | Classroom to Career Hub)
2020 Fall – Juan Gallegos (Director | Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion), James Ross (Assistant to the Registrar & Special Projects Manager | Registrar’s Office), Cathy Hehr (Industry Navigator | Classroom to Career Hub), Dave Lamothe (Assistant Director of Recreation & Leadership | Campus Recreation), Aubrey Winbigler (Coordinator of International Student Support | Registrar’s Office), Chaz DeHererra (Student Success Navigator | Classroom to Career Hub)
2019 Fall – John Babcock (Associate Director | Orientation, Transition and Retention), Scott Bergman (Coordinator | Orientation, Transfer and Retention), Josh Gabrielson (Associate Director | Admissions), Alyssa Marks (Program Manager | Classroom to Career Hub), Dr. Braelin Pantel (Associate Vice President | Dean of Students/Student Engagement & Wellness), Erica Quintana-Garcia (Director | Student Engagement & Wellness)
Groups
2025 Spring – Immigrant Services Program (Gregor Mieder, Nayeli Sanchez, Victor Mata), Student Care Center (Sonia Falcon, Taryn Gawronski, Connor Kloss, Benjamin Cooper, Shelly Ann, Vian Saeid, Abbie Kell)
2024 Fall – Counseling Center (Randal Boldt, Jeanne M Burkhart, Michael Malmon, Andrew Sia, Lisa Boyum, Kathy Kavanaugh, Raymond Gornell, Vicky Tuakoi, and Patricia Gonzalez)
2024 Spring – Team Conduct (Codi Whittington, Jermaine Gunnells, Cindy Ortiz, Denys Frolkov), Degree Evaluation Team (Darla Sprinkle-Renke, Edward Zarate, Deb Rohr, Loriann Garcia), Transfer and Adult student Success Team (Michael Nguyen; Brandon Terry; Richard Balbag, Don Holtzen, Michelle Leboo)
2024 Fall – Classroom to Career Hub Operations Team (Andrew Ortiz-Martinez, Catharine Ingram, Mario Zarate, Codi Whittington, Matt Dickman), Scholarship Support and Retention Team (Lauren Koppel, Jasmine Villalobos-Valles, Scott Bergman, Kaila Russell and Vel Arellano), Transfer and Adult Student Success Team (Cary Aplin, Ricky Rogers, Kaden Van Hegewald, Tana Ridgeway, Alex Puente, Pablo Chavira Nieto)
2023 Spring – Veteran and Military Services Team (Junior Moreno, LaChaune DuHart, Leslie Rodriguez), Spanish Speaking Compensation Team (Carina Hernandez-Solis, Evelynn Guzman De Leon, Horacio Borja-Duran, Karlett Christie, Tyrell Allen, Waleska Rivera-Shon, Asia Wesley), Office of Administrations High School Outreach and Recruitment Team (Erin Ulrich, Ashly Carrera, Citlalith Medrano, D Chiu, Hannah Skalbeck, Hector Susano, Itzel Perez Galicia, Landon Lopez, Rosaisela Hernandez), Office of Admissions Transfer Team (Charita Thompson Melissa Powers, Diana Flores, Jeff Cox, Alyssa Sexton), Enrollment Call Center (Nick Grissom, Ed Porfilio, Destiny Candelaria, Bryan Garcia)
2022 Fall – Visits, Events and Communications Team in Admissions (Rene Haro-Sipes, AlyshaRowzee, Jill Schmidt), Restorative Justice Coalition (Elise Krumholz, Kim Myers, Thomas Ragland, Grey Gorman, Lindsey Gilbert, Jesselin Nicholson-Lopez, Jasmine Villalobos-Valles)
2022 Spring – Financial Aid Scholarship Team (Jake Beaudrie, Kelly Findley, Paul Morales), C2 Hub Industry Partnership Team (Alyssa Marks, Tim Meeks, Tennille Hamler, Ally Veneris, Leah McFail, Rosie Cockey, Eboni Nash, Ruby Matheny, Nicole Magliore, Cassie Mullin)
2021 Fall – Transfer Automation Team (Adrienne Perucca, Marlynn Rocha-Vasquez, Manny Escarcega, Camden Farmer), Pathways to Possible Team (Angela Groves, Jesus Yanez-Ruiz, J.T. Kendall, Rachael Durham, Stephanie Lee)
2020 Spring – Student Affairs Communications Team (Jeremy Coleman, Amanda McClure, Su Ann Tan, Asia Wesley), Admissions Front Desk and Crew in Blue (Victor Mata, Maribel Palomino Valadez, Andrea Garcia-Portillo, Diana Flores | Jessica Burkett, Brian Bogere, Caleb Gardner, Crystal Alcocer, Cole Parsa, Haley Gyurko, Kaelin Messex, Jorge Jimenez, Carolina Devora, Allys Lejarazo Duenas), Diversity Facilitators (Adrienne Martinez, Ali Houghton, Ally Garcia, Alyssa Marks, Bessie Nolan, Brandy Schooler, Chris Harder, Eric Silva, John Babcock, Kathleen Jewby, Lauren Koppel, Meher Noorulamin, Raquel Jimenez, Regina Burkhart, Ruby Matheny, Salina Blea)
2020 Fall – Health Center at Auraria Team (Kyle Garrity, Linda Hilliker, Lisa Lasswell, Richard Miccio, Ruben Zorrilla, Shawna Tonick, Sonja Coleman-Harris, Stephen Monaco, Steven Caveney, Susan Louch, Tamara Wristen, Tifany Andrade, Yvonne Olson-Sage, Alyssa Labate, Amy Markese, Anna-Lisa Greenwade, Clinton Hartz, Cynthia Ortiz, David Esslam, Debra Shuman, Denys Frolkov, Elias Gonzalez, Elle Heeg-Miller, Gia Valente, Hang Nguyen, Jeffrey Uszacki, Joshua Pasley, Julie Wagner, Justin Hauxwell, Kajuan DeVan Hernandez), Student Care Center (Alicia Milanowski, Erica Quintana-Garcia, Jesse Wooldridge, Miguel Huerta, Peter Concepcion)
2019 Fall – Admissions Team (Marlynn Rocha-Vasquez, Adrienne Perucca and Morgan Raleigh), Writers of the TRIO, Veteran & Military Student Services and CAMP Grants (Rita Case, Faith Fitzgerald, Dr. Ally Garcia, Evelynn Guzman de Leon, Ali Houghton, Raquel Jimènez, Eric Silva and Tisha Townsend)