Project Management Team

Sara Vance

Senior Project Manager  

Experience: I am an accomplished IT and Project Leader with 20+ years of experience developing high-performance teams and executing innovative technical strategies to enhance user experience and drive organizational growth and profitability.

I am both highly skilled and experienced in creating, developing and managing complex, multi-million-dollar projects, programs, and products. I thrive in building new organizations from the ground up. I am fluent in various project and change methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Lean, POC, PROSCI, ADKAR and Kanban.

With a successful history of delivering diverse projects from new software development, to complex data center implementation, to large multi-application upgrades, I am confident in my ability to be a bridge between senior business and technical leadership, to translate requirements into solid deliverables across various industries.

Blake Miller

Manager, Technical Project Management 

Experience: I honed my skills in business analysis and project management in the consulting world before coming to MSU in 2021. I’m proud to serve as the manager of a kind and high-achieving team of project managers. My bread-and-butter skills center around process improvement and I have achieved several related certifications, including: PMP, SAFe Agile, and Product Management.

Hobbies and Interests: I love going to the playground and library with my toddler, playing chess and strategy board games, and doing anything outside, especially running and hiking.

Steven Armstrong

Manager, Technical Business Analysis

Experience:I have over 13 years of experience leading a technical team, being a process analyst and being a business analyst.  I have been a part of 6 major implementations of new technology.  I have over 10 certifications in project management and analysis including my PMP and six sigma green belt. Along with my experience and certifications I also have a B.S. in Business Management with a minor in Data Analysis.

Hobbies and Interests: When I’m not working my passion is my children (3). My oldest is in her final year at Texas Tech and I coach my two youngest kids soccer, football and baseball teams.  Outside of that I love to travel, go to concerts, sporting events and do anything outdoors.

Jess Brandhorst

Senior Technical Business Analyst

Experience: With more than a decade of prior experience in public education, I joined MSU Denver in 2022 as a Business Analyst. I hold a strong commitment to public service and community engagement, while also having a special interest in all things process improvement and data. I think I found the perfect combination of these things through the work that I get to do within our ITS PMO! I specialize in capturing business requirements for technical projects, analyzing data and data sources, building bridges between our technical and functional teams across campus, coaching others on data management concepts, and improving technical business processes.

Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy tending to my urban “farm” and taking on far too many DIY improvement projects around the house. I also love to enjoy all of Colorado’s awesome outdoor activities with family and friends, including concerts, park picnics, exploring our state parks, hiking, and camping.

Lynne Gerald

Senior Technical Business Analyst

Experience: I began my MSU journey in 2019 as a Business Analyst. I have over 15 years of experience working in higher education at Duke University and North Carolina Central University in Accounting Services, Procurement Services and Institutional Advancement and over 15 years’ experience working as a Business Analyst. I am certified in Business Analytic Science and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) with two Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees in Accounting and Computer Information Systems and an MBA in Management.

Hobbies and Interests: Gardening, Sewing and Carpentry/Making furniture

Johanna Ortiz

IT Business Analyst

Experience: I joined MSU Denver in October of 2024, bringing over 7 years of experience as a Business Analyst in several industries. While I landed into business analysis by chance, I honed my skills in technical specification design, process improvement, and data analysis in my career. Throughout this journey, I found my passion in the intersection of requirements-gathering and technical knowledge; working with business stakeholders to solve their problems and ensuring their needs are communicated effectively to technical teams has been a joy, and a great learning experience!

Hobbies and Interests: In my free time, you can find me just about anywhere! I love spending time in the great outdoors (especially when I can bring my dog, Frodo) through hiking, camping, snowboarding, or relaxing in a park. I’m also passionate about attending concerts, reading, finding new breweries, playing flag football & softball, and lifting weights. 

Daniela Lujan

IT Business Analyst

Experience: Over the years, I’ve held various roles at MSU Denver. I began as a student employee as I pursued my degree in Computer Information Systems. When I graduated in 2022, I was working as a full-time employee as a Desktop Support Liaison. In 2023, I transitioned to my current position as an IT Business Analyst. These experiences have helped me develop strong skills in communication, organization, and collaboration.

Hobbies and Interests: In my free time you can find me walking my dog (Shadow), reading, weightlifting, practicing yoga, or exploring new hobbies like fishing and swimming.

Angela Martinez

Senior Technical Project Manager

Experience: I have 17+ years of experience in higher education, twelve of which have been within our IT department. I obtained my Bachelor of Business Administration degree from New Mexico State University, majoring in Business Computer Systems and minoring in Geographic Information Systems. I am PMP (Project Management Professional), and SMC (Scrum Master) certified. Leading teams to success is a true passion of mine. I enjoy interacting and motivating teams as we work together to accomplish our goals. While this role can be challenging at times, it is so rewarding in the end. I appreciate all the wonderful people that I have the pleasure of working with every single day!

Hobbies and Interests: To know me is to know my two adorable Yorkie pups, Jack and Bailey. We spend most of our spare time in the mountains, whether we are camping, fishing, or hunting. My husband and I own a pecan orchard in Las Cruces, NM, so I wear a “farmer hat” from time to time.

Alexander Kane

Senior Technical Project Manager

Experience: Prior to joining MSU Denver, I spent ten years working as a project manager in the IT and software industry. My experience spans a diverse range of organizations including non-profits, startups, as well as private sector consulting. I hold PMP and PMI-ACP certifications and have led a variety of projects including data migrations, software implementations, and end-to-end development of full-scale applications.

Hobbies and Interests: Most days, you can typically find me outside enjoying one of the many activities Colorado has to offer: mountain biking, rock climbing, fly fishing, camping, slacklining, white water rafting, rollerblading, hiking, snowboarding, or attending a show at Red Rocks.

Brigitte Thompson

Project Coordinator

Experience: During my time at MSU Denver, I’ve had the great opportunity to take on various roles that have shaped my professional journey. The most relevant positions to my current role as a Project Coordinator include serving as a Front Desk Lead at the Center of Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion, working as a Service Desk Associate for Client Services, and acting as a Business Analyst for the PMO. These experiences have honed my skills in organization, leadership, advocacy, and collaboration.

Regarding education, I hold two degrees: a Bachelor of Fine Arts from MSU Denver, and a Master of Science in Information Technology from CU Denver.

Hobbies and Interests: Outside of work, I have a passion for creative and outdoor activities. I enjoy painting, drawing, bookbinding, hiking, taking long walks, rock climbing, yoga, and generally being outdoors (despite being allergic to almost everything 😄). On any given day, you can find me engaged in at least two of these activities, either solo or with friends.

Saima Reese

Technical Project Manager

Experience:  With over 18 years of dedicated service at MSU Denver’s ITS department, I’ve cultivated a diverse range of experiences—from managing computer labs and audiovisual technology in learning spaces to leading various projects. I’m actively working toward my PMP certification and am passionate about continuously growing my project management skills to better support and serve the institution.

Hobbies and Interests: On weekends, I either hike or spend time with my family. I love a good winter hike. There’s just something peaceful about fresh snow and quiet trails. I also enjoy a good book however lately; I have been into audiobooks and podcasts. Recently, I’ve been dabbling in painting and learning new techniques using acrylic paint.

Rachel Wellington

Technical Project Manager

Experience: I have over ten years of experience in the higher education field, and my project management journey began in 2022 when I joined MSU Denver as a Project Coordinator. Over the course of a year, I developed my project management skills by supporting the PMO with administrative responsibilities and leading smaller projects. This growth led to my promotion to Technical Project Manager. I’m currently pursuing my PMP certification and am excited to continue advancing my project management career at MSU Denver — an institution I’m proud to call my alma mater!

Hobbies and Interests: I am a mother of two and as a family, we enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling and having movie nights. I am also an avid reader, yoga enthusiast and enjoy paddle boarding during the summer.

Shireen Khan

Technical Project Manager

Experience: I have around 7 years of experience in IT across both corporate and higher education, with a strong background in leading complex, cross-functional projects. I enjoy improving processes, building strong relationships, and driving meaningful impact. I hold a Bachelor’s in IT, a Master’s in MIS, and certifications such as PMP, PSM, ICAgile, and SAFe Agile.

Hobbies and Interests: In my free time, I enjoy creative activities like painting, building Legos, and exploring new places. I’m also passionate about cooking, trying new cuisines, and I’m a big fan of Korean dramas.