President’s Fireside Chats

The President’s Fireside Chat is a sub-series of the President’s Speaker Series, focusing on local industry leaders and prominent alumni. Hosted by MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., the ongoing series provides an opportunity for an intimate experience for academic courses to engage with local leaders. The series offers a wide range of thought-provoking and conversation inducing ideas and topics. The Fireside Chat Series has featured such guests as Robert Kenney, Gloria Steinem and Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, Monica M. Márquez, among others.

MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., welcomed Robert Kenney, the president of Xcel Energy – Colorado, for a fireside chat in the CAVEA Theater from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Oct. 30.

Robert S. Kenney is president of Xcel Energy – Colorado, the largest of Xcel Energy’s four operating companies, providing electricity to 1.6 million customers and natural gas service to 1.5 million customers. Kenney is responsible for the utility’s overall strategic direction and operations, including safety, profit and loss, operational excellence, customer experience, stakeholder engagement and regulatory and legislative outcomes.

Kenney leverages more than 30 years of regulatory, legal, governmental and public affairs experience to lead his Colorado team in working with public policy makers, regulators and community stakeholders to drive the state’s and Xcel Energy’s continued leadership in the clean energy transition, including transportation electrification.

Kenney joined Xcel Energy in 2022 from Pacific Gas & Electric, where he served as senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs, leading state and federal regulatory affairs, local government affairs, community relations and charitable giving. He previously served as chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission, as chief of staff to the Missouri Attorney General and has practiced law at the Polsinelli law firm.

Kenney holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hampton University and a law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. He has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and as president of the Organization of MISO States. He currently serves on the boards of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Mile High United Way and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

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