Faculty News

Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies?

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:09:04 +0000

Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies? Jeff Zehnder Tue, 03/31/2026 - 10:09

For the past weeks, temperatures in Colorado have surged 20 to 30 degrees above average for March, normally one of the state’s snowiest months.

That’s on top of an unusually warm and dry winter for the American Southwest, a region already grappling with long-term water shortages since around 2000. In Colorado, snowpack sits at about 40% of normal levels, among the lowest since comprehensive modern records began roughly four decades ago.

In parts of the southern Colorado River Basin, a 250,000-square-mile watershed spanning seven states in the southwest, snowpack has dropped to less than one-third of normal. The basin provides water for 40 million people and 5.5 million acres of farmland.

Snowpack acts like frozen water towers, said Ben Livneh, associate professor in the department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. As temperatures rise and the Southwest enters its typically hot and dry spring and summer months, melting snow provides about 80% of the water used by downstream communities in the Colorado River Basin.

In response to the snow drought, the city of Denver recently declared a Stage 1 drought, the first drought alert the city has issued since the summer of 2013. Other Front Range cities are considering similar measures.

“In Colorado, our peak snowpack happens around mid-April, so there is still a chance that we could get more snow,” said Livneh, who’s also the director of the Western Water Assessment (WWA) at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). According to the National Weather Service, a storm is bringing precipitation to Colorado this week, with the potential for a few inches of accumulation in the mountains. “But at this point, it does look like we have a long way to go to catch up.”

��ñ�� Today sat down with Livneh to talk about the impact of a snow drought on Colorado communities, whether drought is the new normal and what individuals can do.

How dry is it?

Colorado lies in a mountainous region far from the ocean, so our climate naturally varies a lot. As a result, it’s not uncommon to see big swings between wet years and dry years.

Right now, we are in a very dry period, and the numbers are pretty stark. There’s barely any snow on mountains in lower elevations, and some snowpack could melt early because of the warm weather. When we look ahead to the amount of water expected to flow into our reservoirs, which would be the water people actually get to use, the current forecasts fall among the lowest we’ve seen since the early 1980s when the detailed snow measurements began.

Across Colorado, snowpack sits at below 50% of normal levels as of March 30, 2026. (Credit: National Weather Service)

How does this year compare with previous drought years?

There were some years that were drier, like 1977 and 1981. But those years weren’t as warm as this year. Over the past 40 years, since we’ve had continuous observation data, 2002 and 2012 were also warm with low precipitation, but they weren’t as dry as this year.

We have a lot of systems in place that were specifically designed to handle individual bad years, like these big, impressive reservoirs. But we’ve been in a dry period for the past 25 years, and every dry year puts additional stress on our infrastructure.

What could be causing this snow drought?

We’re currently in the warmest 25-year period on record, and warming is one of the clearest signals of recent climatic changes. When it’s warmer, the atmosphere can hold more moisture.

At the same time, the climate in our region naturally swings between wetter and drier decades. It’s almost like a pendulum that shifts every 20 or 30 years.

What may be happening now is that those two things— climate change and natural fluctuations— are overlapping, creating something of a perfect storm for this year.

What is the WWA doing to help?

WWA is working to support decision makers to best manage their water, based on what is actually available, as well as what is forecasted in the Colorado River Basin.

Much of our regional economy relies on water, from the ski industry to food growers and power generators. The stress from drought is widespread.

Our region’s planning and treaties in the past were based on assumptions about historical conditions. Now we’re trying to figure out whether these dry conditions are a drought or perhaps closer to the long-term normal conditions.

We are also trying to get a better sense of what mountain communities are experiencing and what types of information they need, because many of them rely on the snowpack and snow melt as their primary reservoir for water.

Should people be worried about water shortages right now?

This is really a large-scale phenomenon, so if anything, I would encourage people to get curious about the science and what we can say about the current conditions. Indoor water use doesn’t consume very much, and cities are not really at risk of running out of water. But people should be mindful not to waste water outdoors. Pay attention to city rules for outdoor water use, like when you can turn on your sprinklers and water your lawn.

Other than that, I encourage people to go outside. This is certainly a big departure from what we think Colorado winters should be like, but it also offers opportunities for people to bike to work more often, or spend more time outdoors doing things they might not otherwise be able to do.

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Distinguished Professor Linden recognized as exceptional mentor

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:05:03 +0000

Distinguished Professor Linden recognized as exceptional mentor Jeff Zehnder Fri, 03/27/2026 - 16:05

Karl Linden is one of twenty-two faculty being recognized with this year’s Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award, the Graduate School announced this week.

The Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award recognizes the work that faculty mentors do to improve the graduate student experience

These faculty were nominated by students, department or program administrators, faculty or staff for their outstanding contributions either to mentoring individual graduate students, improving the overall climate of graduate education within their program, or improving the graduate program itself.

“The support and enhancement of mentoring is a priority initiative of the Graduate School and that work couldn’t be done without faculty support,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “The faculty members recognized by this award have demonstrated their willingness to go above and beyond as a trusted mentor for their students and we’re excited to be able to honor these excellent leaders.”

This year’s recipients include:

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Women's History Month: Honoring Professor Emerita JoAnn Silverstein

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:58:30 +0000

Women's History Month: Honoring Professor Emerita JoAnn Silverstein Jeff Zehnder Mon, 03/09/2026 - 08:58

After beginning her career in psychology and community development, Professor Emerita JoAnn Silverstein returned to school and took what was then an unconventional path into engineering—eventually becoming one of the early female faculty members in ��ñ��’s College of Engineering and Applied Science and the first female chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (CEAE).

Silverstein's journey is being highlighted by the department in recognition of International Women's Day on March 8 and for Women's History Month.

“With all the current efforts to erase history that celebrates diverse contributions, Women’s History Month is even more important, as a reality check and an inspiration,” she said.

In 1982, Silverstein became one of the first women in the country to earn a PhD in civil engineering and soon after joined ��ñ�� as the fourth female tenure-track faculty member in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. In 1999, she became the second woman in CEAE to be promoted to full professor. In 2002, she was elected as its first female department chair and served in the position until 2010. Silverstein held many additional leadership roles throughout her career before retiring in 2022.

Her research focused on water and wastewater treatment process analysis, and throughout her career she has championed the increased participation and positions in leadership roles of women and underrepresented groups in engineering.

"Diversity and inclusion was a career-long driver of my work and a major source of personal fulfillment," she said.

Her advice for aspiring engineers navigating challenges to diversity, equity and inclusion is to foster a community of friends and family for mutual support and inspiration.

“Don’t be ruled by fear of failure or disapproval," she said. "Enlarge your sense of humor.”

Silverstein received the Distinguished Engineering Educator award from the Society of Women Engineers in 2000 and has a Distinguished Professorship at the University of Michigan named after her, among many other accolades.

Reflecting on her journey, she credits her family as a major source of inspiration.

"As teachers and public servants, they instilled in me a strong commitment to creating positive change and serving others," she said.

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Summers interviewed on Colorado biochar facilty

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:53:57 +0000

Summers interviewed on Colorado biochar facilty Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/09/2026 - 13:53

Scott Summers was interviewed for a new article about biochar in the Canon City Daily Record.

The piece is centered on the economics of a new publicly-run biochar facility in Douglas County.

Summers is a professor emeritus in the Environmental Engineering Program and expert on water reuse and sustainability. He has been experimenting with biochar production for more than two decades.

Biochar is a carbon-rich, charcoal-like material that can used to purify water. It is made from dead trees and plant material, the removal of which can potentially reduce wildfire risk, a major attraction for Douglas County.

Read the full article...

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Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:08:47 +0000

Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/09/2026 - 09:08

Karl Linden, chair of ��ñ��’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development, has been named a Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty honor awarded on the CU system’s four campuses. The recognition was presented to Linden and five others by Chancellor Justin Schwartz at the University of Colorado Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 6.

“When I came to ��ñ�� 20 years ago, I was attracted by the collaborative spirit, focus on environmental sustainability and the amazing students this university was able to attract,” Linden said. “The colleagues I have been able to work with, the support from administrators and the creative and aspirational students that I have been able to mentor, have all enabled my successes. Being named a Distinguished Professor is a direct result of the incredible people I have been able to work with in Colorado.”

CU Distinguished Professors are tenured faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work; a record of excellence in promoting learning and student attainment of knowledge and skills; and outstanding service to the profession, the university and its affiliates. Including this year’s seven honorees, only 160 Distinguished Professors have been named since the title’s establishment in 1977.

Advancing the field

Linden’s career has focused on innovative ways to improve water quality and water treatment. He’s known as an expert in ultraviolet light disinfection systems, now used by many municipal water systems.

He currently serves on the World Health Organization (WHO) Water Quality Technical Advisory Group. As a faculty member, he has taught hundreds of students in water and wastewater treatment, water and sanitation in developing communities, and graduate courses in water reuse and advanced treatment. He has authored more than 260 technical papers and has been honored with many high profile awards, too numerous to mention them all.

In 2023, Linden was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International UV Association (IUVA) World Congress, hosted in Dubai. During the event, the IUVA president called upon those who have worked with Linden, been his student or read his papers to stand.

"It was one of the sweetest moments of my career," Linden said at the time. “Almost the whole room was standing. It was overwhelming and humbling."

Most recently, he received the American Water Works Association’s 2025 A.P. Black Research Award, which honors outstanding contributions to water science and supply, and appeared on the cover of the organization’s journal.

Linden has also been recognized as an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) “for distinguished contributions to the field of water treatment engineering, particularly for using ultraviolet light for pathogen disinfection and abatement of organic contaminants in water reuse.” During a Fulbright fellowship, he researched solutions to water pollution in rural and First Nations communities in Nova Scotia, focusing on the water quality challenges faced by those living in remote areas, including those without reliable access to safe running water or conventional sanitation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Linden and his researchers identified a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light that is effective at killing the virus and is safe for use in public places like concert halls and airports.

In 2020, he won the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize and was named the Clarke Prize Laureate for outstanding achievement in water science and technology. In 2014, he was named the Water Reuse Foundation Person of the Year.

Early inspiration and education

Linden grew up in New York City. After being exposed to the environmental sciences in middle school, he decided to pursue a degree through Cornell University’s environmental engineering program in the College of Agriculture and Biological Engineering. While there, he learned how to drive a tractor and spread manure, which he said was “quite unique for a New York City kid.”

Linden left Cornell midway, not seeing the connection between his math and physics classes and his desire to protect the environment. Several years later, a serendipitous reading of a New York Times article about a Cornell professor, Bill Jewell, who purified water by growing plants in a constructed wetland, brought him back to Cornell. Inspired by Jewell’s class in biological waste management and a research position in his lab, Linden went on to work for one of the lab’s spinoff companies before pursuing a master’s degree and a PhD on UV disinfection at the University of California Davis. Before coming to Colorado, he was a professor at University of North Carolina Charlotte and Duke University.

“I think a lot about the people and places that have influenced my career and set me up for success and greatly honor my past mentors,” Linden said. “The greatest testament to my successes is not how many publications or projects I have been a part of but the extent to which I have enabled the success of others–my colleagues and students–and to set them up to do great things for protecting public health and the environment. “

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Hernandez interviewed by Time on indoor air quality

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:03:06 +0000

Hernandez interviewed by Time on indoor air quality Jeff Zehnder Wed, 01/28/2026 - 09:03

Mark Hernandez is featured in a new Time article about the benefits of airing out your home during cold winter months.

Common in Germany for perceived health benefits, the practice is becoming trendy in the United States.

Hernandez, a professor in the Environmental Engineering Program at the ��ñ��, is an expert on aerobiology and disinfection.

He is leading ongoing research on indoor air quality and said regularly opening your windows at home is plus, even in cold weather.

“In terms of wellness, cognition, and worker performance, there’s an emerging literature that says we need fresh air to be OK and to be fully functioning in our respective indoor environments,”he said.

Read the full piece in Time...

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Cresten Mansfeldt a SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education faculty fellow

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:56:55 +0000

Cresten Mansfeldt a SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education faculty fellow Jeff Zehnder Mon, 01/26/2026 - 08:56

The SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education at ��ñ�� has selected 13 faculty members as its inaugural SPIKE Faculty Fellows, launching a new initiative designed to strengthen and expand sustainability education across campus.

The SPIKE Faculty Fellows will play a central role in advancing sustainability-focused teaching and praxis at ��ñ��. Together, they will build a cross-campus network of faculty committed to integrating sustainability into curriculum and applied learning, while providing critical faculty perspective to broader university initiatives connected to sustainability education.

During the program’s first six months—starting in January 2026—the fellows will focus on two primary objectives: developing and delivering an annual Sustainability Across the Curriculum training for ��ñ�� faculty, beginning each May, and offering faculty voice and input into campuswide visions and initiatives that intersect with sustainability education.

In spring 2026, fellows on academic-year appointments will concentrate on teaching strategies responsive to the current moment, as well as foundational sustainability content. The theme for the spring 2026 cohort will be environmental and climate justice.

Advancing transformational learning

In coordination with administrators, staff, students and faculty colleagues across ��ñ��, the inaugural class of SPIKE Faculty Fellows will work toward a range of outcomes that benefit both the Buckley Center and the campus community. These include:

Co-creating and coordinating a campuswide agenda for transformational learning related to sustainability (distinct from formal curriculum development, which will be supported through a separate ambassadors program)
Informing and illuminating best practices in sustainability education to guide campuswide efforts and reinforce ��ñ��’s role as an international leader
Sharing experiences and challenges encountered in sustainability education and praxis
Advocating for innovative initiatives that energize and support pathways toward more sustainable futures
Cultivating networks of faculty support across campus, including serving as liaisons to centers and institutes
Collectively preparing and delivering a faculty training on sustainability education
Identifying, assessing and curating sustainability education materials for teaching and learning

Buckley Center renamed SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education

Through these efforts, the SPIKE Faculty Fellows program aims to deepen collaboration, elevate faculty leadership and embed sustainability more fully into the educational experience at ��ñ��.

Spring 2026 SPIKE Faculty Fellows

The inaugural cohort of faculty fellows includes:

Thomas Andrews, Professor, History and Social Science
Karen Bailey, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies and Natural Science
Dave Ciplet, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies and Natural Science
Azza Kamal, Associate Teaching Professor, Environmental Design and Communication
Gregor Macgregor, Assistant Teaching Professor, Environmental Studies and Natural Science
Cresten Mansfeldt, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Applied Science
James C. Rattling Leaf, Sr., Geography, Natural Science and CIRES
Esther Rolf, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, Associate Professor, Colorado Law
Seema Sohi, Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies and Social Science
Katharine N. Suding, Distinguished Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Science
Meghan Van Portfliet, Assistant Teaching Professor, Leeds School of Business
Steven Vanderheiden, Professor, Political Science and Social Science
Emily Yeh, Professor, Geography and Natural Science

Together, these faculty leaders represent a wide range of disciplines and perspectives, underscoring the SPIKE Center’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive approaches to sustainability education at ��ñ��.

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��ñ�� Online welcomes new leadership as visioning process begins

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:35:51 +0000

��ñ�� Online welcomes new leadership as visioning process begins Jeff Zehnder Wed, 10/29/2025 - 09:35

Following the departure of Robert McDonald, former dean of libraries and senior vice provost for online and extended education, Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, interim vice chancellor for academic resource management, announced in July that McDonald’s online education responsibilities would be restructured. This leadership transition marks a formal separation between University Libraries and ��ñ�� Online, paving the way for a renewed strategic direction.

Effective July 1, Randall Fullington temporarily assumed some of the tasks held by former Dean McDonald and continues to lead the Office of Academic and Learning Innovation (ALI) within the Division of Academic Affairs. Scott Battle, vice provost and dean of Continuing Education (CE), will partner with Fullington to ensure strategic alignment in serving CU students and global learners in the online space. Rosario-Ortiz will serve as the administrative lead for ��ñ�� Online, reporting to and collaborating with Provost Ann Stevens.

Together, Battle, Fullington, Rosario-Ortiz, and Stevens are embarking on a visioning process to reimagine and strengthen ��ñ��’s online programs, as the university continues to focus on the success of all students, faculty and staff. This visioning process will focus on developing strategies and processes designed to serve both campus-based students and broader national and global learners.

The following interview with Fernando Rosario-Ortiz addresses the background of online education and the goals for the visioning process for ��ñ�� Online.

The campus historically has had a scattered online presence throughout the university—CE, ALI, the graduate school, the colleges and schools and undergraduate microcredentials. What was the catalyst for a holistic review of our online offerings?

We’ve built a strong foundation in online education—including the formation of ��ñ�� Online—and I am thankful to those who led the way and have gotten us to where we are today. Now the provost has directed us to evolve our online model to be more scalable and sustainable, with the interest of supporting learners across different stages in their careers. Our goal is to create an online learning environment where students at all levels can more easily navigate campus resources while being intellectually challenged and supported throughout their journey, and where faculty can create rigorous and innovative coursework based on their research, scholarship and creative work. Ultimately, we seek to continue to expand the overall impact of ��ñ�� beyond our residential population, bringing our history of excellence in academics and research to other communities.

By undertaking a more holistic approach, what opportunities do you see for students, faculty, staff?

Our goal is to create an online learning environment where students at all levels can more easily navigate campus resources while being intellectually challenged and supported throughout their journey, and where faculty can create rigorous and innovative coursework based on their research, scholarship and creative work.

For students, to provide clearer opportunities to use online programming to complete their degrees, or to add skills and knowledge via microcredentials and industry certificates to enhance their degrees. For faculty, to provide the chance to innovate in their teaching and course development and reach new audiences in a more collaborative way. For staff, to be able to constantly upgrade their skills and knowledge, making their work and collaboration more enriching.

How does this vision process align with ��ñ��’s institutional priorities?

This visioning process for our online education is a critical and timely undertaking for ��ñ�� and aligns seamlessly with two of our institutional priorities: fostering the success of all students, faculty and staff and aligning our resources and infrastructure to our mission to empower learners to thrive, innovate and lead in a rapidly evolving world.

Would you describe the timeline of this effort?

The provost and I have had conversations to clarify goals and expectations for the process, and I have started conversations with past and current leadership around online programs. Beginning in January 2026, I plan to engage with subject matter experts across campus—those who are envisioning the future, those who bring it to life and those who sustain it.

My aim is to have a well-defined, holistic vision in place by the end of spring 2026, with value-added changes beginning thereafter. We want the end result to make it easier for the campus community to engage in online teaching and learning, to have a clear sense of opportunities in this space and to add to the overall value of the academic experience ��ñ�� offers.

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��ñ�� professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:13:54 +0000

��ñ�� professor joins global commission on indoor air quality Jeff Zehnder Mon, 09/29/2025 - 10:13

At the United Nations with Mark Hernandez and former student Patricia Fabian, now an associate professor at Boston University.

New Commission announced at the United Nations unites more than 170 leaders from over 30 countries to drive global action on healthy indoor air

Mark Hernandez is serving as a commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions.

Announced at the United Nations during Climate Week, the Commission brings together more than 170 global leaders from over 30 countries, including a former U.S. Surgeon General, global health authorities, senior scientists and researchers from leading universities as well as executives and sustainability leaders across design, real estate, technology and manufacturing.

Hernandez, a ��ñ�� professor, is an expert on the characterization and control of microbiological air pollution.

He joins colleagues from around the world in developing a Global Framework for Action and catalyzing the creation of national Blueprints to strengthen indoor air quality efforts across regions.

“This commission is about reaching consensus on indoor air quality regulations and ensuring any regulations that emerge are based in sound science and are sustainable,” Hernandez said.

Indoor air pollution is associated with nearly 3.2 million premature deaths annually and contributes to a wide range of chronic and acute health conditions including respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Despite the risks and the fact that people spend 90% of their lives indoors, indoor air quality has historically lagged behind other public health and environmental priorities.

“After generations of failures to attain indoor environment regulations, it appears there is enough political momentum to finally do so. Unfortunately, it took the consequences of a modern pandemic, catalyzed by airborne disease transmission, to get us here,” Hernandez said.

The Commission will:

Elevate a global call to action that places healthy indoor air at the forefront of public health and policy priorities
Build global awareness by highlighting the urgent human and economic costs of unhealthy indoor air
Establish a Global Framework for Action with clear prescriptions across key pillars of market transformation
Catalyze country-specific National Blueprints in collaboration with local stakeholders
Spur multi-sector investment to scale affordable, effective and equitable solutions

The Commission’s Global Framework for Action will be released by the end of 2026, alongside national Blueprints published on a rolling basis.

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Supporting the academic enterprise

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:43:59 +0000

Supporting the academic enterprise Jeff Zehnder Tue, 06/24/2025 - 08:43

Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Resource Management Fernando Rosario-Ortiz reflects on new role and areas of focus for upcoming year

Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Resource Management (VC ARM) Fernando Rosario-Ortiz took over the position on April 1, 2025 after former VC ARM Ann Schmiesing moved to become interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives under Chancellor Justin Schwartz in March, and then was named to the permanent post on June 9. The Provost’s Post talked with him to learn more about the position, what made him want it, and areas of focus for the upcoming year.

Question: How do you see the role of the vice chancellor for academic resource management serving the university?

Answer: The VC ARM principal focus is to determine, enhance and align the financial and physical resources available to support the academic mission of ��ñ��. As such, I get to work with different academic units and other constituent groups on campus with the ultimate goal of supporting a successful academic enterprise. Specifically, I support efforts around usage of academic space, budget model, compensation and online and graduate education.

What made you want to do the job?

During the past eight years I have served in different leadership positions at ��ñ��, starting with leadership positions at the environmental engineering program, then as associate dean for faculty at the College of Engineering and Applied Science, and most recently as interim dean for the School of Education. In these roles, I have had an opportunity to learn about what makes CU and its programs thrive and be impactful.

Serving in a leadership position at the School of Education gave me the opportunity to appreciate how different units function and how ultimately the different parts of the university work together toward achieving the overall mission and goals at CU. As a result, I was interested in continuing to serve in leadership, but at a campus level, where I would have the opportunity to support all units and the broader mission of CU. Provost Moore supported my interest and felt I was right for the interim role, so here I am.

Do you have a basic philosophy, approach or set of guiding principles that guide your work in this role?

I strongly believe in the benefit of working collaboratively towards achieving goals. Ultimately, I see myself as a problem-solver and a strategic thinker, but with a clear understanding that problems are better solved with a strong sense of direction, clarity and vision that is informed by opening spaces for ideas from stakeholder groups and by supporting people. In my new role, I look forward to addressing challenging opportunities by working together with different groups as CU continues to grow in impact both locally and globally.

How does the job interface with other academic units and leaders on campus?

Given that my portfolio is centered in resources—money, physical infrastructure and other assets I get to work with different unit leads and other stakeholders on campus. For example, I get to be part of discussions about space utilization and development of new academic spaces, as well as thinking through how to best support units as they grow and continue to adapt to a changing environment. I have enjoyed these interactions so far and look forward to continued conversations with folks around campus.

What are you seeing as the top three to five areas you’ll be focusing on in the 2025-26 academic year?

During the next academic year, I will be working to support efforts around the continued evolution of the budget model, compensation strategy and online education, among other areas of emphasis both ongoing and yet to emerge.

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Faculty News

Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies?

How dry is it?

How does this year compare with previous drought years?

What could be causing this snow drought?

What is the WWA doing to help?

Should people be worried about water shortages right now?

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Distinguished Professor Linden recognized as exceptional mentor

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Women's History Month: Honoring Professor Emerita JoAnn Silverstein

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Summers interviewed on Colorado biochar facilty

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Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony

Advancing the field

Early inspiration and education

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Hernandez interviewed by Time on indoor air quality

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Cresten Mansfeldt a SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education faculty fellow

Advancing transformational learning

Spring 2026 SPIKE Faculty Fellows

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��ñ���� Online welcomes new leadership as visioning process begins

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��ñ���� professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

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Supporting the academic enterprise

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��ñ�� Online welcomes new leadership as visioning process begins

��ñ�� professor joins global commission on indoor air quality