Today, more than ever, we need a strong voice for our children, our community, and our economy to help guide our University of Colorado system. I will be that voice, and that’s why I am running to represent the entire state as one of Colorado’s at-large members of the CU Board of Regents.
- For children. Colorado’s children deserve a strong, public, affordable system of higher education. We cannot continue to fund education by raising tuition and cutting programs. Our State has an urgent need to find long term, sustainable funding solutions so that CU and other institutions of higher education around the State can thrive. The Regents must be a voice for education, and I am committed to speaking out and speaking loudly.
- For community. CU, as the state’s largest public University, should serve communities of all kinds. Education should be not only affordable, but also accessible and inclusive. A diverse community is essential to a top-quality education, and every community should have an equal opportunity to succeed and to contribute. I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for equal opportunity and equal access to education for all communities across Colorado, whether they are along the Front Range, on the Eastern Plains, in Southern Colorado, on the Western Slope, or elsewhere.
- For Colorado’s economy. CU is a powerful economic driver in our state, bringing jobs, and innovation to communities all over Colorado. The University contributes $7 billion to Colorado’s economy through sponsored research, increased tourism, and other factors. It is the state’s fourth largest employer, with 25,000 employees, which include Nobel Laureates, path-breaking doctors, and world-class scholars. Many of the University’s students are adult learners, acquiring the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s work environment. CU’s continued vitality is important for every Coloradan because of the jobs it generates and supports. The work that gets done by CU faculty and CU grads here in Colorado helps keep our State at the forefront of the global economy. The Regents must support the work being done on CU’s four campuses, and must recognize and support partnerships throughout the state that can build on strengths and meet needs in communities around Colorado.
As a professor at the CU Law School, I have spent the past decade working with staff, faculty, administrators and students on the hard issues that come up every day in running a University. I understand what works well and where there are areas of concern. I understand how education for the 21st Century must use innovative approaches to offer students both the essential knowledge and the essential skills they will need to move into the working world. The perspective I can offer to the Board based on these experiences is both unique and essential to a strong University governing board.
I’m running hard and I’m running to win. I need your help. Please join our strong grassroots effort or make a contribution to help get out my message of commitment to our children, our community and our economy.
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