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Chancellor of CU ������ý���� (1976–1977)

Photo credit: Wikipedia public domain

Mary Frances Berry served as Chancellor of CU ������ý���� from 1976 to 1977, becoming one of the earliest leaders of the newly established four-campus CU system. Her appointment followed the creation of the Chancellor’s Office in 1974, which decentralized administration across ������ý����, Denver, Colorado Springs and the Health Sciences Center campus. During her brief tenure, Berry oversaw responsibilities in academic affairs, student affairs, and campus administration, while the President’s Office retained control over external relations and finance. The period was marked by attention to minority affairs, faculty salaries and campus development initiatives, reflecting the broader institutional priorities of the late 1970s. Berry left the position in 1977 to accept a federal appointment as assistant secretary for education in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, continuing her career in public service and civil rights advocacy.

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Filmmaker, Professor

Photo credit: CU ������ý���� Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts

Stan Brakhage was a pioneering American filmmaker whose work transformed the language of cinema. Over a career spanning five decades, Brakhage created more than 350 films, ranging from short, hand-painted abstractions to epic explorations of vision and perception. His films often eschewed traditional narrative, focusing instead on the subjective experience of seeing. Brakhage’s innovations included painting directly on film stock, scratching emulsion, and employing rapid montage to evoke inner states of consciousness. His work challenged audiences to reconsider the possibilities of film as an art form, emphasizing personal vision over commercial convention. A longtime resident of Colorado, Brakhage began teaching in 1981 at CU ������ý����, influencing generations of filmmakers and scholars. His legacy endures through the��Brakhage Center for Media Arts, in addition to his�� he had on experimental cinema worldwide.

���dzܰ�����:��Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts

Professor of Law

David Hill served as professor of law at the University of Colorado Law School, where he made history in 1977 as the first professor of color in the school’s existence. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Hill earned his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1970. He practiced privately in Minneapolis and held leadership roles, including chief of operations for the Minneapolis Housing and Urban Renewal Authority, before entering academia. Hill taught at Gonzaga University College of Law and Boston College Law School prior to joining Colorado Law. His scholarship focused on property and corporate law, authoring five editions of��Landlord and Tenant Law in a Nutshell and two editions of��Cases and Materials on Basic Mortgage Law. He was instrumental in the first national longitudinal bar passage study and helped develop a Model Academic Assistance Program adopted widely by law schools. Throughout his career, Hill championed equity and inclusion, contributing to organizations such as the Council on Legal Educational Opportunity, the ������ý���� Housing Authority and served on the Board of the Sam Cary Scholarship Endowment Fund. He retired in 2007 after three decades of service and passed away in 2024 at age 84.

���dzܰ�����:��Colorado Law School

Veterinarian, Comedian

Kevin Fitzgerald is a celebrated veterinarian, entertainer and educator whose career spans medicine, comedy and community engagement. A three-time CU ������ý���� graduate (EPOBio’73; MBio’78, PhD’82), Fitzgerald became widely known for his compassionate care and expertise in animal health. Beyond the clinic, he gained national recognition as a stand-up comedian and television personality, blending humor with science to inspire audiences. Fitzgerald’s contributions include decades of service at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and appearances on Animal Planet’s��Emergency Vets. His unique path reflects a commitment to lifelong learning, public outreach and the well-being of animals. Fitzgerald exemplifies the intersection of professional excellence and cultural impact.

���dzܰ�����:��Coloradan Magazine

Founding Director, Department of Dance

Charlotte York Irey was a visionary dance educator and choreographer whose work helped establish dance as a respected academic discipline in the United States. As the founding director of the Department of Dance at CU ������ý����, Irey championed the integration of artistic expression with rigorous scholarship, shaping generations of dancers and educators. Her career spanned decades of innovation, during which she emphasized modern dance techniques and creative movement as essential components of a liberal arts education. Irey’s leadership extended beyond the classroom; she organized performances, workshops and collaborations that brought national attention to CU ������ý����’s dance program. Through her dedication, Charlotte York Irey transformed the cultural landscape of the university and left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire the art of dance and its role in higher education.��

Source: College of Arts and Sciences Magazine

Astronaut, U.S. Air Force Officer

Ellison Onizuka was an American astronaut and U.S. Air Force officer who became a trailblazer in space exploration. Born in Kealakekua, Hawaii, Onizuka graduated from the ������ý���� with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering in 1969. He earned his commission as a second lieutenant through CU’s Air Force ROTC program and entered active duty in 1970. Onizuka served as an aerospace flight test engineer at McClellan Air Force Base and later attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. In 1978, he was selected as a NASA astronaut from a pool of 8,000 applicants, becoming the first Asian American, first person of Japanese ancestry and first Hawaiian to travel to space. His first mission aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in January 1985 completed 48 Earth orbits over 74 hours. Onizuka carried CU memorabilia—a flag and football—on this historic flight. Tragically, Onizuka perished on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. His legacy endures through memorials at CU ������ý����, including the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial and annual ceremonies honoring fallen astronauts. In 2025, CU ������ý���� renamed its largest residence hall Onizuka Hall to commemorate his courage, leadership and enduring impact on aerospace history.

���dzܰ�����:��CU ������ý���� Today

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, PT Arwana Citramulia Tbk.

Tandean Rustandy is the founder and chief executive officer of PT Arwana Citramulia Tbk., one of the best performing ceramic-tiles-manufacturing companies in the world. Arwana Citramulia Tbk. has been awarded the “Best of the Best” companies in Indonesia in the years 2011, 2013, and 2014, Forbes’ best 200 companies under 1 billion USD in Asia pacific region in 2006 and 2014, as well as “Best Listed Company” from the Capital Markets Awards in 2014 by the Indonesian Stock Exchange. Rustandy obtained his bachelor’s degree from CU ������ý����’s Leeds School of Business (Fin’87), and MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, where he currently sits on the Global Advisory Board and Council. Rustandy was made an “Honorary Citizen of ������ý����, Colorado” in 1987 and was awarded “Indonesia’s Young Entrepreneur Award” from Ernst & Young in 2002, the “Distinguished Entrepreneurial Alumni Award” from Chicago Booth School of Business in 2011. Most recently, he was awarded “Best CEO” by Finance Asia in 2014.

���dzܰ�����:��Leeds School of Business

Ceramic Artist, Professor of Art and Art History

Betty Woodman was a celebrated ceramic artist and educator whose work transformed pottery from functional craft into fine art. After moving to Colorado in 1954, Woodman persuaded the City of ������ý���� to open a recreational ceramics program, which grew from seven students to 400 within 15 years. This initiative became the ������ý���� Pottery Lab, the first city-supported pottery program in the United States, and a cornerstone of ������ý����’s creative community. Woodman taught at the ������ý���� for 20 years, mentoring generations of artists and influencing American ceramics. Her career spanned nearly seven decades, marked by more than 100 solo exhibitions worldwide, including a landmark 2006 retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she became the first living female ceramicist to receive such an honor. Her work is celebrated for its vibrant colors and sculptural forms, challenging traditional boundaries between painting and pottery. In recognition of her legacy, CU ������ý���� established the Betty Woodman Fund in 2023 to support emerging ceramic artists and faculty, along with the Woodman Artists Residency in Tuscany, Italy. Today, the Woodman Study Collection in CU’s Visual Arts Complex preserves her influence, showcasing pieces acquired during her decades of teaching. Woodman’s vision and artistry continue to inspire, affirming ceramics as a central pillar of contemporary art.

���dzܰ�����:��Coloradan Magazine

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography and Founder, Natural Hazards Center

Gilbert F. White was the Gustavson Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography at CU ������ý���� from 1980 until his death in 2006. Prior to that, from 1970 to 1978, he was professor of geography and the director of the��Institute of Behavioral Science��at the university. He was also the founder and director of the university’s��Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center��(now called simply the “Natural Hazards Center”) from 1976 to 1984 and again from 1992 to 1994. Besides being known as the “father of floodplain management,” Gilbert made major contributions to the study of water systems in developing countries, the management and preservation of arid lands, global environmental change, international cooperation regarding water resources in such areas as the Mekong Delta and the Middle East, nuclear winter, geography education, the management of nuclear waste and the mitigation of a wide range of natural hazards.��White was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2000, he was presented the National Medal of Science.

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