Faculty in Focus

How a California dude became CU ��ý��'s provost

Megan Maneval — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:20:21 +0000

How a California dude became CU ��ý��'s provost Megan Maneval Fri, 06/13/2025 - 11:20

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

Before finding the joy of exploration as a university professor and chief academic officer, Russell Moore found it traveling the world.

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Astronaut professor launching into retirement

Megan Maneval — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:26:02 +0000

Astronaut professor launching into retirement Megan Maneval Fri, 05/09/2025 - 10:26

Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences

From training as an army ranger and flight test engineer, to life as an astronaut in the microgravity of space, to educating the next generation of aerospace engineers, Jim Voss has a list of career achievements a mile long.

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Richard Noble bridges the gap between research and industry

Megan Maneval — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:57:42 +0000

Richard Noble bridges the gap between research and industry Megan Maneval Thu, 04/17/2025 - 13:57

Celebrated professor and prolific inventor Richard Noble reflects on decades of teaching and discovery and embarks on a new path to commercialization of a game-changing technology.

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Interim dean sees role as amplifier, connector and conductor

Megan Maneval — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:37:44 +0000

Interim dean sees role as amplifier, connector and conductor Megan Maneval Thu, 01/30/2025 - 11:37

In a Q&A, Erika Randall, interim dean of undergraduate education, discusses her leadership role and more.

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Leigh Holman to lead commencement ceremony as new marshal

Megan Maneval — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:22:56 +0000

Leigh Holman to lead commencement ceremony as new marshal Megan Maneval Tue, 11/19/2024 - 13:22

Leigh Holman, director of CU ��ý��’s Eklund Opera program, has been named the new commencement marshal.

Holman, a CU ��ý�� alumna who has been with the university for 15 years, replaces Bud Coleman who has led the spring commencement ceremony since 2018.

“On behalf of our entire college, we're proud of Leigh Holman assuming the role of the university's next commencement marshal,” said College of Music Dean John Davis, also noting Holman's transformative role as director of the college's highly regarded Eklund Opera Program and New Opera Workshop (CU NOW).

"Leigh's work advances our mission to develop multiskilled, multifaceted universal musicians with flexible career options, thereby also amplifying momentum toward more interdisciplinary collaborations across our campus. In that spirit, as commencement marshal, Leigh perfectly represents not only the College of Music, but also our increasingly interconnected campus community.”

The role of commencement marshal is mostly behind the scenes, until the day of the ceremony when Holman will be front and center on stage before thousands of graduates and their guests. It’s a role she relishes and is excited to take on.

“As a performer, I feel comfortable being on stage. And part of the job of being commencement marshal is emceeing the event, so I feel very comfortable in that role,” she said.

“The main thing I’m excited about is being a part of this special day for our students, a day that hopefully they’ll never forget.”

Holman took some time to talk with CU ��ý�� Today about herself, her time at CU ��ý�� and her new role as commencement marshal.

Director, Eklund Opera Program

I am the director of opera for the College of Music, and that means I’m the director of the program administratively, but I’m also the resident stage director. I am in charge of working with my team to cast shows, choose the operas we will be performing and, more importantly, I come up with the vision for the show…what it’s going to look like, what it’s going to feel like and what the characters will be like.

So I’m really a storyteller, and I use acting and visual elements on stage to tell that story. That’s what a stage director does, and that’s my role here at CU.

New Opera Workshop

In the summer we have a program that I started called the New Opera Workshop (CU NOW). It’s a really exciting program where we bring in opera composers who are working on new projects and pair them with our wonderfully talented students who then bring the opera’s characters and the music to life. So the composers get to work on their project in a beautiful setting here in ��ý��, and our students get the opportunity to work with some of the most renowned creators of opera in the world.

Road to CU ��ý��

My grandparents went to CU ��ý�� in the 1920s. After graduating—my grandmother graduated too, which was almost unheard of back then—they moved to Tennessee. When I was growing up, we lived in Tennessee but my grandparents had moved back to Colorado, so we went to visit them every summer.

After completing my undergraduate and graduate degrees and working for a while, I decided that I wanted to teach voice and direct operas. I had a few schools on my list, and CU was one of them. So, in my 30s I went back to school and got my doctorate. After teaching at the college level for a few years and working with Opera Colorado, I came to work at CU ��ý��. I feel very lucky to have my dream job. It’s pretty awesome to be a teacher where my grandparents went to college.

Passion for singing and opera

I’ve been a singer since birth. I think the first time I ever sang in public I was 4 years old, and I sang the song “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.” I’ll never forget it. I was a voice major in college where I studied classical music. I am a mezzo soprano, which is fun because it is one of the lower soprano voices, so you get cast in roles such as witches. So I sang, went to college to study voice and started doing opera. And then after college, I did opera professionally.

People would be surprised to know…

I think people would be surprised that I ride a motorcycle. One other thing…When I was in high school I was a Congressional page in Washington, D.C. I was from this little rural town in Tennessee, and I was asked by my Congressman to come to D.C. to be a page. I served during the end of the Carter administration.

Leigh Holman, director of CU ��ý��’s Eklund Opera program, has been named the new commencement marshal.

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Celebrating Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar and CU ��ý��’s Green Labs program

Megan Maneval — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:47:27 +0000

Celebrating Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar and CU ��ý��’s Green Labs program Megan Maneval Thu, 11/14/2024 - 13:47

Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar, CU ��ý��’s Green Labs program manager, was honored with the Phil Wirdzek Leadership Award at the 2024 International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) conference—the institute’s highest honor.

Theresa Nahreini, director of the Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility, and Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar discuss sustainability and collaborating with the Green Labs program.

”Financial incentives from Utility & Energy Services through Green Labs have helped our cell culture core facility purchase energy-efficient biosafety cabinets. We also utilize other opportunities initiated by Green Labs including recycling No. 2 and No. 4 plastic film wrappers and participating in solvent reuse. Environmental Health & Safety transports uncontaminated ethanol collected from INSTAAR cold traps to us that is then diluted to 70% ethanol, which we use to decontaminate work surfaces within our lab. Both actions reduce waste, and the ethanol re-use also saves our facility money.” –Theresa Nahreini

This award celebrates her commitment to transforming research labs into models of sustainability, from CU ��ý�� to campuses worldwide. Through her leadership, CU ��ý��’s Green Labs program has become a national benchmark for environmentally responsible lab practices, making it easier for researchers to work sustainably.

"CU ��ý�� has long been a leader in sustainable research practices, and this success would not be possible without the expertise and passion from Kathy's team as well as the long-term partnership the Environmental Center has held with the Infrastructure and Resilience staff," says Chris Herr, director of the CU ��ý�� Environmental Center. "Kathy and the Green Labs program have been the inspiration and model for so many programs popping up around the country, and this award further solidifies her incredible contributions to this emerging field."

How Green Labs supports researchers and the environment

Under Ramirez-Aguilar's leadership and in partnership with campus stakeholders, the CU ��ý�� Green Labs program helps research teams identify ways to have a big impact with individual lab changes:

Cold storage efficacy: Improved freezer practices save labs energy, lower costs and protect research samples.
Efficient lab practices: Equipment and chemical sharing across labs reduces waste and saves research dollars.
Call to action challenges: Campaigns like Shut the Sash for fume hoods keep labs safe and energy efficient.

Driving global change

Ramirez-Aguilar's work has not only advanced CU ��ý��’s labs but also has played a vital role to inspire a global movement:

The International Freezer Challenge, co-founded by Ramirez-Aguilar, has saved millions of kilowatt-hours of energy worldwide.
As chair of the I2SL University Alliance Group (UAG), she brings lab sustainability professionals together to share Green Labs best practices and lead efforts to embed sustainability into scientific funding.

Why it matters

Ramirez-Aguilar's work is a reminder that research and sustainability go hand in hand. Thanks to CU ��ý��’s Green Labs program, campus researchers have increased awareness of the large resource and environmental footprint of laboratory research and are engaged to make choices that protect both their research and the environment. These choices and innovations are often shared outside CU ��ý��, inspiring and influencing change for sustainability at other research campuses.

Want to learn more?

Visit the CU ��ý�� Green Labs website to find out how you can join this movement for a more sustainable future!

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He will, he will rock you

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:09:30 +0000

He will, he will rock you Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:09

Pursuing a passion for music, CU ��ý�� economist Murat Iyigun transforms from recognized expert on economics of the family and economic history to regional rock star with a growing musical reputation.

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Building bridges between ��ý�� and Ukraine

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:03:48 +0000

Building bridges between ��ý�� and Ukraine Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/20/2024 - 13:03

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

CU scholar Rai Farrelly is partnering with English language teachers in Ukraine this semester through a U.S. Department of State program.

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Incoming CMCI faculty bring new ideas on AI, identity, culture

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:53:54 +0000

Incoming CMCI faculty bring new ideas on AI, identity, culture Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/23/2024 - 09:53

College of Media, Communication and Information

The College of Media, Communication and Information's incoming professors bring an interest in cutting-edge topics at a time when the media landscape is undergoing dramatic change.

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Professor Angela Bryan wins 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize

Anonymous — Fri, 03 May 2024 19:12:33 +0000

Professor Angela Bryan wins 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/03/2024 - 13:12

Rachel Sauer

Angela Bryan, a CU ��ý�� professor of psychology and neuroscience who is nationally renowned for her innovative health and cannabis research, has been named the 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize winner.

The $20,000 Hazel Barnes Prize is the largest and most prestigious single faculty award funded by CU ��ý��. It was established in 1991 by former Chancellor James Corbridge in honor of the late Hazel Barnes, a longtime CU ��ý�� professor of philosophy, to recognize “the enriching interrelationship between teaching and research.”

Nominees are regionally and nationally recognized, tenured faculty members who are not only outstanding teachers, but who also have distinguished records in research and scholarship. The Hazel Barnes Prize selection committee is comprised of past recipients.

“For more than 20 years, Professor Bryan has contributed her knowledge, creativity and care to advance CU ��ý�� and improve the health of individuals and communities,” said Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “She is a role model for students and her peers, and she is most deserving of this year’s Hazel Barnes Prize.”

Bryan, who joined CU ��ý�� in 1999, is co-director of CUChange, a center for health and neuroscience, genes and environment, which conducts transdisciplinary research to explore the psychological, neurocognitive, physiological, genetic and epigenetic factors that are linked with health and risk behavior.

Bryan and her CUChange colleagues pursue research exploring the full range of influences on health and risk behavior. An overarching goal is to allow better tailoring of behavioral interventions to increase health behavior, decrease risk behavior and ultimately decrease morbidity and mortality and increase quality of life.

Bryan also is a faculty fellow in the Institute of Cognitive Science at CU ��ý�� and faculty in the Centers for Neuroscience at both CU ��ý�� and the CU School of Medicine. She is a member of the CU Cancer Center and the Nutrition and Obesity Research Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

“(Her) capacity to teach and mentor so effectively seems to proceed from her genuine desire and ability to share the strengths that have allowed her to develop into a successful researcher, teacher and mentor,” noted Cinnamon Bidwell, co-director of CUChange and a CU ��ý�� associate professor of psychology and neuroscience.

“Her investment in her own work has not diminished her capacity to help those around her develop, but rather has provided the foundation for it.

“As such, the characteristics that have made Professor Bryan a successful scientist are the same that have made her a great mentor: her scientific creativity and love of her work, her ability to organize and structure this creativity into specific tasks and timelines, her capacity to appreciate and consider others’ ideas and her facility to distinguish ideas that have strong potential for translation into grant applications and publications from those that do not.”

Bryan’s research has included monetary incentives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, the effects of marijuana on running workouts, the effects of exercise on older adults’ brain function and the protective effect aerobic exercise may have on heavy drinkers’ cognitive function, among many other topics.

She is principal investigator on several ongoing National Institutes of Health-supported research projects, including one focusing on exercise adherence and cognitive decline, with an emphasis on engaging with the Black community to develop and test a goal-setting and exercise intensity intervention.

A main thrust of her research has focused on a transdisciplinary approach to the study of health and risk behavior, and the development of theory-based interventions to improve health behaviors including physical activity and healthy diet and reduce risk behaviors including unsafe sexual behavior and substance use.

She and her research colleagues in recent years have deeply focused on the public health implications of cannabis legalization, studying harm reduction in the context of high potency cannabis concentrates and the potential influence of cannabis on the obesity epidemic as well as potential benefits of cannabis on anxiety, pain, opiate use and the amelioration of side effects due to cancer and its treatment. They also study the relationship of cannabis to physical activity and the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use among older adults.

Bryan also is noted for her passionate commitment to teaching and mentoring: “Angela is the most supportive, inclusive and available faculty mentor—with a focus on promoting inclusive excellence in and serving as a role model for women faculty and scholars—I have ever encountered in academia at large,” noted June Gruber, a CU ��ý�� associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, in recommending Bryan for the prize.

“Not once have I ever sought out advice from Angela and not had her respond immediately and with great care and thought.”

Angela Bryan, who is nationally renowned for her innovative health and cannabis research, has been named the 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize winner. The prize is one of the top most distinguished awards a faculty member can receive from CU ��ý��.

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