Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Talent
A Results-Driven Approach to Inclusive Leadership
- Across every institution I’ve served—CU, UND, GW, and now the Wahba Institute—I have worked to expand opportunity, increase affordability, and build leadership teams that reflect the full promise of our students.
- I’ve focused not on symbolic gestures but on strategic, structural, and measurable efforts that strengthen institutions and align with our shared values: equal opportunity, free expression, and respect for all.
Inclusive leadership is about broadening access, not narrowing excellence. It’s about helping all students succeed—wherever they start, and whatever their background.
🏛️ Results Across Institutions
🎓 University of Colorado
- As CU System President, I embedded inclusive opportunity into the university’s first-ever system strategic plan—tying measurable outcomes to leadership accountability.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Strategic plan approved unanimously by Regents, including goals to close graduation gaps, expand outreach, and improve campus climate (tracked via annual surveys)
- Directed $11.5M in post-crisis funding to support access, outreach, and student success—including scholarships, rural talent pipelines, student well-being, and academic support initiatives—following the national reckoning after George Floyd.
- Improved graduation rates across all student groups
- Net tuition held flat for four consecutive years
- CU Promise covered tuition and housing for over 6,000 students
- Joined the National Equity Transfer Initiative to support first-gen and transfer students
- In-state tuition granted to tribal members from Colorado-based nations
- Systemwide Indigenous land acknowledgment issued
- Diversified executive leadership: 5 of 8 hires were women; 5 were people of color, all were the most qualified for the role
- CU gained a “Green” free speech rating from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) during my tenure, one of around 60 schools nationally
🎓 University of North Dakota
- At UND, I advanced inclusion through strategic planning, tribal partnerships, and legal clarity.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Inclusive excllence embedded in core values and strategic goals
- Improved graduation rates across all student groups
- Created 2+2 transfer pathways with tribal colleges
- Launched American Indian internships and outreach programs
- Led respectful NCAA mandated retirement of the “Sioux” nickname and successful adoption of the Fighting Hawks
- Appointed UND’s first Black senior leader and diversified cabinet and deans
- Reinstituted MLK Day as a university holiday to reflect shared values and civic commitment
- UND also earned a “Green” free speech rating from FIRE during my tenure
🎓 George Washington University & Wahba Institute
- At GW, I continued to diversify the leadership team through merit-based appointments.
- At the Wahba Institute, I’ve built a high quality founding team that reflects diverse backgrounds in gender, race, and orientation—ensuring that our work on strategic competition reflects the global society it serves.
📘 A Consistent Pattern of Leadership
- At CU, UND, GW, and WISC, I’ve led or built teams that became more representative than I found them—always through merit-based hiring or promotion.
- Across each university:
- Opportunity was expanded for underserved and rural students
- Student success and affordability were prioritized
- Leadership teams became more reflective of the people we serve
- Free speech and viewpoint diversity were protected and elevated
It’s not about checking boxes. It’s about building institutions that serve the full promise of the American student body.
🌱 A Teachable Moment—and a Stronger Commitment
- In one public forum, I used the phrase “Trail of Tears” without appreciating its painful historical weight. I issued a public apology within the hour and used the moment to grow.
- Far from diminishing my commitment, it reaffirmed it. My tangible actions prior to that moment included:
- Tribal college transfer pathways at UND
- In-state tuition and land acknowledgment at CU
📋 Quick Highlights: Expanding Opportunity & Access
- Graduation rates improved across all groups at CU and UND
- Built more diverse leadership teams through merit-based promotions and hires
- Held net tuition flat for four consecutive years at CU
- Added $1 million to fund expanded outreach efforts at CU
- Secured increased scholarship funding for underserved students
- Invested over $11.5 million to advance inclusive excellence initiatives following the national reckoning after George Floyd
- Created tribal college transfer partnerships and HSI pipelines
- Issued CU’s first Indigenous land acknowledgment
- Reinstituted MLK Day at UND to reflect shared values and civic commitment
- Emphasized free speech, civic understanding