Expanding Opportunity with Integrity
Welcoming Every Student. Grounded in Law. Focused on Outcomes. Respecting Every Voice.
- As a country kid who pumped gas and washed dishes to become the first boy in my family to graduate from college, I know what a chance can mean. That chance transformed my life—and every chapter since has been devoted to making sure others get theirs.
- At every institution I’ve led, I’ve worked to build a culture where students from all walks of life feel welcomed, respected, and equipped to succeed. My approach to inclusive excellence is grounded in five enduring principles:
- Expanding opportunity for students—regardless of background, geography, or belief
- Creating welcoming environments that reflect empathy, mutual respect, and appreciation for different cultures, experiences, and ideas
- Protecting free expression and ensuring the open, respectful exchange of ideas
- Grounding action in law, including the constitutional obligation to treat every student equally
- Focusing on real results—measured in affordability, graduation outcomes, and long-term success
- These principles reflect a belief that student success flourishes in communities where expectations are clear, viewpoints are respected, and every individual is treated with dignity and fairness under the law.
- Inclusive leadership is about broadening access, not narrowing excellence. It’s about building pathways—not imposing checklists. It also requires acting with integrity when discrimination or exclusion occurs—because a truly welcoming community protects the dignity of all.
🏛️ Inclusive Impact in Action
🎓 University of Colorado
- As President of the University of Colorado, I led the system through the pandemic while expanding access, improving outcomes, upholding constitutional values, and advancing a strategic vision grounded in student success and civic purpose.
- Student Success and Affordability
- Improved graduation rates across all student groups
- CU Promise covered tuition and housing for over 6,000 students
- Net tuition held flat for four consecutive years
- Directed $11.5M in pandemic-related funding to strengthen academic support and expand access for rural, first-generation, community college, and underserved students—improving outreach, retention, and student success.
Expanding Educational Pathways
- Joined the National Equity Transfer Initiative, expanding community college pathways
- Granted in-state tuition to tribal students from Colorado’s federally recognized nations
- Issued CU’s first Indigenous land acknowledgment, with regent approval
Governance and Strategy
- Strategic plan approved unanimously by Regents, including goals to improve graduation outcomes, expand student access and outreach, and foster a welcoming, respectful campus culture—tracked through annual feedback surveys.
- Assembled a results-driven leadership team that reflected a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives—always selecting the most qualified person for the role.
Free Expression and Civic Responsibility
- CU gained a “Green” free speech rating from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) during my tenure, one of around 60 schools nationally
- Organized and hosted a Constitution Day video event in 2020 featuring a panel of university presidents with diverse perspectives—across political views, lived experiences, and institutions—to highlight the enduring importance of the U.S. Constitution to higher education and American democracy.
🎓 University of North Dakota
- As President of UND, I advanced a student-focused strategic plan that improved outcomes, strengthened respect for free expression, renewed civic engagement, and expanded access—particularly for rural, first-generation, and transfer students—while embedding inclusive excellence into the institution’s core values and goals.
- Student Success and Affordability
- Improved graduation outcomes for students across all demographic groups
Expanding Educational Pathways
- Created 2+2 transfer pathways with tribal colleges
- Secured donations for American Indian internship and engagement programs to strengthen opportunity pipelines
- Rejoined the city’s MLK Day celebration, renewing a shared tradition of civic reflection
Governance and Strategy
- Embedded inclusive excellence into UND’s strategic plan and institutional core values
- Assembled a results-driven leadership team that reflected a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives—always selecting the most qualified person for the role.
- Led a respectful, NCAA-mandated team identity transition from “Sioux” to “Fighting Hawks,” guided by open dialogue and campus-tribal engagement.
Free Expression and Civic Responsibility
- UND gained a “Green” free speech rating from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) during my tenure, one of around 60 schools nationally
Leadership Anchored in Governance
- Throughout my career, I’ve followed board direction while staying grounded in constitutional boundaries. When the expectations of a new CU Board no longer aligned with my constitutional interpretation—an area later clarified by the courts—I chose stewardship over conflict. I stepped aside not to avoid debate, but to protect institutional momentum and prevent unnecessary polarization.
- Sometimes leadership means recognizing when values and direction diverge—and choosing the course that preserves trust and institutional strength.
A Moment for Growth
- In 2020, during a public forum, I referenced the “Trail of Tears” without realizing the pain that phrase still evokes. I apologized within the hour and took the opportunity to listen, learn, and lead with greater empathy.
- But long before that moment, my record was clear:
- Strengthened tribal partnerships at UND by establishing transfer pathways with tribal colleges, supporting American Indian internship and engagement programs, and guiding a respectful, community-driven transition to the “Fighting Hawks” team identity.
- Advanced tribal inclusion at CU by granting in-state tuition to students from Colorado’s federally recognized nations and issuing the university’s first Indigenous land acknowledgment with regent approval.