A Word From The Chancellor

Philanthropy is creating the University of Denver’s future. Your generosity, and the generosity of all DU’s supporters, helps us build on our legacy of educational excellence. Together, we are reimagining what it means to be a top-tier university. We are producing research that changes lives and expands knowledge. To help our students thrive, we are offering a holistic education we call the 4D Experience where they grow intellectually, discover their purpose, center their well-being, and explore their character. We are creating a bold and enduring future for DU and our stakeholders. And, most importantly, our students will use their exceptional DU education to change the world. This is possible because of visionary donors like you.

Gifts to DU over the past year have made a remarkable difference. They have funded faculty positions that bring leading minds to our campus. They have provided resources for students to pursue experiential learning and career preparation opportunities. They have opened the doors to DU for students from diverse communities around the globe, and they have provided vital resources for our student-athletes to succeed in the classroom and in sport.

The programs and places of DU have likewise been strengthened immeasurably through your generosity. Because of philanthropy, DU is training tomorrow’s leaders in the outdoor industry. DU is meeting more mental health needs of children and families both in Denver and across the state of Colorado. Students who are first in their families to go to college have greater support to excel in their journey. All DU students – no matter their background – can pursue character- and community-building adventures at DU’s James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus.

In this report, you will read these and many other stories of philanthropy’s impact. I invite you to join me in celebrating what is now possible at DU because of the generosity of our supporters. I am deeply grateful for the ways your involvement contributes to our shared bright future.

Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor

DU’S PEOPLE ARE A POWERFUL FORCE

Envisioning the Future with an Endowed Art Professorship

“In art, there are an infinite number of answers to any one question,” explains Everett Anton “Tony” Singer (BA Art ’70), whose DU classes encompassed interior design, sculpture, painting, and more in preparation for what turned out to be a dynamic and highly successful career.

Today, Tony Singer is giving back through a legacy gift establishing the Everett Anton Singer Endowed Professorship in Art in DU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “An endowed professorship provides the funding to attract extraordinarily talented faculty to DU,” says Singer. “In addition to becoming a magnet that draws students to DU, this artist-educator will have a monumental impact as they influence the next generation of painters.”

Tony Singer’s career took off when, after graduating from DU and attending graduate school, he channeled his creative passions toward the family’s printing business. Together with his half-brother, Singer transformed a mom-and-pop social printing business into one of the top three color printers in the New York metropolitan area, winning more awards on a dollar volume basis than any of their competitors. The key to Singer’s success was the artistic sensibility to envision an elevated product for his customers and the skills to help them achieve it – in part thanks to his DU education.

“Tony’s visionary leadership in establishing this professorship will bring highly gifted artists to DU to teach our students, creating a tremendous impact for the University for many years to come. We celebrate the difference that his gift will make for this program – ensuring a lasting presence of talented painters whose teaching will inspire generations of DU students.”
Val Otten, Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Korbel Celebrates First Full-time Rice Family Professor of Practice

Former United States secretary of state Condoleezza Rice (BA ’74, PhD ’81, Hon. PhD ’96) established the Rice Family Endowed Professor of Practice in DU’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies to honor her parents, Rev. John Wesley Rice Jr. and Angelena Rice. In alignment with her own distinguished career, the endowment supports a non-tenured faculty position at Korbel for an eminently qualified academic, government, non-governmental organization, or business leader who has made a major impact on fields significant to Korbel School programs.

The inaugural holder of the Rice Family Endowed Professorship of Practice is Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodríguez, who joined the Korbel faculty in fall 2023. Rodríguez brings a wealth of experience in politics and economics to the role, including time as head of the Economic and Financial Advisory of the Venezuelan National Assembly (2000-2004), head of the research team of the United Nations’ Human Development Report Office (2008-2011) and chief Andean economist of Bank of America (2011-2016).

He has also been a visiting researcher at the International Monetary Fund and a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a professor at many prominent universities. Being at Korbel affords Rodríguez an invaluable opportunity to consider his nation’s unique political and economic challenges. “Venezuela has experienced the largest documented economic collapse outside of wartime in history. There have been attempts to address it, but no satisfactory solution, so in terms of being able to reframe ideas and work on solutions, I can’t think of a better community to be a part of than Korbel,” Rodríguez says.

“Francisco Rodríguez is the perfect first Rice Family professor. He not only has high level government and private sector experience, but he’s also a PhD economist who bridges the gap between our academic faculty and the world of practice, in the process enlarging our students’ vision of the possible.”
Fritz Mayer, Dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

DU Professor Co-leads Consortium to Advance Children's Rights

With an unrestricted gift of more than $2 million from an anonymous donor, and the support of their respective institutions, Professors Catherine Smith, University of Denver Sturm College of Law; Robin Walker Sterling, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; and Tanya Washington Hicks, Georgia State University School of Law, have formed the Consortium for the Advancement of Children’s Constitutional Rights. Guided by a Nelson Mandela quote, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children,” their goal is to “reimagine the constitutional law canon through the lived experiences and perspectives of children, especially children in diverse and underserved communities.”

The gift gives the scholars “freedom and space,” Washington Hicks said, “to continue our innovative work advancing children’s constitutional rights across a continuum of legal contexts.”

The initial focus of the Consortium’s three-year project will focus on four pillars: Climate Change, Education, Families, and Juvenile Justice.

In addition to future research and scholarship, expect a children’s constitutional rights course and textbook, a key priority in shifting lawyers’ training to include children’s rights as a priority. Supporting scholars writing and practicing in the field, as well as establishing interdisciplinary collaborations, are other crucial objectives.

“We are developing the framework for change. This is not a 10- or 20-year project; it is one that requires collaboration with those committed to changing how we see children and understand, approach, and enforce their rights. Fifty years from now, we hope that society will look back on our current anachronistic framework for children’s rights and wonder how we ever justified its existence.”
Catherine Smith, Professor, Sturm College of Law

Career Difference-Maker: The Daniels Alumni Advisory Board Endowed Scholarships

When Daniels Executive Ph.D. student Derek Ricke was looking to “better understand corruption in the corporate environment and how firms can leverage the ideas of leadership, ethics, and corporate culture to prevent corruption,” he needed funding to attend the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington, DC, a biannual conference hosted by Transparency International.

Fortunately for Ricke, that funding was available virtually on his doorstep – thanks to the Daniels Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) Endowed Scholarship. Made possible through gifts from its members – MBA graduates and undergraduates – the endowed scholarship provides professional development funds for Daniels students. Today, the current balance for the endowment stands at nearly $70,000, and the Board aims to continue growing the fund to provide greater impact.

For students like Derek Ricke, that impact can be enormous. Attending the Anti-Corruption Conference allowed Ricke to meet with academic and industry professionals, discuss his doctoral work, and significantly increase the likelihood that his research will help move the industry forward. His own impressive background – he’s a West Point grad and Army vet with an MBA from UCLA and an associate’s degree in Mandarin – plus his Daniels PhD work focused on mitigating corporate corruption, makes that contribution even more promising.

“There is a group of alumni that stands as a support system for our students and wants them to succeed,” says AAB member David Cable (MBA ’06). “Beyond the tangible assistance of the scholarship, we want to give students the sense that they’re part of a bigger network.”

“Through the AAB Scholarship, students can pursue career preparation opportunities that otherwise might not be open to them.”
Vivek Choudhury, Dean, Daniels College of Business

That was clearly the case for Derek Ricke, which is why the AAB’s goal is to give more each year, grow the endowment, and expand the scholarships to be the difference-maker for increasing numbers of students.

How a bag of trash led to the Korbel School, the Aspen Institute, and a Nathanson Fellowship

It all started when Julia DeTar’s sixth grade teacher pulled a bag of trash from the cafeteria and demonstrated how much could be recycled. When the teacher challenged Julia’s class to make a positive difference for the environment, the students implemented “trash-free Fridays.” That small but successful effort made a significant difference and one that encouraged DeTar to pursue an environmental career.

Today, as a recent M.A. graduate in international studies from DU’s Korbel School, and with certificates in global business and corporate social responsibility, plus a specialization in environmental sustainability, DeTar reflects on her time in the select Nathanson Fellows Program – a partnership between Korbel and the Aspen Institute designed to challenge tomorrow’s leaders in proposing solutions to the major challenges facing the United States and the world.

The program is named for DU alums Jane Nathanson and Marc Nathanson, an Aspen Institute Trustee who currently serves as U.S. ambassador to Norway. The Nathansons established the fellows program at DU to foster collaboration between the two organizations and to provide students with opportunities to work and learn at a world-renowned policy organization. During their appointment, Nathanson Fellows apply their graduate coursework to Aspen programs under the direction of Institute staff.

“By connecting students with the expertise of the Aspen Institute and providing them with the financial support to focus on their future careers,” adds Korbel School Dean Fritz Mayer, “the Nathansons have helped shape these Fellows’ futures and empowered them in their quest to be change-makers.”

The term change-maker aptly describes Julia DeTar. “My experience at the Aspen Institute drastically changed how I view my future. I learned so much actually doing the work that I’ve been studying,” DeTar says. “Not only did I gain knowledge on a range of environmental issues, but I also learned about what being in the nonprofit workplace was like. Everyone at the Institute really cared about their jobs, and they were kind and passionate. I would love to surround myself with people like that in my future environmental career, which all started with a bag of recyclable trash!”

Support Native American Culture By Giving to DU

Dan (BSBA ’63, JD ’72) and Beth Whittemore have long demonstrated their commitment to Native American culture both through their work with the community and through their philanthropy.

When they lived in Phoenix, Beth was a member of the Phoenix Indian Center Board, working with urban Native Americans — those who had come from the reservations and needed help integrating their lives in an urban setting. She also worked for an Arizona health care organization which assisted a local Native Tribe to establish its own primary care clinic.

“We understand how important it is for Native Americans to retain their own identity,” Dan says. “They want to retain their ceremonies and customs to keep their culture alive.”

The couple’s support of the Native American community extends to their philanthropy at DU. They established several scholarships to assist Native Americans studying at DU, both in Sturm College of Law and in Daniels College of Business.

The scholarship in Sturm is intended, the Whittemores say, for Native Americans to learn the legal system and “utilize the law to address legal issues facing Native Americans and tribes”— including water and land rights.

The scholarship in Daniels supports Native American and Indigenous students studying accounting. Dan, his twin brother, his second brother, and their father all graduated from DU’s accounting program. Additionally, the Whittemores have made gifts to DU in support of Native American music in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and in support of the Tribal Wills Project – further demonstrating their ongoing commitment to Native American students and culture at DU.

“Our satisfaction was finding an area where we could contribute to the indigenous people. We’re very interested in human rights for Native Americans, so the endowed scholarship seemed like a perfect fit. It will continue in perpetuity.”
Dan Whittemore (BSBA ‘63, JD ‘72)

Honoring a Legend By Supporting DU’s Hockey Student-Athletes

DU Men’s Hockey has a long and storied history – inspiring students, alumni, and the Denver community for decades. Head Coach Murray Armstrong, who led the Men’s Hockey team from 1956 to 1977, guided the University to five NCAA Championships. Just as importantly, he counted his impact on the lives of the student-athletes among his proudest accomplishments.

Last year, DU hockey alum Dave Paderski paid tribute to Murray Armstrong by establishing an endowed fund to both honor Coach Armstrong and enhance the championship level resources provided to our hockey student-athletes in perpetuity. Thus far, funds have been earmarked for charted flights to minimize time away from campus and the classroom as well as elevated nutritional support for our student-athletes, continuing the tradition of providing resources to ensure that the Pioneers can excel on the national stage.

Inspiring Tomorrow's Philanthropists

Students graduating during the June 2023 undergraduate commencement received a surprise lesson in philanthropy. Commencement speaker Pat Hamill, CEO of Oakwood Homes, former trustee and a graduate of Daniels College of Business, gave each graduate $500 and told them to pay it forward. His message to the graduates: “Keep it if you really need it. Give it to someone who needs it if you don’t. Or combine it with your friends and do something together.”

“Every gift matters, and some of your greatest joys in life will be seeing joy in other people.”
Pat Hamill (Ph.D. ’23)

Scholarships:

^{_{Total Given to Scholarships:}} $15,913,676

^{_{Average Need Gap for Undergraduate Students:}}$6,439

2,253 ^{_{Donor-Funded Scholars}}

49 ^{_{New Endowments}}

37 ^{_{New Scholarships}}

Academic Excellence:

262 ^{_{Funded Faculty Members}}

11:1 Ratio ^{_{Student-to-Faculty}}

21 Students ^{_{Average Class Size}}

300+ ^{_{Academic Programs}}

100+ ^{_{Study Abroad Programs (55 countries around the world)}}

Over $45 Million ^{_{Total Research Funding}}

R1 Status ^{_{Recognized as a High Research University}}^{_{(by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education)}}

*Data reflects the class of 2022

Denver Athletics Numbers of Note:

34 ^{_{NCAA National Championships across 18 varsity sports}}

95% ^{_{Division of Athletics graduation success rate}}

14 ^{_{Top I-AAA program in Directors’ Cup standings in the last 15 years}}

128^{_{Individual National Championships}}

14th ^{_{for most NCAA Division I Championships}}

Tied ^{_{Men’s Ice Hockey Team is tied for the most national titles}}

Most Titles ^{_{Ski Team has the most titles of any team in the U.S.}}

Internship Spotlights:

90% of students with internship participation and 84% of students without internship participation secured employment or grad school acceptance by six months after graduation.
80.9% of undergraduate students participated in an internship during their degree program.

*Data reflects the class of 2022

Careers & Lives of Purpose:

72 students received the Summer Internship Award, an increase of 50% from last year, giving even more students the opportunity to have career-building internship experience even if the internship is unpaid.
Graduate students at DU receive career support and preparation through their academic programs and through Career & Professional Development, resulting in over 93% of 2022 master’s graduates and over 98% of doctoral graduates being employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation, exceeding the national averages for career outcomes.
FY23 was the highest student engagement year ever for career and professional development. Both undergraduate and graduate engagement exceeded their ambitious goals: Undergraduate engagement ended FY23 at 77.6% (goal was 77.0%) and graduate engagement ended the year at 51.1% (goal was 42%).

DU Students Post-Graduation:

68.7% of bachelor's students stay in Colorado after graduation.
58.2% of master's students stay in Colorado after graduation.
90.4% of undergrads have secured post-graduation plans within six months of graduation.
93.4% of master's students have secured post-graduation plans within six months of graduation.

*Data reflects the class of 2022

DU'S PROGRAMS DELIVER ON OUR VISION

A Generous Gift Establishes DU’s Institute For Animal Sentience & Protection

Robert Brinkmann’s love of animals led him to pursue veterinary medicine as a retiree – following a successful career as a Ph.D. planetary scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, CA, and the Lunar Science Institute. While he never practiced as a vet, he volunteered his DVM knowledge at animal welfare organizations over the years and remains a licensed practitioner.

That love of animals is what also prompted Brinkmann to provide generous seed funding for DU’s newly formed Institute for Animal Sentience and Protection. The Institute’s aim is to expand the scientific understanding of the cognitive and emotional capabilities of non-human animals and advocate for their well-being. To keep operations thriving after startup, Dr. Brinkmann has pledged his entire estate to the Institute after his passing.

What motivated Robert Brinkmann’s gift to DU specifically was the work of Philip Tedeschi, founder and former executive director of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection and clinical professor at DU’s Graduate School of Social Work. Co-directed by Tedeschi and Justin Marceau, Brooks Institute Faculty Research Scholar of Animal Law and Policy and faculty director of the Animal Law Program at DU’s Sturm College of Law, the Institute will be a collaboration between GSSW and Sturm. Together, these efforts, bolstered by Brinkmann’s generosity, will have a lasting impact on the protection of animals. “Rescue and animal welfare organizations are great,” Brinkmann explained, “but I wanted to contribute to an effort that takes a longer-range view of animal well-being and encompasses the entire animal kingdom.”

“Dr. Brinkmann’s gift is a significant and inspiring vote of confidence in DU’s capacity to pursue big ideas, to work seamlessly across disciplines, and to advance the public good. I look forward to seeing the advancements in both scientific research and public awareness that flow from this promising and truly unique commitment.”
Mary Clark, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

DU And The VF Foundation Launch New Outdoor Industry Leadership Program

Where will future leaders of the outdoor industry come from? Thanks to a $3.2 million grant from The VF Foundation, the answer is DU’s Leadership in Outdoor Recreation Industry (LORI) program. This new interdisciplinary program will feature coursework from three academic units – the Daniels College of Business, Sturm College of Law, and Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

This multiyear grant to support initial operating costs, curriculum development, and scholarships for diverse candidates represents the single largest contribution made by The VF Foundation. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Denver-based VF Corporation – one of the world’s largest outdoor apparel, footwear, and accessory companies with iconic brands such as Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, Dickies®, and Smartwool®.

“Our overarching goal is to transform the face of the outdoor industry,”
Gloria Schoch, Executive Director of The VF Foundation & Senior Director of Global Impact for VF Corporation

said Gloria Schoch, executive director of The VF Foundation and senior director of Global Impact for VF Corporation. “By leveraging the University of Denver’s distinctive strengths in business, law, and public policy, we believe we will transform the talent pipeline by recruiting, supporting, and retaining outstanding and diverse leaders in the outdoor industry.” The need for industry leadership and LORI is significant, as the recreation economy annually generates $689 billion in consumer spending and provides 4.3 million U.S. jobs.

DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner adds, “We’re grateful to The VF Foundation for this opportunity to partner in creating specialized programming that will prepare students for outdoor industry jobs today and educate future leaders who will transform the field.”

New Funding Helps DU’s Center For Rural School Health And Education Satisfy The Demand For Mental Health Services

When DU’s Center for Rural School Health and Education (CRSHE) interviewed teachers in 2019 about the changes they most wanted to see, one response was overwhelming — more attention on mental health. To help satisfy that need, CRSHE recently received a grant from the Caring for Colorado Foundation to strengthen mental health among students and staff members in rural Colorado schools.

Based in DU’s Morgridge College of Education, CRSHE’s objective is that all children, youth, and adults in rural communities should live healthy and meaningful lives. The Center partners with rural schools and communities to improve those outcomes.

Elaine Belansky, a research professor and CRSHE’s director, explains, “We’re really hearing about educator stress, burnout, fatigue, and retraumatization by trying to support students who’ve been traumatized, triggering issues of their own trauma. They need and deserve a great deal of support, otherwise we’re facing a significant workforce loss of teachers, and that affects students’ experience.”

While the Center doesn’t tell partners what to do, it offers a process – a scaffolding – that helps schools figure out next steps. Without the support of CRSHE, executing these initiatives would place an extra burden on schools that are already at their capacity. Even before the pandemic, rural schools struggled with funding, meaning less staff and a greater sharing of responsibilities. For example, it wasn’t uncommon to see a principal teaching math class, driving the bus to athletic events, and serving as the school’s athletic director. Post-pandemic, those schools have been pushed to the limit, even further stressing staff.

“We want schools to be places where kids want to be, and we want schools to make changes to promote mental health to benefit students and teachers, which is why the Caring for Colorado Foundation grant is so important for us and the rural schools we serve.”
Benjamin Ingman, Associate Director, Center for Rural School Health and Education

First-Generation DU Students Benefit From Anonymous $10 Million Gift

An anonymous $10 million gift – inspired by a DU student’s praise of a current first-generation program – significantly expands the reach of scholarships and programs for students who are the first in their families to attend college.

For the past six years, first-generation students at DU have benefitted from the 1GENU program, which provides mentoring for the students and programming for families so they can best support their students. 1GENU has proven remarkably successful, with participating students having some of the highest graduation rates of all DU students.

This substantial gift will enable DU to scale that success to reach even more first-generation students through a program called FIRST@DU, which expands the programmatic elements of 1GENU to serve all undergraduate and graduate first-generation students for the next five years. Funding will ensure that all first-generation students have access to advisors, mentors, and programming that build a sense of belonging and contribute to their success. Funding will also open the door to high-impact experiences such as study abroad and internships – experiences that first-generation students often can’t access. Additionally, the endowed portion of the gift will ensure scholarship support for a segment of DU’s first-generation population.

“We have seen through 1GENU that when we provide scholarships and support, such as committed mentorship, to all students, but especially to first-generation students, they thrive. This is the heart of DU’s holistic approach to education, the 4D Experience,” says University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “This gift expands those opportunities to all first-gen students, transforming their educational journeys now – and in the lives they lead after graduation.”

“Our first-generation students are a remarkable and diverse group. With this investment in the program, far more students will have the support and resources they need to graduate and pursue their professional and personal interests, at DU and beyond.”
Todd Adams, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

A Passion For Healthy Living Leads To an Investment in Healthy Aging

When Peter and Jenna Merlin heard the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging’s (KIHA) former director speak at an alumni event, they were hooked. The interdisciplinary work of the institute – integrating the physiological, law, biomechanics, and financial aspects of aging – caught their attention and became a resource as Peter’s father had recently been diagnosed with vascular dementia. For several years, the couple attended KIHA’s Alzheimer’s disease expert talks and tai chi classes, among other KIHA events.

The Merlins’ support of KIHA recently expanded to include an annual financial investment in the work of the Institute. They are committed to healthy living, both for themselves and for the sake of their family, and they recognize the transformational potential of the Institute’s interdisciplinary work in advancing research and education of all aspects of healthy aging.

Their investment in the work of KIHA has benefited multiple areas of Alzheimer’s disease-related research, including a study focused on uncovering the biological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and testing a potential therapeutic. It has also expanded the research of long-term neurological symptoms from COVID-19 infections; people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are very sensitive to COVID-19 and have a 10 times higher mortality than other people their age. The Merlins’ generosity has also strengthened graduate student support, provided equipment vital to research, supported the Institute’s financial safety program, and more.

In supporting KIHA’s interdisciplinary work, the Merlins’ personal mission of healthy aging is magnified exponentially to help others pursue wellness in its many forms at all stages of life.

Gifts to the University Art Collections Enhance Research and Conservation

This year, DU received over $3 million in gifts of art to support the growing University Art Collection. These pieces will enhance the research of faculty and students and allow for important conservation and provenance projects for our museum studies students. The collections include maps, 19th-century views of Egypt and the Holy Land, Audubon and John Gould prints of birds, a collection of Northwest Coast prints, and woodwork by Native artists and photographs by Patrick Nagatani and George Gardner.

Advancing Research to Help the Human Condition

A generous estate gift from Frederick S. Pardee this year built on his lasting legacy in founding the Pardee Institute for International Futures at DU’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies. The Pardee Institute’s mission is to enhance the human condition using data and quantitative tools, and the team’s work benefits the scientific community, the policy-making community, and the modeling/data community. The Institute’s flagship tool is the International Futures model, which combines interconnected models across multiple domains: agriculture, demographics, economics, education, energy, environment, gender, governance, health, infrastructure, international politics, and technology.

The philanthropic contributions of Pardee, as well as his “handson” participation in past projects, have played a vital role in the advancement of the International Futures model. The additional endowment from his estate will expand the Institute’s expertise in model development and software engineering, deepening the capacity of Korbel’s highly regarded Institute to produce cuttingedge research for both academic audiences and policymakers.

DU's Global Reach:

DU is ranked in the top 5 in the nation for study abroad participation.
Over 70% of DU undergraduates study abroad.
DU is host to students and faculty from over 80 countries around the globe.
DU is ranked 5th in the nation among graduate schools for producing Peace Corps volunteers.

DU Community Gives More Than $1.3 Million During 1DAY4DU

During last year’s 1DAY4DU – the University of Denver’s annual day of giving – more than 2,900 individuals made gifts totaling more than $1.3 million that will have a direct and immediate impact on our students and our community. Both the number of donors and dollars raised exceeded the previous year’s totals, amply demonstrating a strong belief in the students, faculty, and programs represented in the crowdfunding initiative’s projects.

“DU’s research, teaching, and innovation are exceptional. The enthusiasm of our alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and parents during 1DAY4DU is an affirmation of that excellence,”
Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor

says Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “DU’s Board of Trustees and University-wide Alumni Council both had 100% participation in the event, setting an example of belief in our mission and in the projects across campus that were highlighted on the day. All the gifts during this event – no matter the size – are helping to shape our University’s future and our students’ 4D Experience.”

1DAY4DU gift options included programs across campus, for example:

The Daniels Professional Development Program Fund, which supports students as they explore majors and industries, prepare graduate school applications, create résumés and cover letters, maintain a personal brand and online image, practice for interviews, and negotiate offers.
The Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology program, which will be piloting research and interventions to safeguard the health, well-being, and dignity of Sub-Saharan Africa communities.
The DU Cultural Center’s Pride Closet, a resource for LGBTQ+ students, which makes available free clothing to help students affirm their identity and esteem.
DU Athletics, for which donors’ generosity will expand team travel, academic resources, leadership programming, team meals, equipment, enhanced sports injury care and treatment, and comprehensive wellbeing services.

“1DAY4DU serves as a powerful reminder of the difference we each make through giving,”
Val Otten, Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement

says Valerie Otten, senior vice chancellor for Advancement. “During this day, donors invest in programs that hold special meaning for them and that make a tangible difference for our students and our world. We are grateful for their partnership in making an impact.”

1DAY4DU Numbers of Note:

2,924 donors gave more than 1.3 million to a multitude of projects.
1,097 gifts between $5 and $50.
562 gifts totaling $357,377 given to athletics.
100% participation by the Board of Trustees.

Mcgoldrick Matching Gift Campaign Raises Over $4M for DU’s Lamont School of Music

The Michael McGoldrick Matching Gift Campaign, which concluded last spring, raised over $4 million to benefit the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. Nearly half the gifts were designated to support student success through endowed scholarships, annual awards, and student prizes.

In addition to new scholarship funding for percussion, composition, and jazz, matching gift donations will support:

The Student Travel Ensemble Fund, which enables outside performance and experiential learning opportunities
The Lamont Opera Fund, bolstering the opera program for years to come
A general Lamont Society Fund to support program priorities

Gifts in Kind of donated instruments and equipment will support various Lamont studios and provide students and faculty access to instruments and objects otherwise not attainable.

The Keith Ward Visiting Artists Fund, now endowed through the match campaign, will enable guest artists to share their talents and insights with our students and community.

“The Michael McGoldrick matching gift campaign will be a transformative moment in Lamont’s storied history,” said Keith Ward, Director of the Lamont School of Music.

“It brought together a community of faculty, students, staff, parents, alumni, donors, and friends, and it expanded that community. I am deeply grateful for the remarkable generosity of participants in the campaign and for Michael’s singular philanthropic gift.”

The late Michael McGoldrick, campaign benefactor, served as president of the Lamont Society Council. “When you visit the Lamont School of Music,” McGoldrick said,

“you feel the enthusiasm of the students and their music reflects it. By supporting Lamont, you’re supporting a dynamic University in its growth phase, you’re encouraging the arts, and finally you’re supporting wonderful music for the greater Denver community.”
Michael McGoldrick, President, Lamont Society Council

DU’S PLACES FOSTER CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

$2.5 Million Gift Accelerates Adventure at DU’s Kennedy Mountain Campus

Through the generosity of John (BA ’78) and Jacolyn (P ’22) Bucksbaum, students at the University of Denver will have the setting, equipment, and training to fully benefit from the University of Denver’s extraordinary James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus.

The $2.5 million gift establishes and equips the John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Outdoor Gateway, which serves as the hub of all equipment check-out and entry points to trails and activities on the Kennedy Mountain Campus. There, students will learn how to use equipment required for their adventures and have access to clothing and supplies to navigate the KMC’s 8,000-foot altitude in all seasons. They’ll interact with experts, learning technical skills as well as leadership skills. Courses in wilderness first aid, skill-building in backpacking and hiking, and outdoor leadership programming are among the options students can pursue. And certifications and trainings will be available in the months and years to come.

For the Bucksbaums, the gift unites their passion for the outdoors with their passion for DU. John is a 1978 DU graduate and member of DU’s Board of Trustees, and he and Jackie served on the Parents Leadership Council, chairing the Council for several years.

The couple’s positive experiences in leadership and as DU parents, along with the opportunity to expand Kennedy Mountain Campus opportunities, inspired their gift.

“Being in nature in this way shifts a person’s perspective, enhances the educational experience, and helps build leadership skills,” John explains. Jackie adds that “The Kennedy Mountain Campus opens the door for students, faculty, and staff to experience something different from the norm. Being outdoors gets you out of your day- to-day and improves mental health. And when you do something that takes you outside your comfort zone, you build character.”

Helping the Helpers: Graduate School of Professional Psychology Launches Clinic for Families of Children with Mental Health Conditions

Thanks to a generous grant from Caring for Denver Foundation, the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at the University of Denver will launch the Family Support Clinic – offering critical services to parents of dependents in Denver aged 13-25 who are experiencing conditions such as bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, and significant mood disorders.

“Parenting in these challenging circumstances requires a great deal of fortitude and persistence,” explains Professor Judith Fox, program lead.

“It is pretty difficult to do your best as a parent when you feel distressed, exhausted, isolated, or traumatized by what’s going on with your child—and such feelings are understandable and common.”
Judith Fox, Professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

The Family Support Clinic will provide parents with a supportive space to talk about their personal stresses and challenges, equipping them with the tools to balance self-care with the care needed to support their vulnerable loved ones. The Clinic’s goal is to help families feel less isolated and more understood, giving them ways to speak with others about their challenges and feel less stigmatized and alone.

University graduate students who are participating in the Clinic will be working in partnership with the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) to deliver NAMI training, classes, and talks in the community, working to increase provider and peer education and develop a richer understanding of the needs of this population.

“While these significant mental health conditions may require ongoing treatment and attention throughout one’s life, they can be successfully managed—and people can live satisfying, full lives,”
Judith Fox, Professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Fox says. “The support of parents and family makes all the difference in achieving these positive outcomes.”

The clinic launched services in October 2023. Interested Denver families are encouraged to contact the Family Support Clinic through Judith.Fox@du.edu, where services will be offered at no charge.