Meet Elo: 6 Things to Know About DU’s New Provost

Elizabeth Loboa is no stranger to leadership or the transformative power of education. This August, she stepped into her new role as DU’s provost and executive vice chancellor, bringing with her decades of experience helping universities take on challenges and explore new possibilities.

Her background speaks volumes: provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Southern Methodist University, dean of the University of Missouri College of Engineering, and leadership and faculty roles at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University. But what sets Loboa apart isn’t just her professional track record—it’s her clarity of vision for the future of higher education, her collaborative style, and her ability to inspire those around her.

“It is an incredible honor to join the University of Denver community,” says Loboa, known as “Elo” among friends, family, and colleagues. “The work DU is doing to provide an exceptional and holistic education is deeply inspiring—and it’s shaping the future of higher education. I can’t wait to build on that momentum.”

As DU’s new chief academic officer, Loboa is focused on guiding the academic enterprise, supporting faculty, enhancing the student experience, and advancing research that makes a difference. She’s joined DU at a pivotal moment—making this the perfect time to get to know her better.

Here are six things you might not know about our new provost:

1. Higher education transformed her life.

Born and raised in northern California, Loboa took an unconventional path to higher education. She lived in Modesto and attended Modesto Junior College while working as a legal secretary in San Jose—commuting 90 minutes each way three times a week. Her persistence paid off: She went on to study mechanical engineering at UC Davis and biomedical engineering at Stanford, where she also discovered her passion for research and teaching. “It was pivotal for me to be able to attend a strong four-year college and be exposed to higher education,” she says.

2. She’s a firm believer in mentoring the next generation.

When the University of Missouri approached Loboa about becoming dean of the engineering school, she admits she was intimidated. A quick Google search, however, shifted her perspective. She counted just 12 female engineering deans nationwide. “And I thought, I have to do this. I wanted to help show that engineering is for everyone. So, I went for it,” she says. She went on to serve for five years as the school’s first female dean of engineering.

3. She draws strength from personal experience.

Loboa, a mother of five adult children, has long balanced the demands of work and family, often drawing on personal experiences to shape her professional path. Early in her career, when one of her daughters contracted a MRSA bacterial infection at a YMCA camp, she began exploring how smart biomaterials could combat drug-resistant bacteria. Even now, she says, “I’m always wearing two hats: provost hat and mom hat. I have kids still in college, and every decision I make, I think about its impact on students like them.”

4. The people at DU made an impression on her.

As she learned more about the University, Loboa says, “It was fulfilling—but maybe not surprising—to see how deeply people care about the University. I mean, they really care.” She sees that passion as one of DU’s greatest strengths. “There’s so much opportunity here, and so much great work already happening—from the 4D Experience to the Kennedy Mountain experience to the beauty of campus itself. It feels like a bit of a best-kept secret, and I hope to help change that.”

5. Elo’s background in STEM—and appreciation for the liberal arts—makes her a perfect fit for DU.

With her engineering background, Loboa approaches complex institutional challenges with analytical rigor and creative problem-solving. “I’m used to working in interdisciplinary, collaborative teams. I see challenges as opportunities to really think outside the box,” she says. She sees DU as uniquely positioned to blend its liberal arts strengths with cutting-edge STEM programs to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world.

6. She has a life beyond the office—and it involves horses.

Outside of work, Loboa embraces an active lifestyle with her husband, Todd, and their horses and dog. “We like to be outside and focused on nature. It puts me in a Zen state,” she says. She also enjoys walking, hiking, and exploring Denver’s local dining scene. The nickname Elo comes from her junior college days—she says it was part of a refrain in a catchy ’90s song she can’t quite remember the name of—and has since been a term of endearment used by those around her.