Several leaders from the University of Colorado, including Regent Chair Sue Sharkey, Regent Glen Gallegos, UCCS Chancellor Venkat Reddy, UCCS Dean of Education Valerie Martin Conley, VP of Government Relations Tanya Kelly-Bowry and Associate VP of Federal and Corporate Relations Dave Sprenger, embarked on an outreach trip to the San Luis Valley in September. The delegation made stops in Alamosa and Durango where they met with local legislators, education leaders, health care leaders, members of the Southern Ute tribe and CU alumni.

In Alamosa, the delegation met with leadership from San Luis Valley Health, Conejos County Hospital, and the Area Health Education Center. They also met with Senator Larry Crowder (R-Alamosa), Representative Donald Valdez (D-La Jara), former Representative Ed Vigil, and Brenda Felmlee, aide for Colorado Congressman Scott Tipton. Topics of discussion included health care issues, potential partnerships, and issues that may surface in the 2019 session of the Colorado General Assembly. Particular emphasis was placed on rural clinical placements for CU students working to become physicians, pharmacists and dentists.

UCCS Chancellor Reddy speaks with Representative Donald Valdez (D-La Jara)

Office of Government Relations

In Durango, the delegation was joined by CU Boulder Senior Vice Chancellor and CFO Kelly Fox, CU Boulder Assistant Vice Chancellor of Public Policy and Advocacy Kirsten Schuchman, CU Boulder Education Dean Kathy Schultz, CU Boulder Law School Dean James Anaya, CU Boulder Law Assistant Dean Jessica Helzer, and CU Boulder Alumni Director Ryan Chreist. The delegation met with members of the Southern Ute tribe, Fort Lewis leadership, Representative Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango), Representative Marc Catlin (R-Montrose), former Sen. Ellen Roberts, and congressional staff members. Topics of discussion included teacher education (in particular teacher shortages), potential partnerships and issues that may surface in the 2019 session of the Colorado General Assembly. The trip concluded at the Durango Arts Center with an alumni lunch featuring a special screening of The Light Shines On: A Celebration of CU Boulder. Read more about the outreach events at the Valley Courier.

CU Regents and Leadership outreach meeting in Alamosa.

Ruth Heide, Valley Courier

Pictured: From left, front row, CU Regent Glen Gallegos, CU VP of Government Relations Tanya Mares Kelly-Bowry, CU Regent Chair Sue Sharkey, UCCS Dean of Education Valerie Martin Conley, Charlotte Ledonne, AHEC, AHEC Board President Helen Lester, Former State Rep. Ed Vigil, Carmen Mares Kelly and Brenda Felmlee, aide for U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton. From left in back are Suzanne DeVore, Valley-Wide Health Systems and AHEC board member, Deanna Ulibarri-Crespin, AHEC, State Sen. Larry Crowder, CU Colorado Springs Chancellor Venkat Reddy, State Rep. Donald Valdez, retired long-time AHEC Director Al Kelly, AHEC Executive Director Eric Stevens and David Sprenger, CU Government Affairs. Photo from Ruth Heide, Valley Courier. 

CU Advocates hosted “CU Celebration” events this July in Grand Junction, Pueblo and Weldona to welcome new and incoming students from the Western Slope, southern, and northeastern Colorado who plan to attend a CU campus. To help welcome the new students and their families to the CU family, State Representatives Yeulin Willett (R-Grand Junction) and Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale) and HD 54 candidate Matt Soper attended the Grand Junction event.  

Regents Sue Sharkey and Glenn Gallegos with new students at the Grand Juction Outreach event.

CU Advocates