On the Move

Hope Saska named director of CU Art Museum

Megan Maneval — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:03:53 +0000

Hope Saska named director of CU Art Museum Megan Maneval Mon, 09/29/2025 - 14:03

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

In addition to serving as the interim director, Hope Saska has served as the CU Art Museum's chief curator and director of academic engagement. She has now been named the director.

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Faculty Affairs welcomes Warren Sconiers

Megan Maneval — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:00:24 +0000

Faculty Affairs welcomes Warren Sconiers Megan Maneval Wed, 09/24/2025 - 09:00

The Office of Faculty Affairs is delighted to announce that Warren Sconiers, associate teaching professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been appointed as faculty fellow for teaching and clinical faculty development.

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Benjamin Teitelbaum is new faculty director for strategic events and public discourse

Megan Maneval — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:19:00 +0000

Benjamin Teitelbaum is new faculty director for strategic events and public discourse Megan Maneval Fri, 09/19/2025 - 11:19

With a primary focus on planning the Conference on World Affairs, Benjamin Teitelbaum encourages faculty members to submit recommendations for guest speakers.

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LASP welcomes Director Bethany Ehlmann

Megan Maneval — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:04:54 +0000

LASP welcomes Director Bethany Ehlmann Megan Maneval Tue, 09/16/2025 - 14:04

This month, Bethany Ehlmann began her tenure as director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, ushering in a new era for the lab.

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Esther Henry tapped as managing associate university counsel for CU Boulder

Megan Maneval — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:59:42 +0000

Esther Henry tapped as managing associate university counsel for CU Boulder Megan Maneval Wed, 08/20/2025 - 13:59

Following a national search, CU Boulder has appointed Esther Henry managing associate university counsel, effective Sept. 9.

Henry brings more than two decades of legal experience in higher education, including leadership roles at the University of Tennessee system, Oregon State University, Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her expertise spans student and faculty affairs, employment law, Title IX compliance, public safety and emergency response, and institutional governance.

“I am thrilled to welcome Esther Henry to CU Boulder, where her deep experience in higher education law and her collaborative approach will be invaluable to our campus.” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “I also want to extend my sincere thanks to Michelle Krech for her service in the interim role and for her continued dedication to the university.”

Henry began her legal career in Colorado and previously served as associate counsel at the Colorado School of Mines and as HIPAA project manager and privacy officer at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She holds a J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and dual bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and management from Purdue University.

“I’m honored to join CU Boulder and return to the state where I began my career in higher education law,” said Henry. “I’m excited to contribute to the university’s mission and support its vibrant academic community.”

Henry will lead the Office of University Counsel for CU Boulder, and will be responsible for advising on a range of campus matters and serving as a key partner to university leadership in advancing CU Boulder’s strategic priorities.

Henry brings more than two decades of experience in higher education law from institutions across the country, including the University of Tennessee and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

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Professor Kim See joins RASEI

Megan Maneval — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:30:13 +0000

Professor Kim See joins RASEI Megan Maneval Mon, 08/18/2025 - 09:30

Professor Kimberly See, from the California Institute of Technology, will be joining the CU Boulder faculty in August 2026 as a RASEI Fellow with an appointment in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

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CIRES welcomes Steve Lommele as director of communications

Megan Maneval — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:53:12 +0000

CIRES welcomes Steve Lommele as director of communications Megan Maneval Wed, 08/06/2025 - 08:53

CIRES

Steve Lommele, the new director of communications at CIRES, is a seasoned communications strategist who brings decades of experience in energy and policy.

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Tamara Sumner appointed interim dean of University Libraries

Megan Maneval — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:27:33 +0000

Tamara Sumner appointed interim dean of University Libraries Megan Maneval Wed, 06/25/2025 - 08:27

Provost Russell Moore today announced his appointment of Tamara Sumner as interim dean of University Libraries, effective July 1. Sumner succeeds Robert McDonald, who recently accepted a leadership position at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Tammy is a seasoned and respected administrator with ties to University Libraries through her past work,” Moore said. “Through her strong leadership capabilities and research experience, I am confident that she’ll provide a stabilizing influence through this time of transition.”

Sumner currently serves as the director of the Institute of Cognitive Science (ICS) and is a professor in computer and cognitive science. ICS’s mission is to advance interdisciplinary research and training in cognitive science. Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, is appointing Cinnamon Bidwell to serve as interim director for ICS until Sumner returns to her role as director.

Bidwell is a clinical psychologist who has done groundbreaking research into cannabis, cannabinoids, alcohol and nicotine. Named a 2023 RIO Faculty Fellow, she conducts creative and innovative research that not only advances scientific understanding but also informs clinical practices and public health policies.

Sumner leads an interdisciplinary research and development lab that studies how computational tools—combining cognitive science, machine intelligence and interactive media—can improve teaching practice, learning outcomes and learner engagement in STEM fields. She has extensive research publications in human-computer interaction, educational technology, digital libraries and intelligent systems. Her teaching focuses on cognitive science research methods and user-centered design.

Sumner holds both a bachelor of science in earth science and a bachelor of arts degree in computer and information science from the University of California Santa Cruz, and a master’s and a doctorate in computer science from CU Boulder.

“It is an honor to serve University Libraries as interim dean during this important time,” Sumner said. “I look forward to meeting and interacting with libraries faculty and staff and moving ahead, together, to serve CU Boulder’s community and help drive its academic mission.”

Sumner will serve as interim dean until a permanent dean is appointed. Moore said plans for launching a national search for a permanent dean of University Libraries will be announced soon, along with plans for filling McDonald’s other role—senior vice provost of online education and extended education.

Tamara Sumner

Cinnamon Bidwell

Provost Russell Moore has named Tamara Sumner the interim dean of University Libraries.

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Dean Robert McDonald to take position in Texas

Megan Maneval — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:39:32 +0000

Dean Robert McDonald to take position in Texas Megan Maneval Tue, 06/10/2025 - 12:39

Provost Russell Moore announced today Robert McDonald, dean of University Libraries and senior vice provost of online education and extended education, has accepted the position of senior vice provost and director of the University of Texas Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin. McDonald’s last day at CU Boulder is June 30, which coincides with the last day of the academic year.

Dean Robert McDonald

In the coming days, Moore will announce interim leadership and a search process to name McDonald’s successor in both roles.

“I want to thank Robert for his seven years of service as both dean of libraries and senior vice provost of online education—a dual role that has helped to transform how CU Boulder understands, curates and conveys information to a new generation of learners,” Moore said.

Moore recognized McDonald for his accomplishments, which include:

Leading Colorado and Wyoming institutions in negotiating new library materials agreements with the academic publisher Elsevier, an effort that saved money for all Colorado higher education libraries.
Championing open-access information resources for the CU Boulder libraries and campus, while working closely with the Boulder Faculty Assembly on new licensing priorities for the campus.
Developing annual traditions for incoming students, such as the Buffs One Read and the campus Culture Crawl.
Re-establishing online education as a campus priority, centering CU Boulder faculty expertise and supporting colleges/schools in launching six new online degree programs.
Creating endowed funding for library student worker scholarships and establishing the University Libraries outstanding undergraduate student award for values-based service.

“Because of these accomplishments, CU Boulder is ready to take bold new steps as a leader in both library services and online education,” Moore said.

McDonald said, “I am grateful for the collaborative and entrepreneurial environment at CU Boulder, which supported my efforts to advance student success and belonging, strengthen faculty research and scholarly impact, and bring the vision of an information-empowered world to life.”

As part of that collaboration, McDonald in 2020 founded the Culture Crawl, an annual event that helps students spark friendships and build belonging through engaging with arts and culture institutions on campus. Over 1,100 attendees visited 13 arts and culture spaces across campus including the University Libraries in September 2024 during the fourth annual Culture Crawl—85% of whom were students and 22% were new students to campus.

McDonald served as associate dean for research and technology strategies and librarian at Indiana University prior to becoming dean at CU Boulder.

Dean Robert McDonald of University Libraries has accepted a leadership position at the University of Texas. His last day at CU Boulder will be June 30.

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Chancellor Justin Schwartz announces new campus leadership appointments

Megan Maneval — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:54:00 +0000

Chancellor Justin Schwartz announces new campus leadership appointments Megan Maneval Mon, 06/09/2025 - 06:54

Chancellor Justin Schwartz has appointed Ann Schmiesing senior vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and hired Janel Forde as the new senior vice chancellor for operations.

Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Ann Schmiesing (left) and Senior Vice Chancellor for Operations Janel Forde (right)

“As I continue to build my leadership team, I am thrilled to make Ann Schmiesing’s role in my office permanent, as well as to bring Janel Forde into the CU Boulder community,” Schwartz said. “Ann’s expertise and long experience on our campus will be crucial in guiding our new and ongoing strategic plans and initiatives as we guide CU Boulder into the future. Janel Forde brings significant operations and business expertise after a long career in both the public and private sectors, which will help us achieve our business unit goals and objectives in the coming years.”

Schmiesing, who has served as interim vice chancellor for strategic initiatives since March, assumed the permanent position on May 28. In this role she serves as a campuswide resource, combining strategic oversight with high-level support to the chancellor, and a key advisor and liaison across CU Boulder’s executive team. She will have oversight of the Office of Government and Community Relations, the Global Engagement Office and a strategic initiatives management team.

“I am excited to continue the strategic initiatives work that I first undertook a few months ago, as we chart and implement the current and future path of CU Boulder,” Schmiesing said. “Working in collaboration with the chancellor and his leadership team on strategic projects across campus and beyond is a unique opportunity to shape our campus’s direction as Colorado’s flagship university.”

Schmiesing returned to the CU Boulder campus earlier this year after serving as the interim chancellor at CU Denver last fall.

Separately, after a national recruitment search, Schwartz appointed Janel Forde as the new senior vice chancellor for operations. Forde was most recently the chief operating officer in the Denver mayor’s office and has worked as a partner in the Chicago office of Boston Consulting Group. She has held numerous senior operations positions in state and local government in Illinois and in her new capacity at CU Boulder will oversee the campus’s human resources; health and wellness; information technology; public safety; and ethics, compliance and policy units.

She holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

“I am thrilled to be joining the leadership team at CU Boulder and excited to bring my years of experience across both the public and private sectors to help the university’s business and operations units continue to successfully support the campus’s mission,” Forde said.

Forde’s appointment is effective June 23.

Chancellor Justin Schwartz elevated Ann Schmiesing from interim to senior vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and appointed Janel Forde as the new senior vice chancellor for operations.

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