Dear Lynx community,

At CU Denver, our scholarly pursuits are central to who we are. Across our university, we are asking important questions and turning new knowledge into solutions that make a lasting difference. Our R1 designation, one held jointly with CU Anschutz, reflects the strength of this work and is something we should all take pride in. But, as a public urban research university, our scholarly efforts are not defined by output alone; they are defined by their impact, starting in Denver and extending outward.

Throughout the Strategic Plan Refresh process, I’ve stressed the importance of community-engaged research and creative work in service not only to our learners, but the communities we serve. One example that I believe is illustrative of existing and future impact is the long-standing partnership between Associate Professor of Anthropology Marty Otañez, PhD, and CU Denver alum Austine Luce, PhD.

Austine is the executive director of the nonprofit Consumption Literacy Project (CLP) (opens in new window), a venture that grew out of her research as a doctoral student. What began with teaching environmental science, composting, and vermicomposting food systems within local elementary classrooms has expanded into a community-based organization that includes four community gardens, more than 30 backyard gardens, a single-credit CU Denver course, community urban farming, and a middle and high school apprenticeship program, along with ongoing work with local schools (opens in new window).

Through this work, community members, from pre-school through retirement, engage with food systems, sustainability, and science in ways that are hands-on and experiential. These spaces also serve as living classrooms. For Marty, this partnership also shapes how students learn. He works to move students beyond the traditional classroom and into environments where they can apply their scholarly and creative skills, engage directly with community members, and participate in fieldwork. For others, the gardens have served as a canvas for creative endeavors, including photo and video essays and storytelling, that help amplify community voices.

Over time, this partnership has become more than a single initiative. It has developed into a model of mutual aid that can be adapted in other communities. A former CU Denver student who helped Austine design the CLP framework is now applying a similar approach in her own community off the coast of Portugal. This is a powerful reminder that when students are part of meaningful community-based engagement and research, they don’t just learn from it—they carry it forward.

Similar work is occurring in pockets throughout our university, including in integrative environmental stewardship with Associate Professor of Biology Timberley Roane, PhD, as well as in aging and behavioral sciences with Professor of Health and Behavioral Sciences Ronica Rooks, PhD. It is also present in the College of Architecture and Planning’s Technical Assistance Program,​ which is currently working with the Pines & Plains Libraries on a renovation in Elbert County. While the work may differ in form, the intention remains the same: connect what we do as a university to the needs and strengths of the communities we serve. 

As we think about how to support this kind of community impact more intentionally, we are also considering how we can extend the reach of our university’s academic excellence. This includes exploring the possibility of offering a limited set of CU Denver degree programs on the ground in India. This work remains in its early stages, but through positive discussions over the last few months, CU Denver is preparing to apply to India’s University Grants Commission for authorization. We have engaged with Faculty Assembly and Staff Council leadership and our academic deans since the start of this consideration, with broader conversations to come.

If we move forward, this effort would be guided by the same principles that shape our work here in Denver: expanding access, building strong and financially viable partnerships, and ensuring that what we create delivers meaningful impact to our learners and all of you. If successful, this initiative could create new opportunities for local CU Denver reinvestment, including support for student access and well-being.

As we look to the end of the month, and with a similar eye toward community engagement and research, I’m excited to share CU Denver’s first Research Week from April 20 to April 24, which is a new effort to highlight the research and creative work taking place across our campus. Through events such as the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Mixtape and the Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS), this is an opportunity to showcase our impact and bring the focus of our research into clearer view. 

I also recently released the second volume of my reading list. Like the first installment, it includes a mix of books and articles on topics ranging from lifelong and online learning to budgeting and leadership. 

Our scholarly pursuits reflect something fundamental about who we are. Like the Consumption Literacy Project, our academic endeavors are grounded in the needs and strengths of the communities we serve and elevate learner excellence, transforming both our students and the world around them. It is through this focus that our impact will continue to take shape, both here in the Denver metro area and beyond.