Alumni Events

On May 8, University of Colorado Denver leadership, alumni, faculty, and friends gathered at Denver’s Mile High Station for the 2025 Alumni Awards ceremony—a night dedicated to recognizing the extraordinary impact of CU Denver alumni in their professions, communities, and the world.

Alumna Marta Spirk ’12 (pictured at right) emceed the event and opened with a warm welcome to distinguished guests, including Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Márquez and Justice Carlos Samour Jr. '87. The program continued with remarks from Chancellor Kenneth T. Christensen, who noted that a student’s time on campus represents the first few years of a lifetime relationship with the university. “CU Denver is a community that will always be there for you,” he said, adding, “As Chancellor, I am fully committed to ensuring that your pride in CU Denver is well deserved and continues to grow.” 

This year’s awards recognized alumni from each of CU Denver’s seven schools and colleges, as well as two university-wide honors: the Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award and the Mack Easton Distinguished Alumni Award.

College & School Distinguished Alumni Awards

Robin Thurston MS '99 (Business School) 

A non-traditional student at CU Denver, Thurston went on to become co-founder MapMyFitness and later CEO of Outside Interactive. Dean Martin Dunn (speaking on behalf of Business School Dean Scott Dawson) lauded Thurston as a “visionary entrepreneur who doesn’t just follow the trail—he blazes new ones, often on two wheels and usually at high speed.”

Julie Vanden Berg Snow '70 (College of Architecture and Planning)
Interim Dean Marc Swackhamer recalled Vanden Berg Snow as “an unparalleled architect” whose firm, Snow Kreilich Architects, earned the American Institute of Architects’ highest honor, the AIA Architecture Firm Award. He praised her ability to “bring joy to her work” and her influence as a designer, educator, and innovator.

Antonio Cicarelli '03 (College of Arts & Media)
Dean Lucinda Bliss highlighted Cicarelli’s resilience and drive in crafting an entrepreneurial and successful career in Hollywood as a creative director in motion graphics and design. “Now he wants to inspire others to persist on their pathways to success.” Bliss said, noting Cicarelli’s desire to connect with current students to help them launch their careers. 

Albert Ruckman '70 (College of Engineering, Design and Computing)
Dean Dunn offered a memorable tribute to Ruckman organized around “Nails, Peaches, and Passion.” He credited Ruckman’s invention of the Soil Nail Launcher with transforming geotechnical engineering and praised his continued mentorship—even in retirement as a peach farmer in Palisade. “Al, your journey is a testament to the power of a CU Denver education and the remarkable impact our alumni make across disciplines and around the world,” Dunn remarked.

Daniel Gilbert '81 (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
Interim Dean Rich Allen described Gilbert, now a professor at Harvard University, as “one of the most influential psychologists of our time.” Known globally for his best-selling book Stumbling on Happiness and TED Talks garnering more than 35 million views, Gilbert received accolades for his trailblazing research on the science of happiness and for representing what Allen described as “the best of what a CLAS education offers.”

Jordan Arellanes MA '15 (School of Education & Human Development)
Dean Marvin Lynn praised Arellanes’s commitment to equity, representation, and social change in his roles as researcher, educator, and advocate. Through his work on Latine populations, mental health, and the power of culturally responsive mentorship, “he’s not just shaping minds—he’s reshaping systems,” Lynn remarked.

Brandy Reitter MPA '08 (School of Public Affairs)
Dean Paul Teske called Reitter “a fearless, energetic, and impactful leader,” noting her service as city manager in several mountain communities as well as her critical role in expanding broadband access statewide as Executive Director of the Colorado Broadband Office. Her leadership, Teske said, has already had a “major positive impact on our state and local communities.”

University-Wide Honors

Donalyn White '16, MA '19, MA '22 (Graduate of the Last Decade Award)
Dean Allen returned to the stage to honor White, a psychology graduate now pursuing a PhD in Cultural Studies while working to bridge the worlds of mental health, education, and cultural studies. “Donalyn’s work lives at the intersection of guidance, growth, and cultural understanding,” Allen said, further adding, “Donalyn’s journey reflects everything we value in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: curiosity, service, and a commitment to lifting others up.”

Nga Vương-Sandoval '98, MCJ '02 (Mack Easton Distinguished Alumni Award)
Described by Dean Teske as “an amazing representative of our campus and so much more,” Vương-Sandoval was honored for her leadership in international human rights, refugee advocacy, and public policy. “She has done so many things that there is barely time to touch on all of them,” Teske said, citing her work at the UN, her founding and leadership of Refugees + Immigrants United, and her success in recognizing Lunar New Year as a Colorado state holiday.

As the ceremony concluded, Spirk invited attendees to reflect on the significance of the evening: “We hope you go home tonight knowing a little more about our exceptional alumni community—and with even more pride in your hearts for CU Denver.”

For more about the Alumni Awards and this year’s honorees, visit CU Denver Alumni Awards or submit a nomination.