Updates on Provost Office Transition
Jul 1, 2026Dear Colleagues,
I hope you’re having a productive and rejuvenating summer and that you’re getting the chance to relax, rejuvenate, and recharge for the upcoming academic year.
Today marks an important set of transitions across the Office of the Provost. I’m writing this morning to outline our new leadership structure, welcome new colleagues to the Office of the Provost, and outline some operational details for the months ahead.
Please join me in welcoming to the Provost’s leadership team (as I introduced in May) starting today:
- Richard Allen, as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs: before his American Council on Education fellowship this past year, he has served in College of Arts & Sciences (CLAS) leadership positions, including interim dean. Rich will be in the office starting July 6.
- Faye Caronan, as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development: she also joins us from CLAS where she has been Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs. Faye will be in the office starting July 8.
- Mike Wunder, as Interim Executive Director for Graduate Education: he has led graduate education reorganization efforts this past year and has directed graduate programs in integrative biology. Mike will be in the office starting today.
Rich, Faye, and Mike are settling into office spaces on the 14th floor in Lawrence Street Center.
I also want to recognize colleagues who will continue in new and expanded roles:
- Katie Linder will serve as Chief of Academic Strategies, helping me translate CU Denver’s strategic priorities into coordinated priorities, initiatives, and actions across our academic enterprise. Katie and I will work closely to ensure that the Provost’s Office work reflects a collaborative, equity-centered, and action-oriented approach true to CU Denver’s values, culture, and aspirations as Colorado’s leading public urban research university. Katie is also on the 14th floor of the LSC.
- Beth Myers has been named Associate Vice Chancellor for Technological Innovation and Chief Information Officer. Beth will continue to provide strategic leadership in technology and technological innovation. She will lead CU Denver campus-wide IT operations, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment with the Office of Information Strategy and Services. Beth is located on the 13th floor of LSC, along with the OIT team.
- Phillip De Leon and Dave Deffenbacher will continue in their vital roles, Phillip as Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Chief Research Officer and Dave as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Research and Effectiveness; they will maintain office presences on the 3rd and 10th floors, respectively.
We welcomed our OIT colleagues to the Provost’s Office in May. I am pleased to welcome our colleagues from Honors and Leadership, led by Director Jennifer Reich; and Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, led by Director Jefferson Knight, to the Provost’s Office today.
Phillip Haisley has been appointed as the Director of Assessment & Institutional Learning in Academic Affairs. Phillip joins us from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and will be with us full-time in August. Kenny Wolf will continue to support assessment efforts and onboard Phillip throughout the fall semester.
We will post a new Provost's Office Org Chart and share that with you when it is ready. It will reflect the changes in the Provost’s Office as I outlined April 28.
Finally, on Monday, we will welcome Cheryl Graham as my full-time executive assistant, following Diane Thornton’s retirement. Cheryl joins us from the University of Colorado Boulder. Diana Kelly will continue to provide part-time support into the fall; I am truly thankful for her ongoing support.
I am grateful for your dedication and steadfast commitment to CU Denver throughout these transitions. I recognize the disruption to our work and recognize that there will continue to be questions as we settle into our new organizational structure. Over the next several weeks, I am setting aside some time for you to meet with me and ask questions, share thoughts, or just generally say hello. The first of these opportunities is on Monday July 6 from 11:30–12:30 in the Chancellor’s Conference Room (14th Floor, LSC) and by Zoom. There is no agenda; rather, simply time for you to connect with me and your colleagues, if you’d like.
As we head into the fall semester, I will be scheduling several opportunities for us to gather as a Provost’s Office staff to learn more about each others’ work and align our work with the university’s goals.
I thank you for your patience with this realignment and look forward to our work together in the weeks and months ahead.
Karen