Faculty Profile

The Stories that Sustain Us: Phaedra Pezzullo's Unique Approach to Sustainability

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:30:53 +0000

The Stories that Sustain Us: Phaedra Pezzullo's Unique Approach to Sustainability Anna Tolette Mon, 03/10/2025 - 14:30

Joe Arney

When you’re trying to change the world — in Phaedra C. Pezzullo’s case, by improving the environment — you need more than scholarly publications to create impact.

It’s why one of her favorite stories involves the fact that her first solo-authored book, Toxic Tourism, inspired the lyrics to a punk-rock song by the band The Holland Dutch.

“Something like that reaches people in more profound ways than just talking about policy or politics,” said Pezzullo, CU Boulder communication professor in the College of Media, Communication and Information (CMCI).

In early 2025, Pezzullo opened CMCI’s Sustainability and Storytelling Lab. And while an academic lab in a formal university setting may sound out of step for someone whose work galvanizes protesters and inspires musicians, she sees it as an exciting next step in the shifting conversation around sustainability.

“The lab is already becoming a space where people from a range of disciplines who study sustainability — students, staff, faculty and community partners — can build relationships and consider the role of storytelling in the field,” she said.

“Something like that reaches people in more profound ways than just talking about policy or politics.”

As with any university lab, creating high-impact learning opportunities for students is key.

Activist Becomes Academic

Pezzullo’s formative educational experiences inspired her teaching philosophy. While a graduate student at the �Թ�� of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she interviewed activists and community members in Warren County — known as the birthplace of the environmental justice movement — where landfill toxins were poisoning the water source serving a predominantly Black community.

Listening to their voices and adding her own to the cause helped Pezzullo to see how a single story could unlock millions of dollars to clean a landfill. Cleanup work began as she completed her studies.

“I became hooked on stories,” she said. “When we put storytelling into practice in service of complex problems, like sustainability, we discover why communication is captivating.”

It’s part of why Pezzullo doesn’t limit her storytelling to scholarly publications. Her public-facing work on sustainability includes a podcast, Communicating Care, where she explores sustainability issues like plastic bag bans, disability justice and environmental treaties with other voices from the field.

One of these voices was Emy Kane (IntlAf’13), managing director of Lonely Whale, an organization that raises awareness about and offers alternatives to problematic plastics through partnerships with brands and engagement with companies, scientists and the global youth movement.

“When we put storytelling into practice in service of complex problems, like sustainability, we discover why communication is captivating.”

“What inspired me most about Phaedra is her commitment to sharing stories borne from empathy and action,” said Kane. “I’m thrilled to see my alma mater support her platform and research so that the next generation of leaders are equipped with the stories they need to reimagine the systems that run our world.”

Conversations on the podcast helped inform Pezzullo’s 2023 book, Beyond Straw Men: Plastic Pollution and Networked Cultures of Care, which won three national book awards. Highlighting success stories, she said, is important to counteract the defeatism and fatalism that typically accompany sustainability stories — and she’s seeing such sentiments rising, even in her classroom.

Oftentimes, in the wake of a victory, “people point out just how much is still wrong with pollution, with our climate, with the world,” she said. “Success isn’t that there won’t be more disasters — it’s that, with more thoughtful choices, future disasters may be less impactful. And that is a more challenging story to tell.”

Science Demands Better Stories

Amid news of rising temperatures, invasive microplastics and melting glaciers, it might seem frivolous to talk about sustainability in terms of good storytelling. But experts argue that we’ve struggled to make progress on environmental issues because the deeply scientific nature of these problems makes it hard for the general public to relate.

Robert Cox — Pezzullo’s mentor at UNC Chapel Hill, where he remains an emeritus professor — credited his protégé with laying the basis for how understandable stories can change the course on climate.

“All the work being done to communicate climate science in the public sphere is now being talked about in terms of relatable stories that demonstrate the impact of climate change,” said Cox, a three-time president of the Sierra Club environmental organization and co-author (with Pezzullo) of a textbook on the discipline. “Those stories resonate far beyond just the pages of an academic article. Phaedra’s work really laid the basis for the importance of narrative, of storytelling, to make complex environmental issues approachable.”

“Success isn’t that there won’t be more disasters — it’s that, with more thoughtful choices, future disasters may be less impactful. And that is a more challenging story to tell.”

In her lab, Pezzullo is searching for that impact by forging partnerships within CMCI and CU Boulder to bring different kinds of expertise to the challenge of impactful storytelling — something she’s already doing as director of the university’s graduate certificate in environmental justice. She’s lectured at universities across the globe and has collaborated extensively with Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment on climate change. In the meantime, she and her students build digital “story maps” that illustrate how Colorado communities are affected by environmental and climate injustice.

Pursuing Stories with Confidence

Independent reporter Anthony Albidrez (MJour’24) took a foundational course in environmental justice with Pezzullo to better understand how journalism supports sustainability through storytelling and rigorous news reporting standards.

Because of his class experiences, Albidrez turned a course project about a stream cleanup in Honolulu, where he lives, into a report detailing how the local unhoused population was blamed for a mess that, when cleaned, amounted to 16 tons of trash being removed from the Makiki Stream.

“I don’t think a group of homeless people can drag tons of trash into a streambed, but from my research, they were receiving the brunt of the blame,” Albidrez said. “Phaedra’s course helped give me the confidence to go beyond the government numbers and explanations and find the real story.”

Pezzullo’s ability to encourage that sort of intellectual curiosity is what Cox most appreciates about her impact. Though he’s quick to credit her with pushing the boundaries of their field, Cox most admires how Pezzullo has guided the next generation of thinkers as they seek to advance sustainability through storytelling.

“So many of her students are pursuing academic, business and nonprofit work in this area, and that speaks to her strength as a mentor,” Cox said. “She is such an unselfish person in terms of contributing her labor to the field of environmental communication — and that’s the kind of champion a story like this needs.”

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Illustrations by Scott Bakal

Professor Phaedra Pezzullo aims to make sustainability issues more relatable by integrating storytelling into environmental communication.

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Spring 2025

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�Թ�� Schwartz Discusses CU Boulder's Sustainability Efforts

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:46:52 +0000

�Թ�� Schwartz Discusses CU Boulder's Sustainability Efforts Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:46

What do you want people to understand about sustainability?

Sustainability is the most pressing issue facing humankind in the 21st century. We need to ensure that human life continues on the planet in a manner that gives everyone the opportunity for a life worth living. There is a misconception that sustainability is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) issue — that it’s a problem for scientists and engineers to solve. But sustainability is a human challenge. Our failure or success will affect each of us, and we must work together across disciplines to implement solutions.

CU Boulder will soon welcome its first vice chancellor for sustainability. How will this position influence future campus efforts?

I am thrilled that we’ve hired Andrew Mayock, chief sustainability officer for the federal government since 2021, as our inaugural vice chancellor for sustainability. I’ve charged Andrew with advancing CU Boulder’s reputation for bringing climate solutions to life. As the “face of sustainability” for our campus, he will take an inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to build on our legacy and make CU Boulder a household name for sustainability impact across Colorado, the United States and around the globe. I know he is eager to get started!

How can alumni and friends of CU Boulder get involved in sustainability efforts?

We’re always looking for partners who are willing to share their insights, time and financial support to advance CU Boulder’s vision and support our incredible sustainability-focused research and teaching. You also can be an ambassador for CU Boulder in your own communities — tell your friends, neighbors and prospective students about what we’re doing in sustainability! Explore how you can minimize your carbon footprint and address issues of concern in your own cities. If you are an employer, you can also engage with CU Boulder on implementing climate action strategies in your company or workplace.

In five or 10 years, what evidence will show that CU Boulder has advanced in sustainability?

As a campus, we will pursue some “quick wins,” while also working on priorities that take more time and effort. I want to see CU Boulder lead the charge in making Colorado the most sustainable state in the nation. In the coming years, we’ll aim to advance both climate education and the implementation of solutions across the United States and beyond, transforming the way higher education drives sustainability.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

�Թ�� Schwartz reveals the importance of a collaborative approach and the role of alumni in advancing climate action and sustainability on campus and beyond.

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Spring 2025

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Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:05:30 +0000

Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:05

Kelsey Yandura

Azza Kamal wears many hats — besides teaching sustainable planning and urban design in CU Boulder’s Environmental Design (ENVD) department, she is an urbanist, policy researcher, and licensed architect in Egypt with a passion for building better and just cities. Her work tackles some of the toughest challenges in urban planning — housing instability, affordability and equitable development — while incorporating cutting-edge geotechnology and a commitment to social and environmental sustainability.

What is sustainable planning and urban design?

Many factors affect sustainability — walkability, resource allocation, population density and the relationship with cars and the transit system. Sustainable planning examines how these factors intersect and addresses policy gaps that impact how and where people live, how they move around the city and the cost for all of this.

What is the link between social and environmental justice and sustainability?

Sustainability without social equity is a problem for everyone. It drives up costs — when we design and build beautiful, green-certified buildings, they often become unaffordable for large portions of the population. This exclusion can increase our carbon footprint, even as we aim to reduce it. Balancing housing affordability with sustainability is complex. We need to ensure we’re not just adding asphalt and concrete but creating livable, environmentally sound spaces that meet the needs of both people and the planet.

What’s an example of these consequences?

When there isn’t enough affordable housing near transit hubs and jobs, low- and moderate-income individuals often have to live farther from their workplaces. This leads to long, costly commutes, which can consume 60% or more of some households’ income while also increasing emissions. Everyone should have access to high-quality, healthy, walkable communities designed with strong environmental policies.

What is the solution?

Developers must be aware of community needs, supported by policies that ensure underserved populations benefit from sustainable, high-quality development. Both affordability and sustainability should be lenses for every project we build and every policy we create at the city and state levels. Otherwise, we risk solving one issue while exacerbating another. It’s complicated to advocate for these policies, but educating students to become thoughtful planners is essential. This is how we can move things in the right direction.

What major changes have you witnessed in urban planning?

For years, local governments have approached urban planning in silos — different departments working independently without much connection. But in the last 10 to 15 years, as we’ve seen more tangible impacts of climate change, cities have begun to adopt a more connected approach. Departments of sustainability are looking at the built environment from a holistic, performance-centered approach: how developments are shaped, how people move to jobs, schools, goods and service areas and how infrastructure interacts with sustainability goals. This perspective is crucial if we’re going to design resilient cities for the future.

What does your day to day look like at CU?

My primary role is teaching and research, but I’m also part of an interdisciplinary team addressing housing affordability in the Mountain West. When I arrived at CU Boulder in January 2024, we received a seed grant to model affordability forecasts for Boulder County. We’re analyzing data to understand what areas are affordable, how the housing market is behaving and the characteristics of households in different areas. This research supports future policies that promote equity in housing access.

What other policy gaps are you addressing in Boulder and across Colorado?

Colorado has made strides in emissions reform, particularly through policies tied to some typologies of affordable housing like ADU [Accessory Dwelling Units] and minimum parking requirements. But the state hasn’t yet measured how impactful these changes are and whether they suffice growing demand for low-cost housing or whether they meet the target emission reduction. That’s the next step — quantifying their effects. This spring, I’m working with students to study developments around transit hubs. We’ll analyze how reducing parking requirements impacts density, increases non-car commuting and reduces CO2 emissions.

What drives you to make an impact?

Justice for everyone. Developing according to the status quo might be easier and faster, and often more profitable, but it eventually harms us all. We must approach development with social and environmental justice in mind, ensuring that those who need affordable housing don’t fall through the cracks. High-quality, affordable housing should be the norm, not the exception. That’s far more important than flashy, high-end buildings.

What brought you to CU Boulder?

Colorado is known for its high quality of life, and the Environmental Design program is multidisciplinary, focusing on social and environmental justice. It’s one of the best programs for educating students on these critical issues. CU also attracts a high percentage of out-of-state students, giving it a broader impact. I see this as a privilege — I get to mentor students who will carry these lessons back to their communities and make meaningful changes wherever they practice.

How does technology fit into your work?

Technology is a powerful tool for planners. For example, we can use virtual and augmented reality to engage communities in urban design projects. When people see realistic models of proposed changes, they’re more likely to support them. This type of community engagement fosters trust and collaboration, helping us create solutions that reflect real needs and concerns.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Although my work seems complex and high-level, it’s rooted in connectedness — every decision we make impacts what we build, how we build and whom we build for. If we don’t consider these connections, we risk falling short of our goals. Teaching this can be challenging because it does not rely on linear thinking, as it involves so many intersecting factors, but I’m optimistic that multidisciplinary collaboration will equip the next generation with the skills and perspectives to make a real and lasting difference.

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Photo by Patrick Campbell

CU Boulder's Azza Kamal discusses balancing affordability and sustainability in urban design.

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Spring 2025

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Welcoming the Wolf to Colorado’s Western Slope

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:48:21 +0000

Welcoming the Wolf to Colorado’s Western Slope Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:48

Dan Oberhaus

On a cold morning in December 2023, Joanna Lambert found herself surrounded by five gray wolves on Colorado’s Western Slope. For most people, this sounds like the stuff of nightmares. But for Lambert, a professor who teaches animal ecology and conservation biology at CU Boulder, it was a dream come true.

“I was so close to the wolves, I could smell and hear them,” Lambert said. “The whole experience was just extraordinary.”

For the first time in over 75 years, gray wolves were about to set foot on Colorado soil, marking the first time an endangered and federally protected species was reintroduced to its native habitat by a democratic vote. And this historic occasion was due in no small part to Lambert’s tireless — and often thankless — work advocating for this misunderstood apex predator.

The “Big Bad Wolf”

Lambert was elated as she watched the wolves bound across the snow-dusted field. But as the last wolf disappeared into the Coloradan wilderness, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety. After a decades-long career studying and advocating for endangered species worldwide, Lambert knew that releasing these wolves into the Rockies was just the beginning. The true test would be whether humans could learn how to co-exist with the wolves — and she had every reason to be worried.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, North America was home to millions of gray wolves whose habitats stretched from modern Mexico into the Canadian north. The largest of any dog species — technically known as Canis lupus — gray wolves were despised by settlers, who viewed them as a threat to their livestock, big game, and personal safety.

“Western settlers brought all these myths and legends about the ’big bad wolf,’” said Lambert. “There’s something about gray wolves that evokes more fear, dread and loathing than any other species I have ever worked with.”

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, settlers systematically tried to exterminate gray wolves in the region. Their programs were devastatingly effective, and by the time gray wolves were officially listed as an endangered species in the mid-1970s, only a few hundred breeding pairs remained in the lower United States.

A vote decides

When Lambert arrived at CU in 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had recently delisted gray wolves as an endangered species in the Northern Rockies. This sparked controversy among conservationists, who argued that gray wolf populations were nowhere near the levels needed to justify delisting.

“Colorado is arguably the best place in the U.S. to reintroduce gray wolves,” Lambert said. “We have around 20 million acres of protected public lands, the most abundant elk population anywhere in the country, and a prime location to enable full latitudinal distribution.”

The lack of government support particularly troubled Mike Phillips, director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, who was previously a state senator of Montana and former biologist with the National Park Service. When Lambert arrived in Boulder, Phillips was cooking up a plan to put the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado to a state vote.

Lambert jumped on board and spent the next five years working with a political campaign team of scientists, nonprofit partners, pollsters, lawyers and citizen volunteers known as the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project (RMWP). By 2019, RMWP had enough signatures to get the initiative on the 2020 General Election ballot. Along with several RMWP colleagues, Lambert herself delivered those signatures to Colorado’s secretary of state.

She was also a spokesperson for the campaign. “Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be in television ads for a political campaign,” reflected Lambert. “I’m happiest in wild landscapes running around after animals, and there I was in the trenches of a campaign.”

The result was Proposition 114, which was voted into law by Coloradans in 2020. Beginning in 2023, it committed the state to releasing around ten gray wolves per year for the next three to five years.

Into the wild

The initiative was a landmark moment for ecological conservation, and it passed by the narrowest of margins — 50.9% in favor. When considering why some would be opposed to the measure, Lambert says that a lot of the opposition stems from concerns about personal safety (though gray wolves almost never attack humans) and impact on livestock producers.

For Lambert, these concerns echo the fears that once nearly drove gray wolves to extinction.

“We’ve lived with wolves and other apex predators through virtually all of our evolutionary history,” said Lambert. “That’s one thing humans are very good at — we’ve got a big brain and the tools to cope. It will just take time to attenuate the inherent fear that many folks have about these predators and to relearn how to share a landscape with them.”

Today, one of Lambert’s major research initiatives is investigating the different evolutionary trajectories of gray wolves and coyotes, the closest living genetic relative to the gray wolf. Unlike gray wolves, coyotes are increasingly co-existing with humans in urban environments. The question for Lambert is why, and the answer may have a lot to teach conservationists about how to tilt the odds in favor of successfully reintroducing the gray wolf throughout the American West.

In the meantime, Lambert believes that Colorado taking the reintroduction of gray wolves into its own hands bodes well for future conservation efforts in the state and across the nation. The journey, however, could be a long and winding one. In August, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials announced that two of the gray wolves released last year — along with three of their pups — would be relocated following a spate of attacks on livestock that local ranchers blamed on wolves.

While Lambert acknowledges this was a blow, she doesn’t see the relocation as a setback and says it’s important to keep sight of the bigger picture.

She says fewer than 0.01% of cattle in the northern Rockies are attacked by gray wolves, and that cattle are far more likely to die from eating larkspur weeds or even being struck by lightning than a wolf attack. And the majority of the reintroduced wolves, she says, are not causing any problems.

“The fundamental reality is that we are living through the sixth extinction crisis and we must learn how to live with wildlife,” said Lambert. “We are turning into a state that represents an alternative way of thinking about how to manage wildlife, and this should be a source of hope for everyone.”

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Illustrations by Anuj Shrestha

After an 80-year absence, gray wolves have returned to Colorado. CU’s Joanna Lambert discusses the implications — and why she fought so hard to make it happen.

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Fall 2024

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CU Boulder �Թ�� Justin Schwartz Is Setting a New Pace

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:36:30 +0000

CU Boulder �Թ�� Justin Schwartz Is Setting a New Pace Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:36

Maria Kuntz

�Թ�� Justin Schwartz spoke with Coloradan editor Maria Kuntz about innovation, inclusion, sustainability and philanthropy as keys to CU’s future.

You said the chancellor position is exactly what you were looking for. Can you say more about that?

CU’s emphasis on sustainability, inclusivity and innovation struck such a deep chord. These are things I’ve been working with at every stage of my career. There was such a strong, clear commitment to create a meaningful impact. I thought, “This is what’s important to me. This is what I want for the next stage of my career.”

You told the CU Independent that you’ve spent your entire career in large, state universities because it’s most meaningful to you. What is meaningful to you about the missions of these institutions?

Large, state universities were created to democratize access to information and give opportunities to all citizens. They are meant to advance individuals for their self-betterment and also to create knowledge for the betterment of others.

So they’re empowered to discover, not just learn from what has been discovered?

Yes. We’re not teaching people what to think so much as how to think. Higher education has to be creative — it’s about fueling a different kind of conversation that leads to something new.

You’ve recently launched a search for a new position: Vice �Թ�� of Sustainability. Can you paint a picture of where CU will be in two, five and 10 years regarding sustainability?

Our goal is to advance an integrated, holistic view of sustainability across campus internally and externally so that our students, researchers and campus can have even more impact. This means putting sustainability into our curriculum and programs and asking: What does society need graduates to know and do to advance sustainability? How do we activate that knowledge? Ten years from now, I’d like the world to say, “Wow. CU Boulder was the one who helped bring together all these constituents across the country and around the globe to address the issue.”

You’re an engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. How do these identities and experiences inform your approach as chancellor?

This is a very innovative and entrepreneurial campus. Sometimes, in academia, we can be hesitant and conservative to try new things — but I want us to remember that it’s OK to fail. Many attempts at innovation don’t work the first time. For the best outcome, you probably have to experiment and experience a few false starts before you strike gold.

You’re open about your dedication to creating greater inclusion and belonging on campus. What are some of the next steps to growing and developing these areas as an institution and a community?

It’s a challenge of both culture and numbers. At many institutions, resources are poured into building numbers. However, what’s often missed is the slow, hard work of building the culture and sense of belonging needed to support those who are being invited in. Without that, inclusion doesn’t work.

We also need to reinforce the idea that inclusivity is truly including all. As a community of scholars, we should be dedicated to appreciating and giving credence to all views — which means all voices must be present and invited to speak.

I’ve heard you talk about life-work balance. What does that mean to you?

I appreciate that you said life-work balance. I tell my staff that I want them to look forward to the weekend, and I want them to look forward to Monday. I don’t want them to miss a moment with their loved ones because there’s something at work they have to do. There’s always a way around that. I have my daughter’s volleyball camp on my calendar. I want to make sure we are present where we are and that we all are where we really want to be.

You’ve been an avid triathlete for a few years, and I’ve seen your Instagram photos on area trails. Any favorite places to get outside?

There are so many great trails. I usually start on the Enchanted Mesa, then go around McClintock and the Mesa Trail. And there are so many more to explore.

You’ve jumped right into fundraising and engaging with Forever Buffs. Why is this important for CU’s future, and how can people support the university?

Beyond donations, spread the word. It’s important because we have a critically important mission to Colorado, to the country, to our students and to the world. We have too many students who would become Forever Buffs but for lack of funding. I don’t want students who belong at CU Boulder to not graduate because of finances. We also have amazing faculty doing incredible work, and breakthroughs rely on funding.

The other thing is the importance of alumni philanthropy. I want Forever Buffs to feel deeply and permanently connected to the campus. Some of the best moments in philanthropy are the connections between donors and beneficiaries. Sometimes, the stories bring tears.

You look touched. Something touched your heart just now, if you’ll share it.

I recently had a conversation with a student whose parents were well-educated, but their degrees were not recognized in the U.S. They each worked two jobs so that their two daughters could go to college, but only had money to send one to college.

However, the older daughter received a scholarship to study computer science, and the resources that were supposed to go to her went to her sister. So they both went to school.

That shows the value — that cascade effect of philanthropy. This story happens over and over again, every week.

When I talk about Forever Buffs being permanently connected with CU, it’s about remembering what got them where they are today. I’ve met so many successful alums who say: “I grew up low [socioeconomic status], and I wouldn’t be where I am in life if it weren’t for CU Boulder.”

It’s crucial to help alumni remember what it was like to be at the beginning of their journey. And that moment, when they see the impact of passing it on, is profound.

How do you envision continuing to build strong ties with communities across Colorado?

We are Colorado’s flagship institution. That means we’re the ship with the flag up high so that others can follow. CU needs to be more proactive in bringing CU Boulder across the state. We need to connect with and understand Colorado’s communities. And we need to partner with more institutions across the state and get more Coloradans excited to be CU Boulder students, alumni and supporters.

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa

We sat down with CU Boulder’s 12th �Թ��, Justin Schwartz, to find out why he says innovation, inclusion, sustainability and the power of philanthropy are keys to CU’s future.

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Fall 2024

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How Ancient Viruses Fuel Modern-Day Disease

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:23:01 +0000

How Ancient Viruses Fuel Modern-Day Disease Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:23

Lisa Marshall

Peek inside the human genome and, among the 20,000 or so genes that serve as building blocks of life, you’ll find flecks of DNA left behind by viruses that infected our primate ancestors tens of millions of years ago.

Scientists have long considered these ancient hitchhikers, known as endogenous retroviruses, as inert or "junk" DNA that were rendered harmless millennia ago. But new CU research shows that, when reawakened, they can play a critical role in helping cancer survive and thrive. The study also suggests that silencing certain endogenous retroviruses can make cancer treatments work better.

“Our study shows that diseases today can be significantly influenced by these ancient viral infections that, until recently, very few researchers were paying attention to,” said Edward Chuong, an assistant professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute.

After slipping into the cells of our primate ancestors, these invaders coaxed their unknowing hosts into copying and carrying their genetic material — passing their DNA on to future generations.

While endogenous retroviruses can no longer sicken their hosts or spread like live viruses, they can act as switches that turn on nearby genes, with both good and bad results.

On the plus side, they contributed to the development of the placenta, a critical milestone in human evolution. Chuong’s research also shows they can switch on genes that help us fight infection.

However, endogenous retroviruses also have a dark side.

Chuong’s latest study found that a lineage known as LTR10 is remarkably active in about a third of colon cancer tumors, where it appears to fire up genes that inflame cancer.

The good news: When those viral relics are silenced, the cancer-promoting genes go dark too, and tumor-shrinking treatments become more effective.

As a leading researcher in the burgeoning field, Chuong hopes that by better understanding these oft-neglected bits of the genome, scientists can come up with new ways to treat modern-day illnesses.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Tens of millions of years ago, ancient viruses infected our primate ancestors, leaving flecks of DNA that made their way into the human genome. A new study suggests these “endogenous retroviruses” may not be as harmless as once believed.

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Fall 2024

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Muriel Sibell-Wolle: Artist, Professor, Ghost Town Guide

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Muriel Sibell-Wolle: Artist, Professor, Ghost Town Guide Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/16/2024 - 00:00

Kelsey Yandura

1942

When Muriel Sibell-Wolle traded the East Coast for the foothills of Boulder in 1926, she was immediately spellbound by the region’s rich natural beauty, declaring she planned to stay "until they kick me out." She began teaching fine art at CU Boulder and went on to lead the department for nearly 20 years.

One of the first and most prolific ghost town guidebook writers in the nation, Sibell-Wolle visited and sketched over a thousand mining towns in the American West. Here, Sibell-Wolle is pictured with her lithograph “Gladstone, Colorado,” which is now part of the CU Art Museum collection.

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Photo courtesy Floyd Walters Colection, CU Heritage Center

CU fine arts professor Muriel Sibell-Wolle visited and sketched over a thousand mining towns in the American West. She is now known as one of the first and most prolific ghost town guidebook writers in the nation.

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Anthony Pham on Coaching CU Tennis: It's All �Թ�� the Players

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Anthony Pham on Coaching CU Tennis: It's All �Թ�� the Players Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/16/2024 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Anthony Pham was named Colorado tennis associate head coach in February 2021 and head coach just five months later. Since then, the team has seen a remarkable program turnaround, and they’ve become like family.

What attracted you to Colorado?

We were living in Madison, Wisconsin, and it was the thick of COVID. We were trying to figure out where to live long term. The opportunity at CU was fate. My wife is a CU graduate. When she heard about the coach opening, she said we needed to jump at it. I've never met anyone who went to CU and had a negative experience. And with the tennis program, there was so much potential.

Quickly after arriving, you became the seventh head coach in program history. How did that change your responsibilities and relationships?

I was previously a head coach at a small Division 1 school. Coaching at a mid-major compared to a Power 5 school, budgets and responsibilities are different, but that job prepared me a lot. You have to gain the players’ trust, and they have to know you always have their best interests in mind. Getting the opportunity to become head coach is something I don’t take lightly. As head coach, you’re scheduling, recruiting, doing everything an assistant coach does, but it’s tenfold. The number-one priority doesn’t change. It’s all about the players.

How do you find good people, not just good players?

We try to be as thorough as possible. The team is an extended part of my family. We spend so much time with these players. On a small team, one person can upset the balance. In terms of recruiting, we visit with them and their family. We talk to their coaches and other coaches. There are a lot of good tennis players, but there aren’t as many tennis players who are also good people and good students.

What goes into building a competitive Power 5 conference tennis program?

We focus on development. We find people for whom the best tennis is still ahead. Kids start playing tennis early, and sometimes they burn out. We want student-athletes who want to keep improving, to be part of a program that is making headway and doing things that haven’t been done before.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I empower players to know that when they play, they are prepared. They are going to compete in a first-class manner. We want to win like crazy, but it’s not all about winning. It’s about doing the right things every day. You can’t really control winning and losing, but you can control a lot of variables that go into winning. Obviously, if we don’t have success, we reassess some things and try again.

Can you coach players during matches?

If you go to a normal junior tournament as a coach, you’re not allowed to coach at all. You can only cheer. But with college, it’s completely different. We can sit on the sideline with our players and talk to them at every changeover. You have to know when to talk, which buttons to push and when to keep your mouth shut if your player is rolling.

How are the fall and spring seasons different?

Spring is the championship season. It’s when we play our dual and conference matches. Fall is shorter. It’s our developmental season. We bring a player in, and we will make some minor adjustments to their game. We start setting our standards, creating expectations with players, building the bond within the team. In the fall, we’re giving them two or three things to focus on. And the hope is when the spring season comes around, those things that were uncomfortable in the fall are now strengths.

What stands out to you about CU Athletics?

It starts at the top. Rick George is the most personal athletic director I’ve been around. At matches, he’s fired up, he knows all the players, and all the players know him. And we have great academic support, nutrition, trainers, an amazing strength coach. CU offers the best of three worlds: great location, great academics, top-notch athletics.

Can you speak to what college tennis offers that differs from training academies or private coaching?

Tennis is a very individual sport. Growing up, if you’re playing a tournament, it’s usually you and your coach or a parent. College is completely different. You’re on a team, and everyone is committed. The more you improve as individuals, the more it helps the team. When we play a match, there’s energy from court to court. Your teammates are pumping you up, supporting you. When you’re playing a tournament by yourself, whether you win or lose affects maybe a couple people. With college tennis, there are so many others affected.

What’s something you like to do off the court?

I love spending time with my wife and son. They come to all our matches, they’re great supporters. Whether I’m with our team here or my family at home, that's where I find the most enjoyment.

Interview by Andrew Daigle.

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa

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Phil DiStefano on the Lifelong Practice of Leadership

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Phil DiStefano on the Lifelong Practice of Leadership Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/16/2024 - 00:00

Philip DiStefano

In the months leading up to my retirement as chancellor of CU Boulder, I’ve had many occasions for retrospection.

The past 15 years leading this incredible campus have been among the most meaningful of my professional career. We have doubled our total research funding, awarded roughly 117,000 degrees, survived a global pandemic and made incredible strides in equity, innovation, athletics, sustainability, town-gown relationships and so much more. I leave this position confident about the state of the campus and optimistic for its future.

When I consider my background — a first-generation college student from a small steel town in Ohio — it’s easy to feel like I arrived here through happenstance.

But what I’ve come to realize over my 50-year career at CU Boulder is that leadership is within each of us. Whether in higher education, business, government or community organizations, leadership is a daily practice that requires courage, compassion, discipline, flexibility and humility. If we’re fortunate, it’s a journey that we continue every day of our lives.

Throughout my career, I’ve been inspired by those who made a commitment to self-improvement and ethical leadership throughout their lives — people like Abraham Lincoln, Malala Yousafzai and the Dalai Lama.

This spring, I had the honor of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama during a visit to Dharamshala, India, with the Renée Crown Wellness Institute and the Leeds School of Business. I traveled with students and young alumni in the Dalai Lama Fellows Program, a unique one-year fellowship that supports emerging social change-makers.

Through inspirational conversations, the Dalai Lama shared how compassion, connection and contemplation can break through societal barriers to create a more just and benevolent world.

At this stage of my life and career, I can think of no place more valuable to focus my attention than on developing compassion and ethics among the next generation of leaders. I’m excited to do that through my new role with the CU Boulder Center for Leadership starting this summer.

As the Dalai Lama reminded us, our world needs leaders of character who will bring integrity, intellect, empathy and open-mindedness to every challenge we face as a society.May we all embrace and embody those characteristics in our lifelong practice of leadership.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

�Թ�� Phil DiStefano reflects on compassionate leadership, his years at CU and a meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

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CU Wizards Bring Magic to the Science Classroom

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

CU Wizards Bring Magic to the Science Classroom Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/16/2024 - 00:00

Jessica Winter

One Saturday per month throughout the academic year, children and their families gather at CU Boulder to witness the magic of science — hosted by the university’s very own “wizards.”

The CU Wizards program, a free science-education experience for children, unofficially began in the late 1970s and early 1980s when CU physics professor John Taylor, the original “Mr. Wizard,” started presenting two to three children’s science shows each year on campus. Eventually, he began traveling to Colorado schools and presenting his science shows up to 20 times per year.

In 1987, after years of sharing his passion for science with others, Taylor handed the torch to CU professor David Nesbitt, a Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) fellow and current director of CU Wizards. Since that time, the program has expanded in funding, frequency and faculty. The monthly show typically boasts over 400 attendees and has been attended by more than 100,000 children and family members over the past 37 years.

“The shows have a different sort of energy than a kids-only class because parents also participate,” said the program’s coordinator Candice Brown in an article she penned for NIST on CU Wizards. “It’s the perfect combination — an enthusiastic young audience plus the [adults] who get the chance to be kids again — all eager, curious and interested in learning.”

While the program has grown and flourished under the leadership of Nesbitt, the “Chief Wizard,” it is still centered on Taylor’s philosophy of science education: we cannot have science without joy.

“Joy and curiosity are the fundamental reasons each of us studies science,” said Nesbitt. “Kids are naturally curious and excited about learning new things. CU Wizards is a perfect venue for professors and their graduate students to expose young scientific minds to their own joy and delight in science.”

And the program does more than entertain — it’s also helping children to view themselves as scientists. In a 2022 survey of 120 adults and children who have attended presentations, 84 percent responded that CU Wizards allowed children to better identify with scientists.

Nesbitt describes the program as “running on a special kind of magic: the goodwill of a fantastic community.” From the professors who volunteer time to prepare the presentations, to the staff, postdocs and students, CU Wizards involves a whole community dedicated to sharing the magic of science.

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Photos courtesy CU Wizards

For over three decades, CU Wizards has engaged and informed children about the wonders of science.

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Anthony Pham on Coaching CU Tennis: It's All �Թ��� the Players

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