Employee Spotlight

Greg Potts, ME Lab Coordinator & Idea Forge Machine Shop Manager

Emily Adams — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:39:14 +0000

Greg Potts, ME Lab Coordinator & Idea Forge Machine Shop Manager Emily Adams Tue, 12/02/2025 - 15:39

I truly never saw myself or expected to be involved in education. I found the passion for machining when attending a summer course at the career development center in the summer of 1976. I started working as a machinist in the fall of 1978 in a shop I eventually wound up buying. I spent the next 25 plus years either owning and/or running machine shops – as I stated, I never envisioned myself in education. When approached by the mechanical engineering department here at CU, I was skeptical as to how I would fit. Truly, it has been a wonderful journey. I have a true passion for the process of design and creation, and I really enjoy sharing my many years of knowledge with students eager to learn, and have found it to be the most fulfilling job experience I have ever had. In February of this year, it will be my 19th year with (Rady Mechanical Engineering), and I can say it has been a wonderful journey. I enjoy the team I work with in the Idea Forge not only from a work level but also as personal friends, many of whom decided to pursue a future in teaching others as I did them. I enjoy spending time with them and respect them a great deal.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

I enjoy spending time with friends, enjoying a cold beer with conversation and laughs. Preferably hanging out on the water on a boat or hanging out in the sun by a pool.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

My favorite tradition is my family’s annual Christmas Eve crab boil. We fire up the crab pot in the garage and have a few cool ones while preparing the crab, shrimp, corn, sausage and potatoes that eventually gets dumped out on a huge table for the entire family to sit and enjoy. This is followed by the continually growing family (this is, at present time, four children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild) opening presents. Full of good food, love and laughter.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

I enjoy traveling and have been blessed to have circled the globe three separate times with trips for work that included two extended stays in Singapore and one to South Korea.

What was the first concert you attended?

I enjoy all types of music and am known for playing music all day here in my lab at CU. The first concert I ever attended was Tom Petty here at Folsom field in 1978. They used to have concerts they called super Sundays here at Folsom when I was growing up, and I enjoyed numerous concerts at Folsom back in the day.

What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?

I have literally made thousands of projects in my life, but the ones I have enjoyed the most are the ones I have made for my grandkids including a shopping cart for my granddaughter and a trailer for my grandson’s little electric raptor. The smiles on their faces when I gave them to them and the joy they get from playing with them is amazing. I have a few more years here at the university. Then plan to spend as much time in my garage building projects with my grandchildren spending time with friends and enjoying life.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

Begin nothing until you have determined how it will be finished.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on…

Tools.

Which TV show do you never miss?

I think TV is a waste of time at this point in my life, and I would much rather be doing something than watching somebody else do something. My favorite reality show is me in my garage.

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Maile Spenser, HR Generalist

Emily Adams — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:39:12 +0000

Maile Spenser, HR Generalist Emily Adams Wed, 11/05/2025 - 09:39

I recently joined the College of Engineering and Applied Science as an HR generalist in the Dean's Office. I grew up primarily in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, though I spent part of my early childhood in Japan while my father served in the Air Force.

Fun fact: I was actually born in Montana (of all places). Shortly after I was born, we moved to Japan, and my dad eventually retired in Hawaiʻi, where they still reside. Looking back, it really ended up being the best of both worlds for my family with my mom being from Okinawa and my dad from Maui. 

I have truly enjoyed the onboarding experience with the college and have received such a warm welcome from all. I admire how involved everyone is within the CU Engineering community and am inspired by the supportive and collaborative atmosphere across all departments and programs. It has been a blast participating in all of the fun events thus far, such as the fall tree tour and pumpkin carving contest. 

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, cooking and spending quality time with friends and family. Some ordinary moments in my life that bring me joy are simple mornings with coffee and long walks with our dogs.

One of the best pieces of advice I have received is to continue investing in yourself, both in your personal and professional growth. It is incredibly important to continue your learning and development, continue building your relationships, and continue taking care of your mental health and well-being.

I moved to Colorado last March with my boyfriend, Shane, and our two dogs, Leila and Koda. We have loved exploring more of the state every chance that we can get. I look forward to connecting and working with everyone in the CU Engineering community!

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Erin Dewese, Engineering Connections Managing Director

Emily Adams — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:10:42 +0000

Erin Dewese, Engineering Connections Managing Director Emily Adams Tue, 07/01/2025 - 09:10

Erin Dewese is the managing director for the Engineering Connections community and has been at the university for 14 years. She is passionate about student engagement and helping students find their community, their people and their voice while on campus. Erin is originally from California but has called Colorado home since 2007 and has worked in higher education for over 17 years in various functional areas, including student involvement, residence life, campus events, student activism, student organizations and civic engagement. She is a first-generation college graduate who earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Humboldt State �Թ�� and a Master of Education in educational leadership & policy from the �Թ�� of Utah.

What’s the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?

Reach out and let’s get coffee/tea to talk about a project, new initiative or fun event that we can work together on. After being on campus for over 14 years, one of my favorite things is getting to work with and partner with so many different departments and programs to enhance the student experience. I’m also an extrovert and enjoy getting to know new people, so any chance I get to meet someone new, count me in.

Describe one of your favorite campus traditions.

It’s hard to just pick one, so I will share my two favorite traditions on campus! First, I love getting to see Ralphie run at home football games. She really is the best mascot around! Commencement is my other favorite tradition on campus as I really enjoy getting to see students that I have worked with over the past several years finally reach the final stage in their “college career.” Having walked alongside students in their best days and most challenging moments while at CU Boulder, it is so much fun getting to celebrate this milestone with them and cheer for each of them as their names are called.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Being outside and more specifically in the mountains is my favorite place to be when I am trying to unwind and unplug, regardless of the season or weather. My family loves to go hiking, mountain biking, camping and snowboarding, and many of our vacations are centered around exploring and getting to do these activities in new places.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

I hold dear this quote as it allows for grace in learning and exploration, but also creates an expectation that you need to be better once you have a deeper understanding, new knowledge and/or new lived experiences that challenge us to be better within the communities we are a part of and the communities we are standing in solidarity with and advocating for.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I went skydiving with my 75-year-old Grandma as it was something that was on her “bucket list” and I wanted to experience that with her as my love of adventure comes from her.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on ...

Travel! I love getting to explore new places, learning about new cultures, and meeting new people. Our family is currently working on visiting and exploring all 63 national parks in the U.S.

Which TV show do you never miss?

Top Chef and Amazing Race are my favorite shows, and I love that I can rewatch my favorite seasons when there is nothing else on TV to watch.

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Arielle Click, Research Laboratory Administrative Coordinator, ChBE

Emily Adams — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:58:11 +0000

Arielle Click, Research Laboratory Administrative Coordinator, ChBE Emily Adams Mon, 06/02/2025 - 15:58

I just moved to Colorado at the end of January this year, and it's been an amazing change. After living my whole life in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area, I can't convey how great it feels to leave my windows open most of the time. I have a BS in biology and MS in bioengineering from the �Թ�� of Texas, Arlington and have worked most recently managing two labs that studied inflammation and liver disease at UT Southwestern Medical Center. I incorporate my love of biology in the collection of plants that I grow and the dogs in my family (two foster fails!). My husband and I have fostered many dogs over the years, but it is kind of nice to take a break with just our two boys while we get settled in here in Colorado.

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to CEAS?

Trevor Franklin and Katie O'Harra welcomed me so warmly when I first started. They even made me an honorary member of their "lunch club"!

How do you enjoy practicing self-care and/or community care?

To take care of myself I enjoy taking my dog/s on long walks and to take care of my community I am helping to start a "living green" program with a small group of like-minded individuals at my apartment complex.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

Going camping every Easter — rain or shine — with a large group of family friends.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

My walk down Skunk Creek Trail from the bus to JSCBB in the morning. I've seen an American Dipper (bird) in the creek multiple times; it's a lifer!

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

Marie Curie: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." I find the message helpfully grounding when I'm worried about something, and it reminds me just how important the research that we do is to help us understand our world.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Comedy — be it standup or funny movies/shows — count me in!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Donuts! Shout out to Trevor Franklin who recommended LaMar's to me 😄

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Rachel Montgomery, Faculty Development & Recruitment Specialist

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:59:56 +0000

Rachel Montgomery, Faculty Development & Recruitment Specialist Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/30/2024 - 10:59

Rachel Montgomery is the faculty development & recruitment specialist with the Office of Faculty Advancement in the College of Engineering & Applied Science. Rachel started in her role at CU Boulder at the end of May. She completed her PhD in higher education from Pennsylvania State �Թ�� last August. Rachel recently moved to Colorado from Florida, and she is excited to explore the national and state parks.

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to CEAS?

I appreciate the one-on-one conversations I have been able to have with colleagues from across the college and talking about what it is like to work at CU Boulder and live in Colorado. Getting to experience the community during the faculty & staff summer cookout was also a highlight of my first few months in my role.

What’s the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?

Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with me! Effective collaboration is built on strong communication. Please reach out via email, Teams, etc.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

I really enjoy cooking for all holidays. I have been collecting cookbooks for the last few years and enjoy the process of testing out new recipes. I do not make desserts; they have never worked out well for me.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

Having my morning coffee and watering my plants. I am open to good coffee and native plant recommendations.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

I have now lived in eight states and have had opportunities to experience some cool places. Going "home" to where I grew up in Florida (Tampa Bay) and seeing my family who live there is my favorite.

Which TV show do you never miss?

Survivor.

Photo caption: Rachel (in blue gown and tam) celebrates her PhD graduation with her parents, John and Susan, and sister Megan.

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Amy Javernick-Will, Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:43:25 +0000

Amy Javernick-Will, Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:43

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to CEAS?

I have been a “Forever Buff” – my parents are both CU alumni and have been football season ticket holders since they were in school, and I have fond memories of being a “Ralphie Stampeder” as a child. I was privileged to receive both my BS and MS in civil engineering at CU. After working as a design-build project manager in Denver, I received my PhD at Stanford. Returning to CEAS in 2010 for my faculty career was a dream come true. I felt incredibly supported and welcomed by so many, including my colleagues in the department and the construction engineering & management (research group), and my department chair at the time, JoAnn Silverstein, who paved the way for welcoming more diverse faculty to CEAS. I am incredibly honored to serve as the associate dean of faculty advancement, a role initially served by JoAnn.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

As a family, we try to eat dinner together most nights. At dinner, we each talk about what we were grateful for that day. We all feel much better after expressing their gratitude!

What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?

I am incredibly proud of many projects, but two stand out as particularly rewarding experiences due to great collaborations and the project’s impact on society. One, a project funded by NSF, I collaborated with Prof. Abbie Liel, PhD students, and a colleague in the Department of Communication, Prof. Matt Koschmann, to enhance the safety of homes and buildings in multi-hazard environments. By understanding builders’ perspectives of safety and comparing these to engineering assessments, we were able to target common misalignments. We partnered with local organizations and suppliers to conduct training and offer continued guidance at hardware stores. Another project, funded by USAID, enabled collaborations with Prof. Karl Linden, multiple graduate students, and international partners. We worked with local teams employing collaborative approaches to conduct systems analyses and target actions, such as policies, laws, and contracts, to improve the sustainability of water and sanitation services.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

"Be curious, not judgmental." - Walt Whitman. I love Ted Lasso, where I was introduced to the quote.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

I like to walk, hike, cook, play pickleball, or watch my son’s baseball or soccer games!

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Brooke Nelson, Career Advisor

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:53:49 +0000

Brooke Nelson, Career Advisor Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/02/2024 - 13:53

I grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, with my twin and older sister. Having been born and raised there, I remain a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan to this day. I went to the �Թ�� of Arkansas, where I earned a BA in English and picked up saying "y'all" all the time. After Arkansas, I moved to Boulder to get my master’s in higher education from CU. I've worked in Disability Services and Academic Advising before moving into my current role and passion of Career Advising. Outside work I enjoy traveling, reading, exploring Colorado, and spending time with my fur-baby, Murphy.

How are getting involved and/or hoping to get involved within the CEAS community?

I've served on Engineering Staff Council for the past two years, including serving as chair of the Staff Retention Committee and the council vice chair.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

Playing beach volleyball with my family in July.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

"She could rattle the stars. She could do anything if only she dared." - Sarah J. Maas. This quote always reminds me that we have the capability of making great change. We just have to have the courage to go after it.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Watching a kdrama, definitely!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

Cinque Terre in Italy! It's five connected fishing villages on the coast of Italy that my twin sister and I visited while backpacking. I've truly never met a more kind and welcoming group of people. There was so much to do there and the views were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I am also a writer in my free time and have two short stories published.

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Victoria Lanaghan, Program Coordinator, Idea Forge

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:49:40 +0000

Victoria Lanaghan, Program Coordinator, Idea Forge Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/04/2024 - 08:49

I was born in England but have lived in Colorado since I can remember. I did my undergrad at CU, where I started working in mechanical engineering as a student employee in 2008, and I’ve been here ever since. After I graduated, I spent several years working at the ITLL, and now am at the Idea Forge. I enjoy hanging out with friends, camping, seeing new places, cooking (and eating), building Legos, and have recently gotten into a summer habit of road tripping to national parks.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

My commute from Lakewood takes me along Highway 93. During the winter months, if my drive is timed right, I see the sunrise hit the Flatirons and get to watch them change from dark to purple to orange, and it is a highlight of my day whenever that happens.

Also, on a cold day, I also love getting into a toasty warm bed with freshly laundered sheets.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Spend time with friends – it doesn’t really matter what we’re doing, whether it’s camping, cooking, hiking, playing games, working on house projects, gardening, hanging out and watching Star Trek reruns, or doing nothing at all.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Well, anyone who has ventured anywhere with me is probably aware, but I have an astonishingly bad sense of direction. I can get lost making a U-turn.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on ...

Definitely gear. I love buying gear for pretty much any (often impulsively selected) expensive hobby.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Little Debbie Nutty Bars … they’re so awful and so fabulous at the same time.

Which TV show do you never miss?

Doctor Who, definitely.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

To always assume good intentions. People are all trying their best. It is easy for us to judge ourselves by our own intentions, and yet to judge other people by their observed actions. It’s important to give people the benefit of the doubt, and to assume that we are all doing the best that we can in a given situation.

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Tomoko Borsa, Facility Manager for COSINC

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2024 16:04:31 +0000

Tomoko Borsa, Facility Manager for COSINC Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2024 - 10:04

I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Colorado for graduate school. Since then, I have been living in this beautiful state. After completing my degrees — PhD in materials science from Colorado School of Mines and MS in electrical engineering from CU Boulder, I got a chance to start working on campus. I have been primarily involved in the nanofabrication and characterization field.

How are you getting involved and/or hoping to get involved within the CEAS community?

Through my work as a facility manager for COSINC-CHR, I have been assisting many research projects within the CEAS community and beyond.

What’s the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?

COSINC is one of the open user facilities on campus. So if one or more of our tools could help your project, just contact us. We would be happy to collaborate.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

It is when I'm sipping a cup of cappuccino, and it tastes good to me.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Bread baking. I feel relaxed when touching bread dough.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to, and why?

There are many places I love, but if I had to choose one, the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park would be it. Why? Maybe I fell in love with this special place. It has the most beautiful and unique rock formations, the smell of the air is gorgeous, listening to the wind sound is soothing, and I can breathe deeply.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Do not regret things you did not do. Instead, do them and regret them afterward. I usually don't regret things I did.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on . . .

Driving. I am willing to commute long distances because I like where we live. I also enjoy making road trips to various places in the West. For both reasons, my car keeps adding many miles quickly.

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Robyn Sandekian, Director of Faculty Advancement

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 17:27:47 +0000

Robyn Sandekian, Director of Faculty Advancement Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/02/2024 - 11:27

Robyn will be retiring in May after spending nearly 30 years with CU Boulder and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. For her Employee Spotlight, she reflected on the work she has done to “change the face of CU Engineering.”

I was born and raised in Denver as the youngest daughter of an engineer and a nurse. By the age of 10, I was convinced that I wanted to be an astronaut and believed that the only pathway to fulfill that dream was to become an aerospace engineer. That singular focus led me to enroll in the aerospace engineering department here at CU Boulder in the late 1980s. It thus began a four-decade relationship with the CU Boulder campus and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. By the time I graduated with my MS degree in aerospace, I had found lifelong friends and the love of my life but felt that I was no longer on the path to becoming an astronaut. I decided that what was most important to me in the short term was to increase the number of women studying engineering and to improve the culture of the college so that it would be more inclusive for those who followed in my academic footsteps. So, my first job post-graduation was as the program coordinator for the Women in Engineering Program.

Over my career, I am proud of the work that I have done to change the face of CU Engineering. I was one of the first two student assistants who worked with Dr. Miriam Maslanik, the Women in Engineering Program founder. Although that work was fulfilling, I felt that I could make a greater impact by broadening my focus to supporting all students on campus. I joined the Student Odyssey Project in 1999 and was the co-creator and founding manager of Ralphie’s Resource Center, which existed at Norlin Library in the early 2000s. Ralphie’s was “the place to go when you need to know” and we helped students navigate the maze of administrative offices and processes encountered on campus. When Ralphie’s closed due to budget cuts in 2003, I had the great fortune of returning to the College of Engineering and Applied Science. I supported the development of the college’s active learning program, and then alongside Dr. Bernad Amadei, I helped found and manage the Engineering for Developing Communities Program for 15 years.

After earning an education specialist (EdS) degree in educational leadership and policy studies in 2011, and then my doctorate in higher education and student affairs leadership from the �Թ�� of Northern Colorado in 2017, I pivoted my focus once again to supporting faculty in our college. I worked with Dr. JoAnn Silverstein, the inaugural associate dean for faculty advancement, and Dr. Bev Louie, another former leader of the Women in Engineering Program, to start to incorporate transparency and inclusive policies and practices throughout faculty hiring and promotion.

It's been a wild and unforeseen career in student and faculty affairs, but I’ve enjoyed my time working for the college. I’m ready for the next phase of life.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on . . .

Travel. My most recent milestone birthday trip of a lifetime to Cuba was canceled due to COVID. Instead, I spent my birthday two years later on a bus trip around the northern end of Ireland and, shortly after my birthday this year I’ll be moving to the island of Hawaii! Living in Hawaii has been a dream for several decades, and my wife and I decided to follow that dream upon my retirement this summer.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Snuggling in bed with my two small doggies after my alarm has gone off and I’m supposed to be getting ready for the day!

Thank you to Robyn for such an amazing career with CU Engineering! She has been absolutely instrumental in the creation and improvement of many collegewide policies and practices that benefit and support our faculty. The college wouldn't be the same without all of her dedication and hard work. The CEAS HR & Faculty Advancement team will miss her dearly.

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