Excellence in Leadership Program
Overview
The (ELP), hosted by the CU System Employee Services Office, providesÌýan exceptional opportunity for faculty and staff from the four CU System campuses and System office to becomeÌýeffective leaders. ELP fellows participate in a nine-month (August–April) program designed to broaden their understanding of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado and to develop the skills necessary to be a successful leader. CU Boulder has supported program participation by more than 200 faculty and staff since 2002.
Faculty Nomination Process
Staff and faculty nomination and selection processes are separate. The CU Boulder faculty nomination and selection process occurs in the spring semester. CU Boulder selects eight faculty fellows annually. Ìý
Eligible nominees are tenured faculty who have demonstrated both their commitment to the ³Ô¹ÏÍø and their potential as future leaders. They may or may not currently serve in a leadership position.
Deans nominate faculty by February 7 by email to Merinda McLure, Faculty Director of Academic Leadership Development. Faculty are encouraged to indicate to their respective deans their interest in being nominated (faculty self-nominations are not accepted). Merinda McLure begins notifying selected fellows and their deans by April 30. Ìý
Program Commitment
Participation in the program is a significant time commitment that begins with a two-day retreat in August and runs through April. Fellows participate in a full schedule of workshops held throughout the year at the four CU campuses and the Denver CU System office (see, for example, theÌý; dates vary annually). Fellows also commit to a schedule of monthly conversations (September–April) with CU Boulder senior leaders, held on the CU Boulder campus.Ìý
Meet the ELP Alumni
- Bryan Semaan, Chair and Associate Professor, Information Science
- Tony Kong, Program Director, Organizational, Leadership & Information Analytics PhD and Professor, Organizational Leadership & Information Analytics
- Suzanne Magnanini, Chair and Associate Professor, French and Italian
- Alaa Ahmed, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Bri-Mathias Hodge, Associate Chair and Professor, Electrical, Computing & Energy Engineering
- Jennifer Ho, Director, Center for the Humanities and Arts and Professor, Ethnic Studies
- Phil Fernbach, Chair and Professor, Marketing
- Elina Day, Assistant Dean of Budget and Finance, College of Communication, Media, Design & Information
- Kellen Short, Director of Executive Communications, Strategic Relations and Communicatons
- Lauren Petersen, Executive Assistant to the ³Ô¹ÏÍø and Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Regina Tirella, Senior Director of Support and Safety Measures & Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance
- Stephanie Gillin, Associate Dean for Administration and Finance, Leeds School of Business
- Stacey Schulte, Chair and Teaching Professor, Environmental DesignÌý
- Reece Auguiste, Chair and Associate Professor, Critical Media Practices
- Amy Bauer, Associate Dean for Instructional Development and Teaching Professor, Law
- Mandy Cole, Associate Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø for Budget and Planning, Budget and Fiscal Planning
- Elizabeth Dutro, Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty, Education
- John Evans, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Curriculum and Associate Professor, Ann and HJ Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
- Marlon Lynch, Associate Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø for Public Safety, Public Safety
- Kevin Mahan, Professor, Geological Sciences
- Erika Randall, Associate Dean for Student Success and Professor, Theatre & Dance
- Caroline Sinkinson, Director Learning and Engagement Team and Professor, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Libraries
- Kylee Thomas, Assistant Director for Events, Protocol and Outreach, Office of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Zack Tupper, Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Resource Management, Provost's Office
- LA Varela, Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Support & Enrichment, Office of Undergraduate EducationÌý
- Alexia Brunet Marks, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor, Law
- Cindy Thill, Assistant Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Health and Wellness, Strategic Resources & Support
- Ed Van Wesep, Professor, Finance
- Jacqueline Loya, Events and Outreach, Office of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Jeff York, Chair, Social Responsibility and Sustainability and Professor, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Operations
- Jennifer Fluri, Chair and Professor, Geography
- Leila Heil, Associate Professor, Music
- Lynne Howard, Program Coordinator, Boulder Faculty Assembly
- Megan Welsh, Associate Professor, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Libraries
- Peter Hamlington, Chair and Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Robyn Fergus, Chief People Officer, Human Resources
- Samantha Hertenstein, Program Director for Academic Review and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Faculty Affairs
- Shideh Dashti, Associate Dean for Research and Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental & Architectural EngineeringÌý
- Max Boykoff, Chair and Professor, Environmental Studies
- Lindsey Fell, Executive Assistant to the ³Ô¹ÏÍø, Office of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Carrie Howard, Assistant Dean for Budget and Finance, Music
- Amy Javernick-Will, Professor, Construction Engineering Management
- Stacy Lindholm, Assistant to the Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø for Infrastructure & Sustainability
- Caitlin Manning, ADA Coordinator and Director of ADA Compliance, Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance
- Vicki Nichol, Controller, Office of the Campus Controller
- Austin Okigbo, Chair and Associate Professor, Music
- Hanspeter Schaub, Chair and Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences
- Scott Skinner-Thompson, Associate Professor, Law
- Rick Stevens, Chair and Associate Professor, Media Studies
- Juleah Swanson, Lead and Associate Professor, Acquisition and Accounting Services Section
- Dan Zhang, Interim Chair and Professor, Strategy, Entrepreneurship & OperationsÌý
- Margaret Berg, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor, Music Education
- Rebecca Fell, Executive Director, Real Estate Services
- Darren Chavez, Manager of Provost’s Office Operations, Academic Affairs
- Orrie Gartner, Interim Deputy CIO and Director of IT Infrastructure and Engineering, Office of Information Technology
- Nils Halverson, Department Chair and Professor, Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences
- Amy Lenahan, Executive Assistant, Office of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Christine Lv, Professor, Computer Science
- Jennifer McDuffie, Associate Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø, Division of Student Affairs
- Merinda McLure, Lead, Research Engagement Section & Health and Human Sciences Librarian and Associate Professor, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Libraries
- Donna Mejia, Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor, Theatre & Dance
- Nathalie Moyen, Division Chair and Professor, Finance
- Sean Shaheen, Professor, Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering
- Anu Sharma, Professor, Speech, Language & Hearing SciencesÌý
- Emina Begovic, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Resource Management, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Community
- JB Banks, Dean of Students and Associate Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø, Student Affairs
- Brandon Boger, Director, Environmental Health & Safety
- Susan Jurow, Director of EPIC Teacher Educaion and After-School Program and Professor, Learning Sciences & Human Development
- Rebecca Kuglitsch, Branches & Services Team Lead and Associate Professor, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Libraries
- Abbie Liel, Professional Engineer and Associate Professor, Center in Global Engineering
- Julie Lundquist, Graduate Advisor and Associate Professor, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
- Helen Norton, Chair and Professor, Law
- Llen Pomeroy, Assistant Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance
- Hillary Potter, Associate Dean for Inclusive Practice and Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies
- Katrina Spencer, Associate Vice ³Ô¹ÏÍø, Finance and Business Strategy
- Tony Tong, Chair and Professor, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Operations
- Ka Yong Kleiner, Program Director for Academic Review, Communications & Strategic Initiatives, Office of Faculty AffairsÌý

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ELP News Stories
- April 16, 2025 -
- Dec 23, 2024 - Excellence in Leadership Program nominations open through Feb 7
- Aug 28, 2024 -ÌýAnnouncing the 2024–25 Excellence in Leadership Program fellows
- Jan 26, 2024 -Ìý
- Jan 11, 2024 -Ìý
- Dec 14, 2023Ìý-
- Aug 25, 2023Ìý- 13 faculty, staff selected for Excellence in Leadership Program
- May 12, 2022Ìý-
- Feb 4, 2022Ìý-
- Dec 5, 2019Ìý-