June 2009

Dear Friends,

Philip P. DiStefano

On my first outreach tour of Colorado as chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Yvonne and I drove 1,300 miles in a Prius to visit seven Colorado communities in four days in southern, western and southwestern Colorado May 27-30. We visited with citizens, community leaders, alumni, parents, lawmakers, prospective students, donors and local media in La Junta, Salida, Gunnison, Durango, Montrose, Grand Junction and Basalt in a tour we took in conjunction with the CU-Boulder Alumni Association.

We were joined by two students, Razan Naqeeb and Bryant Mason, who spoke of their academic work, civic engagement and overall experience at CU-Boulder. Time and again I heard that if these two young people represent our average students, then the state of Colorado is in good hands. The fact is, there are thousands of students like them on campus.

Students Razan Naqeeb and Bryant Mason and Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs Julie Wong pause for a quick photo in Basalt on the Colorado tour.

Razan is a junior from Superior majoring in economics with a minor in political science who volunteers as a tutor with the I Have a Dream Foundation in Boulder County. Bryant is a junior from Fort Collins majoring in environmental studies and economics who is active in environmental and food sustainability programs. Both are Puksta Scholars, a CU-Boulder scholarship program that encourages civic engagement as a key part of learning.

It is because of students like Razan and Bryant that CU-Boulder was one of only three colleges or universities to earn the U.S. President's Award for General Community Service and why we are consistently ranked among the nation's elite in this area.

Just last week, the National Survey of Student Engagement in partnership with USA Today listed CU-Boulder as a top school for student civic engagement among doctorate-granting universities with very high research activity.

USA Today, June 10: "Searching for Signs of Engagement"

In addition, a joint project by USA Today and The Princeton Review last week ranked CU-Boulder among the 100 "best values."

USA Today, June 10: "100 Best Value Colleges for 2009"

Tom Cech, 1989 Nobel laureate in chemistry, discusses the importance of teaching and the future of biomedical research with CNBC. Watch video >>

World-class faculty support our students

CU has become known for its Nobel Prize winners teaching undergraduate courses. The 1989 Nobel laureate in chemistry, Tom Cech, has returned to CU to teach freshman chemistry this fall after serving as president of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He also leads our Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology, which advances patient care and medical technology. Please enjoy this interview from just last week that aired on CNBC's "Squawk Box" in which Professor Cech is interviewed by distinguished CU-Boulder graduate and journalist, Joe Kernen.

CNBC, June 11: "Creating Medical Miracles"

The mysterious 1934 disappearance of explorer Everett Ruess was solved with help of CU-Boulder researchers. Watch video >>

The power of biotechnology to solve complex problems and blunt public health disasters was evident this spring as swine flu became a sudden global threat. The FluChip, a high-tech flu test developed at CU-Boulder, can quickly confirm swine flu or other identified rogue strains. It will be in the hands of public health departments in the upcoming flu season and is one example of how transferring CU technology to the marketplace can have a major impact on both the health and economy of our society.

The Denver Post, April 29: "State awaits flu test results"

While our research improves lives and advances society, once in a while we also solve a good old-fashioned Western mystery to close out an incomplete chapter in history. Two hundred media outlets picked up on a CU anthropological investigation on the 1934 disappearance of Everett Ruess, including The New York Times.

New York Times, April 30: "A mystery of the West is solved"

From space to the classroom

Astronaut John Grunsfeld went from the Hubble Space Telescope to the CU-Boulder classroom when he confirmed his acceptance of a faculty position in an email from space. He repaired Hubble and installed a CU-designed instrument on the telescope during May's Atlantis mission. He will conduct research and teach in our astrophysical and planetary sciences department.

Astronaut John Grunsfeld is now headed to the CU-Boulder classroom to teach. (Photo/NASA)

Discovery Channel, May 22: "Astronaut lines up new gig"

I'm also pleased to report that senior Jenny Barringer was named the nation's top collegiate female athlete in track and field by the prestigious Honda Sports Awards, an honor which automatically nominates her as Collegiate Women's Athlete of the Year in all sports.

CBS4, June 11: "CU's Barringer voted best in track and field"

Summer at CU-Boulder is defined by 7,541 students taking summer classes and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival on campus July 1-Aug. 15. Time magazine has called it one of the top Shakespeare festivals in the United States. Please come visit our beautiful campus for the 51st season of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. I look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Philip P. DiStefano, Chancellor
University of Colorado at Boulder