University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson today named Tonya R. Haas as his chief of staff, effective March 3.
Haas currently serves as assistant city and county manager for the City and County of Broomfield, Colo., where she has played a key role in leading that community's transition to a city and county designation from a city form of government in 2001.
"Tonya's noteworthy experience in the public arena of city and county management, combined with her legal expertise and operational knowledge, make her particularly well-suited to this position," said Peterson. "I am delighted she has agreed to join the leadership team as chief of staff here at CU-Boulder."
"At Broomfield, I was privileged to serve a dedicated team in a time of vital transition," said Haas. "Today I am honored to join an equally accomplished team, and to be working for a truly visionary leader in Bud Peterson. I am captivated by CU-Boulder's Flagship 2030 Strategic Plan, and I am looking forward to helping the chancellor and the university implement this bold and exciting blueprint for transformation."
As assistant city and county manager, Haas manages more than 600 staff members in an organization with a $147 million budget. She plans and directs all aspects of operations and communications policies and monitors all state and federal regulation, while reporting directly to Broomfield City Manager George DiCiero.
Haas served as deputy city attorney for the City from 1993 to 2001 - and later the City and County of Broomfield - handling the legal oversight and compliance of 10 departments with a specialty in legislation, franchise negotiations, employee relations, regulatory matters and contracts. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Denver, a master's of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver and a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. She also completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
The chancellor's chief of staff coordinates the internal communication, work flow and project management for the Office of the Chancellor and serves logistical needs for the chancellor's cabinet and the Chancellor's Executive Committee (CEC). The chief of staff is a key adviser to the chancellor and serves as an important link between the chancellor's office and faculty, staff, students and external constituents.
The position also assists in policy coordination and implementation in conjunction with the Office of the President and the University of Colorado Board of Regents.
Haas is the past recipient of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Innovation in Government Award (2003). She is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations and served on the Board of Directors for the Broomfield Area Chamber of Commerce (2002-2006). She is a Colorado native and the mother of two children, Hayley, 19, and C.J., 16.
Haas succeeds Mary Jo "Joey" White, who is retiring after more than 28 years of service to the university. During that time, White served five CU-Boulder chancellors: Peterson, Phil DiStefano, Richard Byyny, Roderick Park and James Corbridge.