A Message From the Dean
Hi Leeds Community,
What an unprecedented year! None of us would have been able to imagine the events that have transpired over the past several months. That said, we at Leeds are doing everything we can to lead our faculty, staff, and students through this uncertainty.
Thank you for your ongoing support. The commitment and resiliency shown by the entire Leeds community is incredible.
Stay healthy, stay connected, and Go Buffs!
Sharon Matusik, Dean, Leeds School of Business
Help Job-Seeking Students
We’ve heard from many of you, looking for ways to support our students and soon-to-be graduates. The economic disruption of COVID-19 presents a tremendous challenge for those seeking job opportunities, particularly at the beginning of their professional career. In response, we’ve launched two programs to support our students entering an uncertain job market; see below.
Adopt a Business Buff
The initiative matches job-seeking students with alumni who can assist with networking and job placement. Volunteers are matched with students based on common career interests. Alumni then serve as mentors and job search catalysts for these students, leveraging their own professional and personal networks to make connections and help students find and secure positions amidst the added challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sign up here.
Micro-Internships
In order to ensure our students are able to continue building critical professional skills during these unprecedented times, Leeds is launching a new micro-internship program. If your company has any type of project they could use additional help with—from a two-hour project to a four-week commitment, among other tasks— we can connect you with the student(s) who are best suited for these short-term roles. Post your project here.
Handshake
Handshake is a career management system which employers can utilize to post jobs and internships, request on-campus interviews, register for events such as career fairs, and network with Leeds students and alumni. If you have positions available for our students and graduates, please list them here.
Ways to Give
Buffs Together
CU Boulder launched a campaign called Buffs Together to rally the campus community in efforts to assist fellow Buffs and others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university is committed to helping students, staff and faculty navigate financial hardships due to the pandemic by matching up to $1.6 million of gifts to relief funds for students, faculty and staff (see below). The initiative also connects Buffs to volunteer opportunities related to supporting those impacted by the pandemic.
Student Emergency Fund
The COVID-19 epidemic has created time-sensitive needs and hardship for some students. Many are wondering whether they can afford to continue their education, or even pay rent or buy food. This fund helps students in need pay bills due to lost wages, secure technology for remote learning, and gain access to food and health care. Make a gift today.
Staff and Faculty Emergency Fund
Provide direct financial assistance to staff and faculty who have been impacted by the coronavirus. The fund assists CU employees with help gaining access to food, housing and healthcare. Give today.
CU Volunteer Resource Center
All Buffs are invited to help our community during this difficult time by sharing their resources, whether that's giving time, talent or a monetary donation. The Volunteer Resource Center has relevant information and resources to help students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of CU who are interested in giving back to the community as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore opportunities to give back.
Help for Entrepreneurs Through COVID-19
The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship is helping entrepreneurs and small businesses during this crisis by providing connections to mentors, insights from our faculty, and eventually through student support on projects. Learn more.
More Ways to Help
HUMANkind
The HumanKind network connects volunteers with local organizations and individuals seeking aid. They help bridge the university community across Colorado and those who have been impacted by the COVID-19.
Colorado Covid Corps
The University of Denver is partnering with other universities across Colorado to create a program to connect essential jobs and essential workers. Their mission is help stabilize the economy by filling essential jobs with those out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Webinar Series
CU Boulder and Leeds are hosting a series of webinars featuring relevant, informative commentary from a variety of world-renowned faculty and alumni from disciplines across CU Boulder. Each presentation will provide frank and timely insights for life during and after the pandemic from their specific lens.
Webinar Series 8 Lineup
View Previous Presentations
April 21 Hazards and Disasters in the Context of COVID-19: Implications for Marginalized Communities
April 20 Economic Recovery Taking Shape
April 14 Why GameStop? Why now? A theory of all-in investors and unstable asset prices
April 16 Death, Discipline and Digital Resistance: How Black Youth Leverage Technology to Survive and Resist Anti-Black Racism
April 13 Self-Amplifying RNA Vaccine for Prevention of COVID-19
April 12 COVID-19 Hot Topics for Employers in 2021
February 19 COVID-19 Hot Topics for Employers in 2021
February 17 Managing a High Growth, Better-For-You Snack Company During COVID
February 12 The Epidemiology of COVID-19: One Year Later
February 10 Creating a Dynamic LinkedIn Profile that Encourages Engagement in the Midst of COVID-19
February 1 SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Just one in a series of viruses jumping from animals to humans
February 2 Characterization and Control of Bioaerosols in the Built Environment in the Age of COVID
Faces of Leeds – COVID Edition
Uplifting stories of Leeds Buffs helping others during the pandemic.
Alexis-Brooke “A-B” LoBianco (Mgmt’21)
When COVID-19 impacted the campus community, A-B leveraged her student government experience to work directly with Dean Sharon Matusik as the head of her student task force, the COVID Cabinet. Learn about A-B and other Leeds undergraduates.
Sangati Shah (Mgmt'23)
Graphic Design Artist for CU Boulder Housing and Dining Services
When the FGX trips were canceled due to COVID-19, Sangati coordinated a virtual cooking class with Learn from a Chef, so everyone could get a taste of cuisines from the countries in which they were planning to travel. Read about Sangati and other Leeds undergraduates.
Beth Schwartz
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the Leeds School of Business
When the campus went remote as a result of COVID-19, Beth was inspired to use her passion for fitness to lead weekly virtual workouts for Leeds faculty and staff. Read more about Beth and other faculty and staff.
Casey Bergeron (HRMgmt ’17)
Clinical Programs Manager at DaVita
Dialysis patients are some of the greatest at risk of COVID-19. Casey Bergeron and her team at DaVita Kidney Care have been working tirelessly to make sure these specific patients get the care they need during the pandemic. Learn more about Casey and other alumni.
Daniel Knowles (Fin & Info Mgmt’22)
When sophomore Daniel Knowles and two of his friends began to notice the effect of COVID-19 on the local businesses of their hometown of Boulder, they started brainstorming ways to help their community and founded GyftCO. GyftCO connects struggling Boulder businesses to the greater community by providing an outlet for them to sell discounted e-gift cards to customers. Read more aboiut Daniel and other Leeds undergraduates.
Andrea Straccia
Director of Leeds First-Year Experience
When CU Boulder announced the creation of First Year Academic Experiences for incoming students in fall, Andrea’s team expanded Leeds’ Residential Academic program and onboarding to support the success of Leeds’ entire class of 2024.
Ryan McMunn (Mktg and Mgmt’02)
CEO of Tricam Industries, CEO and founder of BRIC Language Systems, and founder of Leroy Street Capital
After Ryan and his wife experienced and recovered from COVID-19, they wanted to help others. They sourced hundreds of masks and donated them to UCHealth Boulder, the Anschutz Medical Campus, and to teams at their own businesses. Read more about Ryan and other alumni.
Tracy Jennings, PhD, MBA
Senior Instructor and Teaching Professor
When Leeds faculty needed to transition their classes online and reduce the spread of the virus on campus, Tracy quickly stepped in to support her colleagues by offering remote teaching trainings, creating an online content resource hub and more. Read about Tracy and other faculty and staff.
Resources for Job-Seekers
Have you lost your job or otherwise been impacted by COVID-19? Your Leeds network is here to help. View resources below.
Join ForeverBuffs
Use this secure messaging platform to network with Leeds alumni, students, staff and faculty in your community who share your interests. Sign up today.
Join Handshake
Utilize this comprehensive online career resource for CU Boulder alumni and your connection to all things career-related. Take the next step in your career.
Alumni Career Services
Access quality career management resources throughout every stage of your career. CU Boulder Career Services offers a wide variety of services as well as events and webinars focused on career development. Explore these resources.
Meet With an Alumni Career Advisor
Get one-on-one virtual assistance from an advisor in your job search or career transition. Schedule a remote appointment today.
Alumni Virtual Job Search Group
The staff at CU Boulder Alumni Career Services recognize the employment challenges that many alums are facing right now due to COVID-19, and we want you to know that we are here to support you as you navigate this difficult time. Your fellow Buffs are also here to help you in your job search. Groups are held weekly from 12–1:00 p.m. MT (adjust for your time zone). Click here to register and join.
Social Impact Resources
CESR is dedicated to supporting Colorado’s social impact economy and has compiled resources to help students, sustainability professionals and businesses manage the impact of the pandemic. See the list.
Graduate Programs at Leeds
Now may be the time to consider working toward an advanced degree as our economy and job market recover from the unprecedented scenario we are currently facing. Leeds has six specialized MS programs, including two online MS programs, and an Evening MBA Program for working professionals, to advance your career.
Real Estate Resources for Students and Professionals
The CU Real Estate Center has curated resources, including articles, webinars and opportunities to connect to help professionals and students prepare for an uncertain future in real estate. See more.