Profile

CU’s Leslie Leinwand helped develop the first drug for an incurable heart disease, sold two companies for billions and founded a thriving biotech institute. She’s just getting started.

Bruce Bromberg (Anth’88) and his brother Eric founded Blue Ribbon Restaurants in 1992, and prioritized leading their employees in a productive and welcoming environment. Some staff members remain with them more than 30 years later.

Marsha Ivins (AeroEngr’73) is a retired astronaut who has participated in five missions to space. This year, she was selected as a 2024 inductee for the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in the industry.

In Southern California, Jamie Seward (PolSci’97) leads Repeat Roses, a zero-waste solution for event florals. Past clients include the Super Bowl and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.

A decade after graduating, Michael Washington (Jour’12) longed for the outdoor community he had found at CU Boulder. In 2022, he left his career in the music industry to become founder and CEO of Usal, a community-based program helping Los Angeles residents participate in unique outdoor activities, workshops and trips.

Chancellor Phil DiStefano has seen CU Boulder go through plenty of ups and downs over the past 50 years. Now, as he prepares to take on a new chapter, he reflects on his time as a Buff.

​​Ally Chapel (ArtHist’14) started an all-female New Orleans-style brass band called Brass Queens. She adopted the colors black and gold for her band in CU’s honor.

How international cycling’s best-kept secret learned to lead from behind.

Assistant professor Samuel Ramsey's research includes bee behavior, ecology and evolutionary biology.

Janine Davidson is president of Metropolitan State University of Denver. Before transitioning to a higher education career, she was appointed by former President Barack Obama as the 32nd undersecretary of the U.S. Navy.