Global Leader in Residence

CU Boulder’s Global Leader in Residence initiative aims to provide students with extraordinary global perspectives on CU Boulder’s campus. Thanks to generous seed funding from the Boettcher Foundation, the program will welcome internationally recognized leaders, scholars, innovators and change makers to CU Boulder for residencies ranging from a few months to an academic year, starting in spring 2027. 

These leaders will engage students, faculty and the broader community through classroom visits, public lectures, workshops, mentoring, research, collaborations and signature university events like the Conference on World Affairs. Our goal is to expose students to diverse models of leadership and provide them with sustained opportunities to learn from leaders who have shaped policy, science, business, education, the arts, human rights, sustainability and other areas of global importance.

Global Leader in Residence 2027

The inaugural Global Leader in Residence will have an area of expertise and impact in sustainability. Due to a compressed timeline in Year 1 to ensure the residency can begin no later than the Conference on World Affairs (April 5-8), a selection committee composed of representation from the Office of Global Affairs, the Center for Leadership, faculty and university leadership will identify candidates and select this year’s Global Leader in Residence and host unit. In future years we will have a more robust and inclusive call for nominations and proposals to host the Global Leader in Residence. For campus community members with ideas of prominent individuals to be considered in Year 1, they can email jill.blondin@colorado.edu. 

2027 Selection Committee

  • Jill Blondin, Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs (co-chair)
  • Stefanie K. Johnson, Professor of Business and Director of the Center for Leadership (co-chair)
  • S. James Anaya, University Distinguished Professor and Nicholas Doman Professor of International Law
  • Andrew Mayock, Vice Chancellor for Sustainability
  • Evan Thomas, Mortenson Endowed Chair in Global Engineering, Director of the Mortenson Center for Global Engineering
  • Robert Wyrod, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the International Affairs Program
  • Ann Schmiesing, Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Professor of German (executive sponsor and ex-officio)
  • David Meens, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (ex-officio)
  • Marie Pecoraro, Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives (project manager)

Suggest a Global Leader in Residence

CU Boulder is seeking ideas from across our campus community for the inaugural Global Leader in Residence.

Suggest a leader

Suggest a Global Leader in Residence

Who should CU Boulder bring to campus?

CU Boulder is seeking ideas from across our campus community for the inaugural Global Leader in Residence.

Who are we looking for?

For the inaugural residency, we are particularly interested in individuals whose leadership and impact relate to sustainability, one of CU Boulder’s four campus priorities.

We encourage you to think broadly. A Global Leader in Residence might come from government, business, science, technology, education, the arts, civil society, philanthropy, advocacy, or another field.

Strong candidates will have:

  • Significant international leadership, influence, or impact
  • A record of meaningful work related to sustainability
  • Perspectives and experiences that would enrich learning at CU Boulder
  • Strong potential to engage students directly
  • Opportunities to connect with faculty, programs, and disciplines across campus
  • The ability to generate meaningful dialogue beyond a single lecture or event

We are interested not simply in prominent names, but in people who would engage deeply with our university community.

Who can submit an idea?

Any CU Boulder student, faculty member, or staff member may suggest a candidate.

You do not need to contact the individual before submitting their name, and a submission does not constitute a formal nomination or commitment by either the individual or CU Boulder.

You also do not need to identify a formal academic host. If a candidate moves forward, the selection committee will work with relevant colleges, schools, departments, institutes, centers, and programs to explore the best intellectual and academic home for the residency.

Suggest a leader