New beginnings: Welcoming CU Boulder's new faculty and leaders
As the 2025–26 academic year begins, the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) welcomed new faculty and academic leaders with orientations designed to provide support, spark connections and create a sense of place at CU Boulder.
New faculty orientation: Building a foundation
On Aug. 14, OFA hosted CU Boulder’s annual New Faculty Orientation, bringing together 149 new tenure-track, teaching and clinical faculty.
Chancellor Justin Schwartz opened the day by outlining his vision for a campus grounded in collaboration and community, and highlighting the campus priorities for this year, which include the success of all of our students, a focus on excellence in research and creative work, sustainability and aligning our operations with our mission. Provost Ann Stevens expanded on this outlook, emphasizing the university’s commitment to fostering faculty success in teaching, research, creative work and service.
Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs Michele Moses highlighted the wide range of resources available to help faculty thrive, including a Canvas course that serves as an information hub and a “who’s who” directory of new faculty.
Attendees also joined a plenary discussion on shared equity leadership and Thriving at CU breakout sessions focused on teaching, research and creative work, and student mentoring. These sessions offered practical guidance while also encouraging cross-disciplinary connections and new networks of support.
Interactive elements added to the day’s spirit of community. The second annual Buff Besties session provided a lighthearted space for new faculty to get to know one another, and the Faculty Resource Fair showcased more than 20 campus offices offering assistance on everything from research computing to public and community-engaged scholarship to recreational and well-being resources.
The orientation concluded with small-group conversations with deans, followed by a welcome reception co-sponsored by Faculty SPACE, OFA’s signature community-building initiative.
Academic leaders orientation: Charting leadership journeys
Orientation also extends to those assuming new academic leadership roles. On Aug. 12, the Academic Leaders Institute (ALI) hosted over 40 department chairs, associate chairs, program directors and deans at the 12th annual New Leaders Orientation.
The day featured opening remarks from Stevens, who expressed her gratitude to the attendees for their dedication to advancing the university’s mission and supporting the work of their teams and units.
This was followed by discussions of what it means to be a leader and how the Professional Rights and Responsibilities (PRR) document supports a positive working environment, as well as reflections from experienced leaders. Waleed Abdalati, director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; Sarah Jackson, dean of the Division of Social Sciences; and Pat Ferrucci, chair of journalism, shared their perspectives on the challenges and rewards of leadership, underscoring the value of learning alongside peers.
Presentations throughout the day offered practical tools and strategies to help new leaders guide their units with confidence, bolstered by ongoing support from OFA and other campus resources.
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Looking ahead
Both orientations celebrated new beginnings for faculty and academic leaders, fostering engagement, collaboration and stronger connections across campus.
“Whether you are beginning as a faculty member or stepping into a leadership role, the key to our thriving community is how we support one another and collaborate with colleagues to help make the campus a place that feels like home for our students, staff and faculty alike,” said Moses.
These sessions are just the beginning. More information about the resources OFA offers, as well as professional development and community-building opportunities, is available on the OFA website.
Questions? Email facultyaffairs@colorado.edu for more information.