Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Jon Leslie today announced his decision to transition from leading CU Boulder’s Strategic Relations and Communications (SRC) team. 

 

Jon Leslie

The Office of the Chancellor will be launching a national search for his successor in the coming days, with Senior Vice Chancellor Janel Forde and Dean Lori Bergen co-chairing a committee seeking a vice chancellor for communications, marketing and social media to lead the next phase of bringing CU Boulder’s story to life.

“CU Boulder has changed my life. It has been the privilege of my lifetime to serve this institution, and I am thankful to my SRC and campuswide colleagues for all we have accomplished together,” Leslie said. “I am truly grateful to Chancellor Justin Schwartz, Ann Schmiesing, Phil DiStefano, Patrick O’Rourke, Russ Moore, Sonia DeLuca Fernández and everyone at this university who has helped shape my development. In my heart, I will always be a Buff.”

Schwartz also expressed gratitude, reflecting on Leslie’s lengthy and impactful tenure. 

“I am deeply grateful for Jon’s contributions to our university during his many years of service, and I’m particularly grateful for his leadership during my first 18 months as chancellor,” said Schwartz. “I’m pleased to report that Jon will continue to lead the SRC team during the transition and will also play a highly visible role in our 150th anniversary celebration this year, supporting and transitioning a number of high-impact strategic projects in the months ahead.” 

During his time on campus, Leslie has generated a long list of accomplishments. Since joining CU Boulder in the early 2000s, he has played a central role in shaping the university’s brand and digital communications ecosystem. 

He was instrumental in the launch and rollout of the University of Colorado visual identity, the “I am a ______ Buff.” campaign, the CU Boulder Web Express content management system and the campus’s signature “Be Boulder” platform—one of the most durable university brand campaigns of the past 15 years. 

Leslie’s leadership has also driven significant advancements in digital engagement and strategic storytelling, transforming how CU Boulder connects with a broad range of local, state, national and global constituencies. 

An avid Buff with a deep belief in public higher education, Leslie has contributed to several major campus and systemwide initiatives over the years, supporting strategic planning, accreditation, student success, inclusion, innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability, brand governance and the modernization of digital infrastructure across the university. 

On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, Leslie and his team led CU Boulder’s role as co-host of the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, a pivotal point in CU Boulder’s commitment to global sustainability leadership. 

He and his team have also played a central role in the reinvigoration of the Conference on World Affairs, one of CU Boulder’s longest and most recognized public engagement traditions. Their work has included high‑profile programs with Deion Sanders (2024), Cynthia Erivo (2025) and Malala Yousafzai (2026), drawing increased student engagement in the conference and casting a positive spotlight on CU Boulder. 

Before joining the university, Leslie built a strong foundation in communications, branding and marketing through a decade of private‑sector experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English (Writing) from Towson University and pursued graduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Colorado Denver. He is also a University of Colorado Excellence in Leadership Program (ELP) Fellow.

After supporting the transition to a new vice chancellor, Leslie will serve as senior director of special projects and vice chancellor emeritus on Senior Vice Chancellor Ann Schmiesing’s team, continuing to play lead roles in the university’s 150th anniversary celebration, the Conference on World Affairs, campus shared values development, the learner lifecycle constituent relationship management (CRM) implementation, campus leadership objectives and key results (OKR) development and other strategic projects.

After the culmination of CU Boulder’s 150th anniversary celebration, Leslie will retire from the university in February 2027.