Faculty in Focus

Leigh Holman to lead commencement ceremony as new marshal

Megan Maneval — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:22:56 +0000

Leigh Holman to lead commencement ceremony as new marshal Megan Maneval Tue, 11/19/2024 - 13:22

Leigh Holman, director of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Eklund Opera program, has been named the new commencement marshal.

Holman, a CU �鶹ӰԺ alumna who has been with the university for 15 years, replaces Bud Coleman who has led the spring commencement ceremony since 2018.

“On behalf of our entire college, we're proud of Leigh Holman assuming the role of the university's next commencement marshal,” said College of Music Dean John Davis, also noting Holman's transformative role as director of the college's highly regarded Eklund Opera Program and New Opera Workshop (CU NOW).

"Leigh's work advances our mission to develop multiskilled, multifaceted universal musicians with flexible career options, thereby also amplifying momentum toward more interdisciplinary collaborations across our campus. In that spirit, as commencement marshal, Leigh perfectly represents not only the College of Music, but also our increasingly interconnected campus community.”

The role of commencement marshal is mostly behind the scenes, until the day of the ceremony when Holman will be front and center on stage before thousands of graduates and their guests. It’s a role she relishes and is excited to take on.

“As a performer, I feel comfortable being on stage. And part of the job of being commencement marshal is emceeing the event, so I feel very comfortable in that role,” she said.

“The main thing I’m excited about is being a part of this special day for our students, a day that hopefully they’ll never forget.”

Holman took some time to talk with CU �鶹ӰԺ Today about herself, her time at CU �鶹ӰԺ and her new role as commencement marshal.

Director, Eklund Opera Program

I am the director of opera for the College of Music, and that means I’m the director of the program administratively, but I’m also the resident stage director. I am in charge of working with my team to cast shows, choose the operas we will be performing and, more importantly, I come up with the vision for the show…what it’s going to look like, what it’s going to feel like and what the characters will be like.

So I’m really a storyteller, and I use acting and visual elements on stage to tell that story. That’s what a stage director does, and that’s my role here at CU.

New Opera Workshop

In the summer we have a program that I started called the New Opera Workshop (CU NOW). It’s a really exciting program where we bring in opera composers who are working on new projects and pair them with our wonderfully talented students who then bring the opera’s characters and the music to life. So the composers get to work on their project in a beautiful setting here in �鶹ӰԺ, and our students get the opportunity to work with some of the most renowned creators of opera in the world.

Road to CU �鶹ӰԺ

My grandparents went to CU �鶹ӰԺ in the 1920s. After graduating—my grandmother graduated too, which was almost unheard of back then—they moved to Tennessee. When I was growing up, we lived in Tennessee but my grandparents had moved back to Colorado, so we went to visit them every summer.

After completing my undergraduate and graduate degrees and working for a while, I decided that I wanted to teach voice and direct operas. I had a few schools on my list, and CU was one of them. So, in my 30s I went back to school and got my doctorate. After teaching at the college level for a few years and working with Opera Colorado, I came to work at CU �鶹ӰԺ. I feel very lucky to have my dream job. It’s pretty awesome to be a teacher where my grandparents went to college.

Passion for singing and opera

I’ve been a singer since birth. I think the first time I ever sang in public I was 4 years old, and I sang the song “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.” I’ll never forget it. I was a voice major in college where I studied classical music. I am a mezzo soprano, which is fun because it is one of the lower soprano voices, so you get cast in roles such as witches. So I sang, went to college to study voice and started doing opera. And then after college, I did opera professionally.

People would be surprised to know…

I think people would be surprised that I ride a motorcycle. One other thing…When I was in high school I was a Congressional page in Washington, D.C. I was from this little rural town in Tennessee, and I was asked by my Congressman to come to D.C. to be a page. I served during the end of the Carter administration.

Leigh Holman, director of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Eklund Opera program, has been named the new commencement marshal.

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Celebrating Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar and CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Green Labs program

Megan Maneval — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:47:27 +0000

Celebrating Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar and CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Green Labs program Megan Maneval Thu, 11/14/2024 - 13:47

Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar, CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Green Labs program manager, was honored with the Phil Wirdzek Leadership Award at the 2024 International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) conference—the institute’s highest honor.

Theresa Nahreini, director of the Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility, and Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar discuss sustainability and collaborating with the Green Labs program.

”Financial incentives from Utility & Energy Services through Green Labs have helped our cell culture core facility purchase energy-efficient biosafety cabinets. We also utilize other opportunities initiated by Green Labs including recycling No. 2 and No. 4 plastic film wrappers and participating in solvent reuse. Environmental Health & Safety transports uncontaminated ethanol collected from INSTAAR cold traps to us that is then diluted to 70% ethanol, which we use to decontaminate work surfaces within our lab. Both actions reduce waste, and the ethanol re-use also saves our facility money.” –Theresa Nahreini

This award celebrates her commitment to transforming research labs into models of sustainability, from CU �鶹ӰԺ to campuses worldwide. Through her leadership, CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Green Labs program has become a national benchmark for environmentally responsible lab practices, making it easier for researchers to work sustainably.

"CU �鶹ӰԺ has long been a leader in sustainable research practices, and this success would not be possible without the expertise and passion from Kathy's team as well as the long-term partnership the Environmental Center has held with the Infrastructure and Resilience staff," says Chris Herr, director of the CU �鶹ӰԺ Environmental Center. "Kathy and the Green Labs program have been the inspiration and model for so many programs popping up around the country, and this award further solidifies her incredible contributions to this emerging field."

How Green Labs supports researchers and the environment

Under Ramirez-Aguilar's leadership and in partnership with campus stakeholders, the CU �鶹ӰԺ Green Labs program helps research teams identify ways to have a big impact with individual lab changes:

Cold storage efficacy: Improved freezer practices save labs energy, lower costs and protect research samples.
Efficient lab practices: Equipment and chemical sharing across labs reduces waste and saves research dollars.
Call to action challenges: Campaigns like Shut the Sash for fume hoods keep labs safe and energy efficient.

Driving global change

Ramirez-Aguilar's work has not only advanced CU �鶹ӰԺ’s labs but also has played a vital role to inspire a global movement:

The International Freezer Challenge, co-founded by Ramirez-Aguilar, has saved millions of kilowatt-hours of energy worldwide.
As chair of the I2SL University Alliance Group (UAG), she brings lab sustainability professionals together to share Green Labs best practices and lead efforts to embed sustainability into scientific funding.

Why it matters

Ramirez-Aguilar's work is a reminder that research and sustainability go hand in hand. Thanks to CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Green Labs program, campus researchers have increased awareness of the large resource and environmental footprint of laboratory research and are engaged to make choices that protect both their research and the environment. These choices and innovations are often shared outside CU �鶹ӰԺ, inspiring and influencing change for sustainability at other research campuses.

Want to learn more?

Visit the CU �鶹ӰԺ Green Labs website to find out how you can join this movement for a more sustainable future!

Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar, CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Green Labs program manager, was honored with the Phil Wirdzek Leadership Award at the 2024 International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories conference.

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He will, he will rock you

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:09:30 +0000

He will, he will rock you Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:09

Pursuing a passion for music, CU �鶹ӰԺ economist Murat Iyigun transforms from recognized expert on economics of the family and economic history to regional rock star with a growing musical reputation.

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Building bridges between �鶹ӰԺ and Ukraine

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:03:48 +0000

Building bridges between �鶹ӰԺ and Ukraine Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/20/2024 - 13:03

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

CU scholar Rai Farrelly is partnering with English language teachers in Ukraine this semester through a U.S. Department of State program.

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Incoming CMCI faculty bring new ideas on AI, identity, culture

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:53:54 +0000

Incoming CMCI faculty bring new ideas on AI, identity, culture Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/23/2024 - 09:53

College of Media, Communication and Information

The College of Media, Communication and Information's incoming professors bring an interest in cutting-edge topics at a time when the media landscape is undergoing dramatic change.

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Professor Angela Bryan wins 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize

Anonymous — Fri, 03 May 2024 19:12:33 +0000

Professor Angela Bryan wins 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/03/2024 - 13:12

Rachel Sauer

Angela Bryan, a CU �鶹ӰԺ professor of psychology and neuroscience who is nationally renowned for her innovative health and cannabis research, has been named the 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize winner.

The $20,000 Hazel Barnes Prize is the largest and most prestigious single faculty award funded by CU �鶹ӰԺ. It was established in 1991 by former Chancellor James Corbridge in honor of the late Hazel Barnes, a longtime CU �鶹ӰԺ professor of philosophy, to recognize “the enriching interrelationship between teaching and research.”

Nominees are regionally and nationally recognized, tenured faculty members who are not only outstanding teachers, but who also have distinguished records in research and scholarship. The Hazel Barnes Prize selection committee is comprised of past recipients.

“For more than 20 years, Professor Bryan has contributed her knowledge, creativity and care to advance CU �鶹ӰԺ and improve the health of individuals and communities,” said Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “She is a role model for students and her peers, and she is most deserving of this year’s Hazel Barnes Prize.”

Bryan, who joined CU �鶹ӰԺ in 1999, is co-director of CUChange, a center for health and neuroscience, genes and environment, which conducts transdisciplinary research to explore the psychological, neurocognitive, physiological, genetic and epigenetic factors that are linked with health and risk behavior.

Bryan and her CUChange colleagues pursue research exploring the full range of influences on health and risk behavior. An overarching goal is to allow better tailoring of behavioral interventions to increase health behavior, decrease risk behavior and ultimately decrease morbidity and mortality and increase quality of life.

Bryan also is a faculty fellow in the Institute of Cognitive Science at CU �鶹ӰԺ and faculty in the Centers for Neuroscience at both CU �鶹ӰԺ and the CU School of Medicine. She is a member of the CU Cancer Center and the Nutrition and Obesity Research Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

“(Her) capacity to teach and mentor so effectively seems to proceed from her genuine desire and ability to share the strengths that have allowed her to develop into a successful researcher, teacher and mentor,” noted Cinnamon Bidwell, co-director of CUChange and a CU �鶹ӰԺ associate professor of psychology and neuroscience.

“Her investment in her own work has not diminished her capacity to help those around her develop, but rather has provided the foundation for it.

“As such, the characteristics that have made Professor Bryan a successful scientist are the same that have made her a great mentor: her scientific creativity and love of her work, her ability to organize and structure this creativity into specific tasks and timelines, her capacity to appreciate and consider others’ ideas and her facility to distinguish ideas that have strong potential for translation into grant applications and publications from those that do not.”

Bryan’s research has included monetary incentives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, the effects of marijuana on running workouts, the effects of exercise on older adults’ brain function and the protective effect aerobic exercise may have on heavy drinkers’ cognitive function, among many other topics.

She is principal investigator on several ongoing National Institutes of Health-supported research projects, including one focusing on exercise adherence and cognitive decline, with an emphasis on engaging with the Black community to develop and test a goal-setting and exercise intensity intervention.

A main thrust of her research has focused on a transdisciplinary approach to the study of health and risk behavior, and the development of theory-based interventions to improve health behaviors including physical activity and healthy diet and reduce risk behaviors including unsafe sexual behavior and substance use.

She and her research colleagues in recent years have deeply focused on the public health implications of cannabis legalization, studying harm reduction in the context of high potency cannabis concentrates and the potential influence of cannabis on the obesity epidemic as well as potential benefits of cannabis on anxiety, pain, opiate use and the amelioration of side effects due to cancer and its treatment. They also study the relationship of cannabis to physical activity and the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use among older adults.

Bryan also is noted for her passionate commitment to teaching and mentoring: “Angela is the most supportive, inclusive and available faculty mentor—with a focus on promoting inclusive excellence in and serving as a role model for women faculty and scholars—I have ever encountered in academia at large,” noted June Gruber, a CU �鶹ӰԺ associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, in recommending Bryan for the prize.

“Not once have I ever sought out advice from Angela and not had her respond immediately and with great care and thought.”

Angela Bryan, who is nationally renowned for her innovative health and cannabis research, has been named the 2024 Hazel Barnes Prize winner. The prize is one of the top most distinguished awards a faculty member can receive from CU �鶹ӰԺ.

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Meet the commencement marshal Bud Coleman

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:27:12 +0000

Meet the commencement marshal Bud Coleman Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/18/2024 - 12:27

Greg Swenson

Editor’s note: This article, originally published in 2022, has been updated to reflect this year's information.

As the calendar turns to April, many people on the CU �鶹ӰԺ campus start to think about the end of the spring semester. That means finals, summer break, internships. For some, it also means graduation.

There’s nothing like stepping out in front of thousands of people on a bright, beautiful Colorado sunny day.”
–Bud Coleman

And for Bud Coleman, the CU �鶹ӰԺ commencement marshal, it means crunch time is here. Coleman, who took on the role of commencement marshal in 2018 from Jim Williams, relishes his role as the leader of the campuswide commencement ceremony.

A professor in CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Department of Theater & Dance, Coleman is no stranger to having a leading role. Trained as an actor and dancer, he has performed in front of large audiences. But, he says, there’s something magical about leading a ceremony that brings such joy to all in attendance. Coleman took some time to talk with CU �鶹ӰԺ Today about his role as commencement marshal and to share his knowledge about everything commencement.

Leading the ceremony

There’s nothing like stepping out in front of thousands of people on a bright, beautiful Colorado sunny day. Actually I do get nervous, but I’ve told myself for years that if I get to the point where I’m in front of an audience and I’m not nervous, then it’s time to stop. Nervous just means that I care and I’m going to channel that energy into a positive experience for the people who are there. I actually like the nervousness.

The marshal’s role

My role as commencement marshal is mostly behind the scenes, until the day of the ceremony. I work with a committee to help plan the main ceremony, in addition to 74 recognition ceremonies this year, where individual colleges, schools, departments, programs, and groups can celebrate their graduates. When it comes to putting on all of these events, there is no dress rehearsal. You have to hit it absolutely correct right out of the gate, and that takes an enormous amount of planning. It’s a real team effort.

For the graduating students reading this, you recently received an email from the commencement office with information you need to know to be ready for the commencement ceremony. Please respond so that we are all set for you on May 9.

Time as commencement marshal

On this campus, the word marshal and Jim Williams were synonymous. Jim was the marshal for 27 years before he retired in 2017. Several years ago the chancellor approached me about replacing Jim when he retired. I appreciated the chancellor’s faith in me and I accepted.

My first year was 2018, and it was a picture-perfect Colorado day. The next year it snowed. Then of course we had to go virtual in 2020 and 2021. We were all excited for our graduates and their families to be able to return to Folsom Field in 2022 to reconvene our in-person commencement ceremony.

Bud Coleman leads the commencement procession

The 2022 commencement procession

The best parts of ceremony day

Seeing the students greet each other on the Norlin Quad as we assemble by schools and colleges is one of my favorite campus rituals. During the procession to the stadium you can sense the excitement among the students as we march toward Folsom. For many students this will be the first time they have been down on the field, even though they may have been going to football games for years.

Once everyone is seated, you see the sea of graduating students on the field, and you look up in the stands and see their families and friends. Nothing is better than that.

The mace

There is not one direct origin story of the mace, though its use goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. We do have documentation that during Medieval times and certainly by the Renaissance, town hall meetings would begin with somebody banging a large staff to get the attention of those in attendance. As maces became more elaborate, the tradition of banging them on the ground ceased, and the use of the gavel began instead.

The mace I use during the commencement ceremony is a work of art, made of gold and silver and Colorado walnut. When it is not being used, we keep it in what we call the coffin, a rectangular box meant to preserve and protect it.

Academic hoods

Part of the pageantry the audience will see are the academic hoods, which now look like elaborate collars on the graduation gowns. Once again, these have a history going back to the Renaissance.

Some universities had already been around for a while, but this is the time when students began to specialize in individual fields, as opposed to having a general college degree. To differentiate these different foci, various colors were selected to identify the individual academic disciplines. That’s why you’ll see a lot of variety in the hoods that are on academic gowns, because they reflect the academic discipline the person is from.

Robes

The robes themselves also have quite a bit of variety. For example, you’ll see no stripes on the sleeves for the undergraduate students, two stripes for master’s degree students and three stripes for the doctoral students. Some schools have different colored robes, too, so when you observe the faculty, you’ll see quite an array of robe colors representing the institutions where they got their doctorate.

(Learn more about academic dress for CU �鶹ӰԺ graduates.)

Norlin Charge

At the end of the ceremony, the Norlin Charge is read. I tear up every time. These words have been spoken at the �鶹ӰԺ commencement ceremony since 1935, and I hope the students see this as a link to the past, to the 300,000 CU �鶹ӰԺ graduates who have proceeded them.

Commencement means commencing, looking forward. One of the great things about the Norlin Charge is asking the graduates to not only think about the future, but to also recognize the richness of the past, and that they are all now connected as alumni.

The seal on a University of Colorado diploma contains the image of a lamp in the hands of youth. “If its light shines not in you and from you, how great is its darkness! But if it shines in you today, and in the thousands before you, who can measure its power?”

Sign up to volunteer at commencement

Volunteer for a variety of opportunities to be part of this important day, from helping manage the procession to providing guest golf cart transportation.

Advice for graduating students

Take in these last few weeks. We are so fortunate to be here in this beautiful place. Take a moment to recognize we are a part of the continuum of students, faculty and staff who make up CU �鶹ӰԺ, and what an honor it is to be a part of this university community.

Faculty and staff: Please join the ceremony

I enthusiastically encourage our faculty and staff to join us for commencement on May 9 in order to experience the joy of seeing their work come to fruition. What they do helps our students, so commencement is an opportunity for them to share in the joy as well. The invitation is there. You are part of the CU �鶹ӰԺ family, come help us celebrate!

Bud Coleman relishes his role as the leader of the campuswide commencement ceremony. He discusses what it's like to lead––plus his favorite parts of––the event. He also shares background on some of the commencement traditions, including the mace and academic hoods.

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The head—and the back—of the class

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:39:19 +0000

The head—and the back—of the class Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/17/2024 - 13:39

Harsha Gangadharbatla loves the challenge of inspiring students who sit in the last row of the lecture hall. His attention to his craft and his classes led to a prestigious teaching award from the American Academy of Advertising last month.

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Robert Hill’s laboratory for thought

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 19:55:32 +0000

Robert Hill’s laboratory for thought Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/09/2024 - 13:55

College of Music

Retiring Professor of Harpsichord Robert Hill reflects on his career, the College of Music’s universal musician mission and the academic community as “a formalized laboratory for thought.”

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The buzzworthy bee research of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Dr. Sammy

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:01:37 +0000

The buzzworthy bee research of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Dr. Sammy Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 03/15/2024 - 10:01

Assistant professor Samuel Ramsey’s contributions to the study of bees have been substantial. And it was a trip to the library that helped start his path to becoming a foremost expert in his field.

Assistant professor Samuel Ramsey’s contributions to the study of bees have been substantial. It was a trip to the library that helped start his path to becoming a foremost expert in his field.

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Faculty in Focus

Leigh Holman to lead commencement ceremony as new marshal

Director, Eklund Opera Program

New Opera Workshop

Road to CU �鶹ӰԺ

Passion for singing and opera

People would be surprised to know…

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How Green Labs supports researchers and the environment

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Why it matters

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Meet the commencement marshal Bud Coleman

Leading the ceremony

The marshal’s role

Time as commencement marshal

The best parts of ceremony day

The mace

Academic hoods

Robes

Norlin Charge

Advice for graduating students

Faculty and staff: Please join the ceremony

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The head—and the back—of the class

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Robert Hill’s laboratory for thought

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The buzzworthy bee research of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Dr. Sammy

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