Building kiosks that support small businesses in downtown Denver and using engineering to improve patient care are just a few ways soon-to-be CU Denver graduates are already helping our Denver community.
For Dania Morelli and Layla Blair, those hands-on projects also led to jobs they will begin after crossing the stage at CU Denver’s May 16 commencement ceremonies, in celebration with more than 2,200 fellow Lynx.
CU Denver Student Brings New Life to 16th Street Small Businesses
Among this year’s graduates is Dania Morelli, a master’s student in architecture whose work is already visible in downtown Denver. Through CU Denver’s ColoradoBuildingWorkshop design build certificate program, Morelli helped design and build kiosks along the revitalized 16th Street corridor. These structures provide spaces for small businesses—from Japanese-style ice cream and boba to natural skincare products—to launch and grow while also bringing more vibrancy to downtown. Her work highlights how student-led design can directly support local entrepreneurs and contribute to Denver’s economic revitalization. This project was one of many opportunities at CU Denver through which she developed the professional connections that ultimately led to a job after graduation with Gensler, a global design and architecture firm.
Inspired by Family, CU Denver Student Uses Research to Improve Patient Health Care
Layla Blair is using biomedical engineering to improve lives. Inspired by her mother’s experience with autoimmune diseases, Blair pursued a career in STEM to help develop technologies and treatments for patients facing similar challenges. During her time at CU Denver, she gained hands-on research experience in the biomedical engineering Magin Lab, where she co-authored a published research paper focused on disease modeling and explored innovative approaches to understanding complex conditions. Later this spring, Blair will begin her career as a biomedical engineer at a local health care company, where she will help repair medical devices used to diagnose gastrointestinal conditions.
By the Numbers: Spring 2026 Graduates
- More than 2,200 graduates
- Twenty-eight countries and 40 U.S. states are represented
- Approximately 63% bachelor’s, 33% master’s, 3% doctoral degrees
- Nearly 40% of undergraduate students are first-generation
###
About the University of Colorado Denver
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.