On-The-Rise Faculty Spotlighted at Tenure & Promotion Lunch

How can we make buildings and infrastructure more sustainable? How do networks constrain or promote diffusion of information or diseases? How can we make learning environments more culturally and linguistically equitable?  

These are among the many questions explored in the scholarship of CU Denver faculty members who earned tenure or promotion recently. The group was honored at a Monday luncheon in the Terrace Room. “You make us who we are every single day,” Chancellor Michelle Marks told attendees. “I want to take this opportunity to express the gratitude I feel for each of you, and also to appreciate your success.” 

The 46 faculty members honored for tenure or promotion this year include:  

• Nine incumbent CU Denver faculty that earned tenure and promotion to associate professor 
• Four new faculty appointed with tenure 
• 14 promotions to professor 
• 10 promotions to senior or principal instructor  
• Nine clinical teaching faculty promotions to associate professor or professor 

See bottom of page for full list of honorees.

The honors reflect their recipients’ strong track records of teaching and scholarly accomplishment, and signal confidence in their ability to enrich CU Denver’s academic community for years to come. “Sometimes, we let challenges stop us from even trying,” Provost Constancio Nakuma told luncheon attendees. “But that’s not what you did. You chose to embrace the challenge—turning it into an opportunity, going through all the difficulty that leads to success. That’s what I am here to celebrate with you.”  

New Developments for Luncheon, First in Three Years 

For the first time, this year’s luncheon was held exclusively for CU Denver faculty and honored promotions of CU Denver’s Instructional, Research and Clinical (IRC) faculty, in addition to tenure-track faculty. Honoring IRC faculty signifies the vital role, Chancellor Marks said, that these educators, researchers, and clinicians play in CU Denver’s faculty talent base.  

While this event is typically held annually, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 events. The 65 faculty members honored in those years were invited to Monday’s luncheon, which allows CU Denver to showcase the commitment and accomplishments of three years of faculty honorees in the university’s 50th anniversary year.  

Several deans and chairs attended the luncheon as well as members of the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion; the groups were recognized for their important roles as faculty mentors and evaluators. “As you can see, this is teamwork at its best,” Provost Nakuma said. “Without the work that faculty do, we don’t have this university.” Meanwhile, he noted that some faculty might not be able to linger over lunch. “I know a lot of people have to leave at 1 o’clock, because you have to teach.”  

Newly Tenured Faculty

Newly Promoted Faculty