Luke Gorka is often in motion. He works full-time in nearby Louisville at a nonprofit, is an avid biker around the metro area, and is currently working toward a master’s in Public Administration at CU Denver. You might wonder how he fits it all in.
But he does, thanks, in part, to a flexible, hybrid program offered through the university’s School of Public Affairs. A hybrid program is one that is offered with multiple learning options—or modalities—so that students can learn online, in-person, or a combination.
For Gorka, this flexibility was ideal. Gorka needed to be able to take classes online, on his time, but also wanted to meet up with classmates in a classroom setting. “I was really excited to take advantage of both learning formats here at CU Denver,” he said. “Utilizing both modalities [has been] convenient for my schedule as a learner.”
But no matter the format, Gorka has been able to build relationships with both classmates and faculty. “I made a special effort to connect with my professors, first by jumping into their office hours remotely or emailing and utilizing whatever communication methods they had established,” he said.
He was also an active participant in class chats and group projects. “I found that I was able to make meaningful connections with folks, even if they weren’t in person, even if we were taking that course remotely,” he said. “I think the online learning opportunities presented by CU Denver make it easy to connect with folks from afar and to build that community even when you’re not in person.”
Having spent much of his career in the nonprofit sector, he hopes that his master’s degree, which he expects to earn in 2027, will help him continue that work and grow into expanded roles that give back. “I knew the program would set me up for more executive leadership in nonprofits and also give me a pathway to work for local or state government at some point in my career,” Gorka said.
As he prepares for that future, Gorka is frequently on the go and likes that he can bike to the library, stop at a park, set up in a coffeeshop and log into class or finish a project—on his schedule. As he does so, he is still discovering ways his education at CU Denver is helping to build his future. One unexpected benefit, he said, of taking hybrid courses while working full-time is how complementary the work is. “What surprised me most about the degree program is how practical and applicable the learning has been for my current career and all that I hope is coming for me in the future,” Gorka said.