Chancellor Justin Schwartz spoke with Coloradan editor Maria Kuntz about innovation, inclusion, sustainability and philanthropy as keys to 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 future. 

You said the chancellor position is exactly what you were looking for. Can you say more about that?

欧美口爆视频鈥檚 emphasis on sustainability, inclusivity and innovation struck such a deep chord. These are things I鈥檝e been working with at every stage of my career. There was such a strong, clear commitment to create a meaningful impact. I thought, 鈥淭his is what鈥檚 important to me. This is what I want for the next stage of my career.鈥�

 that you鈥檝e spent your entire career in large, state universities because it鈥檚 most meaningful to you. What is meaningful to you about the missions of these institutions?

Large, state universities were created to democratize access to information and give opportunities to all citizens. They are meant to advance individuals for their self-betterment and also to create knowledge for the betterment of others.

So they鈥檙e empowered to discover, not just learn from what has been discovered?

Yes. We鈥檙e not teaching people what to think so much as how to think. Higher education has to be creative 鈥� it鈥檚 about fueling a different kind of conversation that leads to something new.

You鈥檝e recently launched a search for a new position: Vice Chancellor of Sustainability. Can you paint a picture of where 欧美口爆视频 will be in two, five and 10 years regarding sustainability?

Our goal is to advance an integrated, holistic view of sustainability across campus internally and externally so that our students, researchers and campus can have even more impact. This means putting sustainability into our curriculum and programs and asking: What does society need graduates to know and do to advance sustainability? How do we activate that knowledge? Ten years from now, I鈥檇 like the world to say, 鈥淲ow. 欧美口爆视频 Boulder was the one who helped bring together all these constituents across the country and around the globe to address the issue.鈥�

You鈥檙e an engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. How do these identities and experiences inform your approach as chancellor?

This is a very innovative and entrepreneurial campus. Sometimes, in academia, we can be hesitant and conservative to try new things 鈥� but I want us to remember that it鈥檚 OK to fail. Many attempts at innovation don鈥檛 work the first time. For the best outcome, you probably have to experiment and experience a few false starts before you strike gold. 

You鈥檙e open about your dedication to creating greater inclusion and belonging on campus. What are some of the next steps to growing and developing these areas as an institution and a community?

It鈥檚 a challenge of both culture and numbers. At many institutions, resources are poured into building numbers. However, what鈥檚 often missed is the slow, hard work of building the culture and sense of belonging needed to support those who are being invited in. Without that, inclusion doesn鈥檛 work.

We also need to reinforce the idea that inclusivity is truly including all. As a community of scholars, we should be dedicated to appreciating and giving credence to all views 鈥� which means all voices must be present and invited to speak.

I鈥檝e heard you talk about life-work balance. What does that mean to you?

I appreciate that you said life-work balance. I tell my staff that I want them to look forward to the weekend, and I want them to look forward to Monday. I don鈥檛 want them to miss a moment with their loved ones because there鈥檚 something at work they have to do. There鈥檚 always a way around that. I have my daughter鈥檚 volleyball camp on my calendar. I want to make sure we are present where we are and that we all are where we really want to be.

You鈥檝e been an avid triathlete for a few years, and I鈥檝e seen your Instagram photos on area trails. Any favorite places to get outside?

There are so many great trails. I usually start on the Enchanted Mesa, then go around McClintock and the Mesa Trail. And there are so many more to explore.

You鈥檝e jumped right into  Why is this important for 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 future, and how can people support the university?

Beyond donations, spread the word. It鈥檚 important because we have a critically important mission to 欧美口爆视频, to the country, to our students and to the world. We have too many students who would become Forever Buffs but for lack of funding. I don鈥檛 want students who belong at 欧美口爆视频 Boulder to not graduate because of finances. We also have amazing faculty doing incredible work, and breakthroughs rely on funding.

The other thing is the importance of alumni philanthropy. I want Forever Buffs to feel deeply and permanently connected to the campus. Some of the best moments in philanthropy are the connections between donors and beneficiaries. Sometimes, the stories bring tears.

You look touched. Something touched your heart just now, if you鈥檒l share it.

I recently had a conversation with a student whose parents were well-educated, but their degrees were not recognized in the U.S. They each worked two jobs so that their two daughters could go to college, but only had money to send one to college.

However, the older daughter received a scholarship to study computer science, and the resources that were supposed to go to her went to her sister. So they both went to school.

That shows the value 鈥� that cascade effect of philanthropy. This story happens over and over again, every week.

When I talk about Forever Buffs being permanently connected with 欧美口爆视频, it鈥檚 about remembering what got them where they are today. I鈥檝e met so many successful alums who say: 鈥淚 grew up low [socioeconomic status], and I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am in life if it weren鈥檛 for 欧美口爆视频 Boulder.鈥� 

It鈥檚 crucial to help alumni remember what it was like to be at the beginning of their journey. And that moment, when they see the impact of passing it on, is profound. 

How do you envision continuing to build strong ties with communities across 欧美口爆视频?

We are 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 flagship institution. That means we鈥檙e the ship with the flag up high so that others can follow. 欧美口爆视频 needs to be more proactive in bringing 欧美口爆视频 Boulder across the state. We need to connect with and understand 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 communities. And we need to partner with more institutions across the state and get more Coloradans excited to be 欧美口爆视频 Boulder students, alumni and supporters. 

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After winning the Western Women鈥檚 Collegiate Hockey League last February, the 欧美口爆视频 women鈥檚 ice hockey club team needed funds to help them travel to nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. They, along with 10 other 欧美口爆视频 Boulder student groups, participated in the university鈥檚 inaugural as a way to fundraise for their cause. By the end of March, the team walked away with $11,200. 

鈥淚t gave us the opportunity to truly connect with our peers and college community,鈥� said Elle LaPerle (Neuro, Psych鈥�25), the club鈥檚 vice president, who plays a forward position. 鈥淭he money that we were able to raise helped lower individual costs for nationals and made it possible for all of our girls to travel and participate.鈥�

Student Philanthropy Month occurs through a partnership with The Herd Leadership Council (HLC) 鈥� a group of 15 students who work to deliver meaningful services and programs to engage 欧美口爆视频 Boulder students with the Forever Buffs community 鈥� and the 欧美口爆视频 Boulder Alumni Association. Up to 20 student groups will crowdfund this March, ranging from Senior Class Council to the 欧美口爆视频 Independent newspaper. 

The goal this year is to raise $30,000 total for all of the groups, said sophomore and HLC Philanthropy Chair Michael Coaty (贰虫辫濒鈥�25).&苍产蝉辫;

鈥淲e鈥檙e empowering students to be able to help themselves,鈥� he said. 

The month will include a Student Philanthropy Fair on March 21 at the UMC fountains to raise additional funds that will be evenly distributed among the participating groups, said Sara Abdulla (EnvSt, Psych鈥�13), senior program manager for student engagement at the Alumni Association. 

鈥淲e really want to meet students where they鈥檙e at in terms of supporting causes they care about,鈥� she said.

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Photos by Matt Tyrie

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Sean Tufts is a former 欧美口爆视频 football player and Ralphie Handler. Now he鈥檚 back at 欧美口爆视频, this time with a cause.

At the age of 6, Sean Tufts (Soc鈥�04, MBA鈥�11) received direction that altered the course of his life. 

鈥淢y soccer coach walked me over to the football field and said, 鈥榊ou should do this instead,鈥欌�� said Tufts. 

His early decision to play football eventually brought him fame at 欧美口爆视频 and in the NFL. But today, the former star 欧美口爆视频 linebacker 鈥� and Ralphie Handler 鈥� has a larger intention: Helping former 欧美口爆视频 athletes in need, especially those struggling with their mental health. 

Tufts is head of the Buffs4Life organization, which provides a crisis hotline, resources and funds to former 欧美口爆视频 players and their families.

鈥淲e want to get to people before their worst day,鈥� said Tufts, who lost his friend Drew Wahlroos (A&S鈥�02) to suicide in 2017.

Sean as a Ralphie Handler.

鈥淚 was a middle linebacker and he was outside,鈥� said Tufts. 鈥淎lmost every picture I have in a Buffs uniform, Drew was somewhere in the background.鈥�

The decision to lead Buffs4Life was an easy one: Like football, 欧美口爆视频 was part of his life at an early age. 

鈥淚n elementary school, if you had a good day in gym, the coach would put you on his shoulders and you鈥檇 get to slap a picture of Eric Bieniemy (Soc鈥�01),鈥� Tufts said.

After playing linebacker at Denver鈥檚 Cherry Creek High School, the country鈥檚 No. 17 recruit chose 欧美口爆视频 over Michigan. (Bieniemy became one of his coaches.) From 2001 to 2003, he played starting middle linebacker, finishing his senior season with 95 tackles.

鈥淪ean took football very seriously,鈥� said Brian Cabral (Rec鈥�79), who was on the Buffs鈥� coaching staff for 24 seasons. 鈥淚t was like having another coach on the field.鈥�

鈥�Everybody needs help sometimes, whether you鈥檙e the Heisman winner or an 18-year-old engineering student.鈥�

In 2004, Tufts was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the NFL鈥檚 sixth round. A knee injury ended his professional football career after three years. 

鈥淭he funny part is, for everybody except Peyton Manning and John Elway, it all ends more abruptly than you thought it would,鈥� said Tufts, 37.

Tufts reinvented himself. He applied to business school at Stanford, but still felt a strong pull to 欧美口爆视频. He returned to 欧美口爆视频 for his MBA. 

鈥淚 wanted to challenge myself, to come back to Boulder and prove that I was invested in the community,鈥� he said. 

Back on campus, Tufts again found himself at Folsom Field on Saturdays 鈥� this time as a Ralphie Handler. He and Chad Hammond (Engl鈥�01) are the only two former football players to run with Ralphie. 

鈥淪he鈥檚 got a sandpaper tongue, like 80 grit industrial sandpaper, and she loves licking leather,鈥� he said of the recently retired Ralphie V. 鈥淪he鈥檇 wear out your boots or try to take the gloves from your pocket.鈥�

After graduating, Tufts started a business leasing land for the development of wind farms. Forbes named him to its 鈥�30 under 30鈥� in 2011 for his work.

In 2017, he joined Optiv Inc., a Denver information security company, working with cyber security solutions for critical infrastructure, which includes everything from power plants to dishwashers. 

In the midst of his thriving career, he again answered the 欧美口爆视频 call. In 2017, Cabral asked him to serve as the president of Buffs4Life.

鈥淓very time we talked, he just took Buffs4Life to another level,鈥� said Cabral, who is on the board for the nonprofit. 鈥淚t was a natural fit.鈥�

Since 2005, more than 40 other Buffs or their families have received Buffs4Life support. In 2019, proceeds from the Kyle MacIntosh 5K, one of the nonprofit鈥檚 signature events, went to the family of TJ Cunningham (Comm鈥�99), who was killed in February 2019.

Tufts hopes Buffs4Life can become a model for the rest of campus.

鈥淓verybody needs help sometimes, whether you鈥檙e the Heisman winner or an 18-year-old engineering student,鈥� he said.

Photos courtesy 欧美口爆视频 Athletics 

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