Published: Jan. 27, 2016
Attendees at Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Advocacy Day at the State Capitol

On Jan. 26, the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Advocates program and the University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s Office of Government Relations hosted the 2016 Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Advocacy Day at the state Capitol. Attendees received updates on the university’s recent educational, research and economic contributions. LawmakersÌýand Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ officials also briefed advocatesÌýon Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s legislative priorities, higher education’s funding outlook for this year and Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s budget situation.

Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Advocates, including donor, supporters, students, alumni, faculty and staff from Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s four campuses attended a program at the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ state Capitol featuring:

  • Bruce Benson, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ President
  • Michele McKinney, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Assistant Vice President of Advocacy and External Relations
  • Todd Saliman, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Vice President of Budget and Finance
  • Tanya Kelly-Bowry, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Vice President of Government Relations
  • Chris Pacheco, Director of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s Pre-Collegiate Development Program
  • Dr. David Brain, Assistant Professor, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ-Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)

TheÌýprogram,Ìýwhich also featured students from LASP and alumni of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s Pre-Collegiate Development Program,Ìýwas interspersed by appearances and remarks from U.S. Senator Cory Gardner as well as State Senators Rollie Heath, Jack Tate, Matt Jones, Jesse Ulibarri and State Representative Joe Salazar.ÌýSenator Ulibarri and Representative Salazar are both alumni of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s Pre-Collegiate Development Program.

Following the program at theÌýStateÌýCapitol, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ President Bruce Benson andÌýÅ·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Regent Chairman Kyle Hybl and Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Regent Sue SharkeyÌýwelcomed dozens of legislators and over 100 attendees for an evening reception at the Benson Mineral Group. Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Advocates were able to interface directly with legislators on bills of interest and promote Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ’s legislative priorities for this year.Ìý

Photo courtesy: Jon Arnold, Office of the President