As the fall semester begins, CSU Life is providing a recap of the boundless enthusiasm, hard work and accomplishments of Colorado State University’s faculty, staff and community over the summer. While the campus might have been quieter without the bustling presence of most of its students, many contributions continued to shape CSU’s legacy as a hub of progress, research and community. Below are a few achievements, big stories and events from the summertime.
Funding Secured for the Foothills Transit Center
The City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University received a $10.7 million RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build the Foothills Transit Center on the west side of Fort Collins. The center will connect to the future West Elizabeth Bus Rapid Transit project, include an Overland Trail and Elizabeth Street roundabout and improve transportation between CSU’s Foothills Campus and Main Campus. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.
A Case of Cannibalism?
Researchers from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Colorado State University discovered the oldest evidence of humans butchering and possibly eating each other. The study, published in Scientific Reports, describes nine cut marks on a 1.45-million-year-old shin bone found in northern Kenya, resembling damage inflicted by stone tools. The findings, which used 3D quantitative methods, suggest that hominins cannibalized other hominins for survival.
14 New Programs to Join CSU SPUR
Colorado State University announced 14 new programs to be launched at the CSU Spur campus in the coming year. These programs will expand interdisciplinary research in arts management, regenerative fiber economy, design thinking, biochemistry, climate transitions, community forestry and more. Since opening its doors in January 2022, CSU Spur has welcomed about 50,000 visitors. “Our faculty, staff and students continue to embrace the CSU Spur campus as an asset in expanding educational access, research and innovation,” said Jim Bradeen, associate vice president for Spur strategy.
CSU Among Top Peace Corps-Producing Colleges of Last 20 Years
Colorado State University is the 11th top producer of Peace Corps volunteers in the past 20 years. Over 1,778 CSU alumni and 7,678 Coloradans have served in the Peace Corps since 1961, when two CSU researchers played a key role in creating the international development organization. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, CSU’s Peace Corps community has remained active and dedicated to promoting world peace. CSU has broken ground on a new Peace Corps Tribute Garden west of the LSC Theatre.
Dr. Allen Robinson Named Engineering Dean
Dr. Allen Robinson has been selected as the new dean of the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at Colorado State University. He comes from Carnegie Mellon University, where he is the director of Carnegie Mellon University-Africa in Rwanda, associate dean for international programs in Africa for the College of Engineering, director of the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions and professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy. Dr. Robinson’s passion for education, inclusive excellence and research promise to drive the WSCOE forward in the coming years. President Amy Parsons thanked the search committee and outgoing Dean Dave McLean for their contributions to the selection process.
One Health Institute Names Health Threats Expert As New Director
Colorado State University appointed Tracey Goldstein as the new director of the One Health Institute. With 25 years of experience leading One Health initiatives, Goldstein will oversee faculty research, pursue innovative fundraising opportunities and engage the Northern Colorado community in One Health policy research. “I am thrilled to begin my work at CSU to further address One Health priorities, especially at this critical time when the increasing effects of infectious disease, climate change, ecosystem change and habitat loss are threatening the health of ecosystems and species globally,” Goldstein said.
Human Resources Launches Well-Being Hub for Employees
Colorado State University’s Human Resources launched an online well-being hub, bewell. colostate.edu, to connect employees with employment benefits. This initiative aims to simplify finding and utilizing resources, providing employees with easy access to the programs and benefits they deserve. Resources available include information on health care plans, employee assistance programs, financial and legal services and discounts for employees and their families.
CSU Celebrates Juneteenth
Community members from Colorado State University and Northern Colorado came together to participate in a three-day celebration for Juneteenth. The FoCo Juneteenth committee, formed in 2021 by Bridgette Johnson, Louise Cutler and various Northern Colorado community organizations, seeks to correct misinformation about Juneteenth and bring the Freedom Day Celebration to the Front Range. With help from volunteers, the committee hopes to celebrate Black and African American culture through the Juneteenth celebration every year.
2,700 Attend First Lagoon Concert Series Event
Summer arrived at Colorado State University with the start of the Lagoon Concert Series. The first concert, featuring Northern Colorado’s Funky Business, brought over 2,700 attendees to the Lory Student Center’s west lawn. This tradition started with campus concerts in the 1970s and became an annual event after the 1997 Spring Creek Flood. The beloved Lagoon Concert Series offers free concerts throughout June and July and concluded this year with a July 26 performance by The Wendy Woo Band.
Colorado School of Public Health Names Bradley as Dean
The Colorado School of Public Health, a top 20 school for public health in the United States, appointed Cathy J. Bradley as its next dean. Bradley is a renowned health economist, associate dean of research for ColoradoSPH and deputy director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. As the school’s first long-term female dean, Bradley hopes to expand the school’s philanthropic efforts and student outreach. “[Bradley] has demonstrated skill, compassion and empathy throughout her career in cancer prevention research, focusing on helping the largest populations of people possible,” said Richard Schulick, director of the CU Cancer Center.
‘Tour Tuesdays’ Return to CSU
Starting June 13, Tour Tuesdays allowed communities to register for 28 “behind-the-scenes” tours at Colorado State University. Participants could explore hydroponic lettuce growth for the Dining Centers, experience the CSU Spur campus after a catered lunch or discover the vast collection at the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity. Additional tours included visits to the Biology Building’s mammal and bird collections, equine research and training advancements and the Brew Kitchen and Innovation Lab. Stay tuned for a lineup of the fall tours, which require registration on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, visit visit.colostate.edu/TourTuesdays.
