On Jan. 26, the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Advocates program and the University of Colorado’s Office of Government Relations hosted the 2016 ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Advocacy Day at the state Capitol. Attendees received updates on the university’s recent educational, research and economic contributions. LawmakersÌýand ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä officials also briefed advocatesÌýon ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s legislative priorities, higher education’s funding outlook for this year and Colorado’s budget situation.
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Advocates, including donor, supporters, students, alumni, faculty and staff from ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s four campuses attended a program at the Colorado state Capitol featuring:
- Bruce Benson, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä President
- Michele McKinney, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Assistant Vice President of Advocacy and External Relations
- Todd Saliman, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Vice President of Budget and Finance
- Tanya Kelly-Bowry, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Vice President of Government Relations
- Chris Pacheco, Director of ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s Pre-Collegiate Development Program
- Dr. David Brain, Assistant Professor, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä-Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)
TheÌýprogram,Ìýwhich also featured students from LASP and alumni of ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’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 ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s Pre-Collegiate Development Program.
Following the program at theÌýStateÌýCapitol, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä President Bruce Benson andÌý¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Regent Chairman Kyle Hybl and ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Regent Sue SharkeyÌýwelcomed dozens of legislators and over 100 attendees for an evening reception at the Benson Mineral Group. ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Advocates were able to interface directly with legislators on bills of interest and promote ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s legislative priorities for this year.Ìý
Photo courtesy: Jon Arnold, Office of the President
