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