Weekly Letter from the Provost鈥擮ct. 3
As we reach the midpoint of the quarter, I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the beauty of fall鈥檚 arrival across our amazing campus.听
It was a pleasure to host my first Provost Office all-staff meeting 鈥攖hank you to all who joined and thank you to Terese Rainwater for organizing such an exciting event. My Listening and Learning Tours continue, and this week I had the opportunity to visit with colleagues in the Daniels College of Business, the Office for Faculty Affairs, the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, and University Libraries.听
Each conversation reaffirms what I鈥檝e come to deeply appreciate in my short time as Provost: the care, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence that define our DU community. If I haven鈥檛 had the chance to visit your college or school yet, I look forward to connecting soon.听
Welcoming Our New Faculty: 2025鈥2026
Shared Commitment to Financial Stewardship: October Budget Deadlines and Seven-Year Academic Unit Operating Margin Trends听
During last year鈥檚 budget development process, each dean worked closely with our finance team to propose to the Board of Trustees our best estimate of financial activity for the current fiscal year (FY 鈥26). These division operating budgets reflected our shared commitment to balancing each unit鈥檚 goals with the broader needs of the university, always in service to our students and within the context of the headwinds facing higher education at this time. The budget for FY 鈥26 includes the deployment of reserves to fund investments toward strategic priorities to help DU push through those headwinds. 听
While the operating budget approved by the Board remains our initial guidepost, the subsequent forecasts put together by our business teams represent the newest and best estimates of our financial activity, and it will inform decisions as we navigate this fiscal year and begin to plan for the next. The forecast process will provide insight into revised operational plans for FY 鈥26 and the expected financial outcomes related to those plans. This process will now include narratives from all divisional leaders, discussing their current plans and how they will help our university navigate the current environment. Revised expectations to division operating margins (defined below) will require joint approval from the CFO, Mark DeLorenzo, and me and will serve as the new guideposts for the remainder of the year.听
To provide context and support for this cycle鈥檚 ongoing planning, I have included below a seven-year trend chart showing operating margin dollars and percent for each academic unit through the FY 鈥26 budget. The operating margin is defined as direct revenue less direct expense. The operating margin percent is net operating margin divided by revenue. This is a useful metric for analyzing operating efficiency, understanding in-year variance, and for preliminary goals setting.听
These figures include all of the tuition revenue generated by each division and all of the direct teaching, staff, and material expenses managed by the division. These figures do not include indirect expenses such as facilities, utilities, safety, maintenance, undergraduate admissions and financial aid, libraries, legal counsel, etc. This view helps us understand the current operating context and challenges we must work together to resolve. While the subset of divisions shown below is responsible for a material portion of the university鈥檚 revenue generation, it does not reflect our full cost to operate. As shared in the Budget Transmittal document, the FY 鈥26 budget for the full university reflected an operating loss of approximately $3 million (estimated expenses exceeding planned revenue).听
These are just two data points we are sharing at this stage to help provide context and baseline understanding. I recognize that transparency and financial accountability may be evolving compared to recent years, and I deeply appreciate the collaboration it calls for across our academic and administrative teams. Our business officers continue to offer invaluable guidance and support, and I want to acknowledge their efforts. Together, we are cultivating a culture of stewardship that strengthens the university鈥檚 long-term financial health and advances our shared mission.听
Operating Margin Dollars and Percents
Academic Affairs Goals
- Shape enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates for all students (undergraduate and graduate).听
- Improve career outcomes and better prepare all students to succeed and lead in an AI-transformed workforce.听
- Strengthen academic excellence.
The remainder of this week鈥檚 edition is dedicated to the third Academic Affairs Goal: Strengthen academic excellence. Across the entire campus, at every level, I am pleased to share and celebrate our outstanding work in this area.听
Celebrating Faculty and Student Achievements
This week, we celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our colleagues and students whose work exemplifies DU鈥檚 commitment to academic excellence and leadership.听
I am delighted to share that 脰zl眉 Aran, a recent PhD graduate in psychology from the College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, has published her dissertation in Nature Women鈥檚 Health, a journal ranked in the top 20% of its field. Mentored by Julia Dmitrieva and Elysia Davis, 脰zl眉鈥檚 research explores how discrimination affects stress among pregnant Latinx individuals in the U.S., revealing key differences in responses to individual and structural discrimination.听
With contributions from Melissa Nevarez-Brewster, a current psychology PhD student, this publication reflects the strength of faculty mentorship and student collaboration at DU鈥攁nd stands as a shining example of academic excellence in women鈥檚 health research.听
Faculty Achievements: NSF CAREER Awards
Allegra Aron (chemistry & biochemistry) has been awarded $850k for her project, 鈥淓lucidating the Chemistry of Biological Lanthanide Chelators for Rare Earth Element Separation.鈥 Her research explores how biological systems interact with rare earth elements鈥攃ritical to technologies like EVs and wind turbines鈥攁nd advances sustainable strategies for metal recycling and separation.听
Mandi Schaeffer Fry (mathematics) received $425k for her project, 鈥淟ocal-Global Properties in the Representation Theory of Finite Groups.鈥 Her work in group theory connects abstract mathematics to real-world applications and has already led to solving Brauer鈥檚 Height Zero Conjecture, a major open problem in the field.听
DU鈥檚 Record-Setting Fulbright Year: Faculty and Students
This year, the 黑料门 has reached a new milestone in Fulbright engagement among both faculty and students.听听
DU faculty: The 2026鈥27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar application cycle closed on Sept. 15 with a record number of DU faculty applying to teach and conduct research in destinations around the world, including Botswana, South Korea, and Sweden. With the thoughtful support of the Office of Internationalization, including workshops and a new peer review program, we saw a remarkable 60% increase in faculty applications.听
Looking ahead to the 2027鈥28 cycle, I encourage faculty considering international opportunities during sabbatical to begin exploring options now. Leasa Weimer, director for global partnerships, is available for consultations and can help guide you through the process.听
DU Students: Our students are also making their mark. Since fall 2022, the Office of Scholar Development & Fellowship Advising has supported students and recent graduates in pursuing nationally and internationally competitive fellowships. Earlier this year, eight DU applicants were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants鈥攁 record number for our university. These students will spend the 2025鈥26 academic year teaching English, conducting research, and pursuing graduate study across the globe.听
The Fulbright application process is more than a pathway to a prestigious award; it鈥檚 emblematic of the 4D Experience. It helps students clarify their goals, build meaningful relationships with mentors, and expand their academic and professional networks. Many of our applicants have shared that the experience was transformative, regardless of the outcome. Read our newsroom story on this year鈥檚 Fulbright students and find out .听
Collaborative on Mental Health: Partnering with Valverde to Expand Access
This fall, the Collaborative is launching a new clinic in West 黑料门鈥檚 Valverde neighborhood. This clinic will offer evidence-based services in an underserved area while providing our students with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.听
This work builds on years of partnership between DU and the Valverde neighborhood, supported by the Center for Community Engagement (CCESL) and the . That momentum continues with the launch of a new Collective Impact Cohort, connecting DU with community leaders working toward a community benefits agreement for the . For more information, please contact Anne DePrince. 听
Daniels College of Business Launches Student Success Center
In an exciting example of DU鈥檚 commitment to student outcomes, the Daniels College of Business has opened a (SSC), a centralized space for advising, career services, and student programming. Located on the second floor of the Daniels building, the SSC supports undergrad and graduate Daniel鈥檚 students from orientation through graduation and beyond.听
Bringing together Undergraduate Programs, Graduate Student Services, Career Services, and Experiential earning, the SSC is designed to help students navigate their academic journey and prepare for meaningful careers.听
Celebrating Faculty Career Champions at DU
On Sept. 26, I joined DU Career Services at the Burwell Center to celebrate our 2025 Faculty Career Champions. These champions are faculty who go above and beyond in mentoring students鈥 career and professional development. This work is central to DU鈥檚 mission of preparing students for lives of purpose and success in a rapidly evolving workforce.听
This year, 143 faculty were nominated by 183 students, a powerful reflection of the care and commitment our faculty bring to student success. Since the program began in 2017, nearly 900 faculty have been recognized for their contributions to students鈥 academic and professional growth.听
A special congratulations to this year鈥檚 Award of Excellence recipients, honored for their outstanding dedication to student career development. You can learn more about their work in the .听
Resilience in Research: FY 鈥25 Impact Report
As we look ahead, I鈥檓 confident in our community鈥檚 ability to continue expanding the impact of DU research, mentoring future scholars, and addressing the pressing challenges of our time.听
You can learn more in the FY 鈥25 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work Impact Report.听
Deadlines & Announcements
- October 10, Faculty Coffee Hour, 9 鈥10:30 a.m., Community Commons 2800
- October 10, Faculty Senate Meeting 11:30 a.m. 鈥 1 p.m. Renaissance Room, Mary Reed Building听
Leadership Transitions and Updates within the Office of the Provost
As we continue to advance our academic mission at the 黑料门, I write to share several updates regarding leadership transitions within the Office of the Provost.鈥
First, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Bobbie Kite, PhD as dean of the College of Professional Studies, effective Oct. 1, 2025. Bobbie has served as interim dean since July 1, 2025, and she was unanimously recommended by the search committee for this permanent appointment. Bobbie brings a decade of strategic leadership and innovation to the role. During her tenure at the College of Professional Studies, Bobbie has achieved exceptional results in program development, operational excellence, and student success.听
Second, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Tamara Schneider, who has served with distinction as interim vice provost of budget and planning. Tamara concluded her interim appointment on Sept. 30 and is returning to her role as assistant dean for business and operations in the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science. Her leadership over the past several months has been instrumental in guiding our academic budget processes, and her contributions have been deeply valued across the University. On behalf of the Academic Affairs team, I offer heartfelt thanks for her exemplary service and steadfast commitment.鈥
Next, I am pleased to share that Henrika McCoy, dean of the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) and acting Dean of the Morgridge College of Education (MCE), has agreed to continue serving in her acting role through the end of Oct. The extension of her role as acting dean of MCE allows additional time as we continue to identify next steps and strategize the best path forward.鈥疍ean McCoy has been successfully navigating this dual role since Aug. 1, and I appreciate her dedication and efforts to date on behalf of GSSW and MCE.鈥疘 would also like to thank the faculty and staff in GSSW and MCE for their support and commitment during this time of transition.听
Finally, Daniel Eady joined my team on Sept. 29 as senior vice provost for strategy and operations. He comes to DU from Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he has served in a similar capacity since 2017. Prior to SMU, Daniel spent a decade in the higher education consulting practices of Deloitte and Accenture, working with clients such as Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Chicago to help the university community members navigate strategic transformations, most heavily in the HR, finance, purchasing, and IT administrative functions. 听
These transitions reflect our ongoing efforts to align leadership capacity with institutional priorities and to support our academic units with clarity, collaboration, and strategic focus.听
Join Me for Lunch
As we continue our work together, I鈥檓 inspired by the creativity, care, and commitment I see across our community. Thank you for your scholarship, teaching, and service, and for the many ways you support our students and one another.听
Warm regards,听
Elizabeth听