Alumni Profile

The Rebuiling of a Family Business

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:49:45 +0000

The Rebuiling of a Family Business Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:49

Julia MacLean

After graduating, Rachel Etzler (MediaSt’22) began to rebuild Business Development Institute (BDI), her family’s events marketing agency, after COVID-19 dismantled the events industry. Etzler took a leadership role alongside her father, Steven, the company’s founder and CEO. As both a strategic leader and hands-on operator, Etzler has played a pivotal role in BDI’s recent success, which has included producing around 60 highly curated events annually and increasing long-term partnerships in the technology industry.

How do you describe your position at BDI?

We serve leading tech companies like NVIDIA, Adobe, Microsoft, HPE, Equinix and AMD. I support our clients directly while working closely with my dad to manage our sales. Because I have a bird’s-eye view of all our client events, I help prioritize tasks and ensure we’re aligned and efficient across every project.

What inspired you to rebuild BDI?

Entering the professional world in a post-COVID environment made me reflect on where I wanted to invest my energy. If I was going to dedicate 40-plus hours a week to a company, I wanted it to be one that truly mattered to me. BDI has played a huge role in my life — it helped make college possible for me — and I saw an opportunity to make a real difference.

What was it like stepping into a leadership role at a company your parents built?

From our earliest conversations, my dad showed a lot of trust in my leadership potential, which was a rare and meaningful opportunity for a 22-year-old. In many ways, it felt like a natural evolution as I grew up watching my parents run the business. I’ve always admired their entrepreneurial spirit, and stepping into a leadership role felt like honoring that legacy, while also building something of my own.

Looking back now, what advice do you have for yourself as you were graduating?

Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and it’s important to let your journey unfold naturally. Progress isn’t always linear, and that’s okay.

What else should we know about you?

I am proud of what we’ve accomplished so far — and how energized I feel about where we’re headed. Rebuilding BDI has been a mix of challenge, creativity and deep purpose. I’m grateful every day to work with my family, collaborate with an incredible team and create experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. We’ve hired my sister, Elizabeth Etzler (Edu’23), and two other employees are also Buffs: Matthew Jacobs (CritMediaSt’20) and Emi Veliz (Anth’20). BDI is a CU-powered company!

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Photo courtesy Rachel Etzler

Rachel Etzler stepped into a leadership role to help rebuild her family’s events marketing agency, BDI, guiding its post-COVID comeback and strengthening partnerships with major clients.

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The Scoop on Sweet Cow’s Journey to Success

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:48:50 +0000

The Scoop on Sweet Cow’s Journey to Success Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:48

Julia MacLean

Drew Honness opened Sweet Cow in 2010.

A college job at an ice cream shop shaped the rest of Drew Honness’ (Hist’96) life. At age 39, he opened Sweet Cow in Louisville, Colorado. Now with seven locations, Sweet Cow is a beloved Colorado staple with lines out the door and stickers plastered around the state.

What inspired you to start an ice cream business?

When I turned 20 years old, I got a job at a mom-and-pop ice cream shop on The Hill called Josh and John’s. It originally started in 1992 in Colorado Springs by two Colorado College graduates. I worked for them for 13 years. From this job, I learned what a great environment the ice cream industry is and how it builds community.

I discovered some wonderful friendships working there and learned how an upbeat atmosphere can change your life, day in and day out. The uniforms are the best: T-shirts, sneakers, shorts, a hat, and you’re jamming out to great music all day. People come in, and they’re excited to see you.

Within a couple of years, I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. After graduation, I got the opportunity to run two of their shops.

What qualities does Sweet Cow prioritize when hiring staff?

75% of our staff is high school- and college-aged people. We find that the best workers are students who have a decent GPA. They go to school, they go to class, they study and they come to work two to four times a week. They also might play an instrument, sing in the choir or play a sport. The busiest people tend to make time with intention for what they’re doing. It’s one of the things we look for when thinking about location. I usually want a high school and a college nearby to help with our staffing needs.

What sets your ice cream apart?

All of our ice cream, cookie sammies and ice cream cakes are made within the seven shops, so we’re completely self-sufficient. The three key ingredients are high-quality milk, cream and sugar. What differentiates ice cream from ice cream is the percentage of butterfat, the quality of ingredients, the batch freezer or ice cream machine, the freezing process and the temperature of dipping cabinets. Everyone does it differently.

What’s your most unique flavor?

Larry’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness, created by my son, is a chocolate peanut butter ice cream with dark chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, along with a fudge swirl and peanut butter swirl. Another fun flavor is Vermont Maple Walnut, made with maple syrup directly from Vermont and walnut pieces.

I’ve seen your stickers all over town. What’s your marketing strategy?

I thought to myself, ‘Alright, what can we do that’s going to be grassroots and budget friendly?’ I was collecting stickers for years, so it just made sense. We had this cool logo, and just let people take these stickers home. And the next thing you know, we would see them on a car, on the side of a building or on a mailbox — they were everywhere.

What’s your go-to Sweet Cow order?

It’s an impossible question. It was Oatmeal Cookie with hot fudge for a while, but I also love the Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Cinnamon, Vermont Maple Walnut, Ginger Snap Molasses — and it just keeps going.

What’s your most popular flavor?

Cookies and Cream, hands down. Most cookies and cream recipes are simply vanilla ice cream with Oreos thrown in at the end. We sprinkle our Oreos throughout, from the first minute, in the middle and again at the very end. If you get a bite without a cookie, it still tastes like a cookie.

What advice would you give those looking to start their own business?

Starting your own business should be something that gives you purpose every day and not about money. A decision based on finances may hinder one’s ability to find success, create the best work environment and service the community and its customers. Be passionate about what you’re exploring in this adventure.

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Photos by Maureen O'Neill

Drew Honness turned a college ice cream job into a thriving Colorado business, Sweet Cow, known for its quality flavors, community focus, and loyal following.

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Kevin Fitzgerald: Vet, Comedian and CU Legend

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:48:02 +0000

Kevin Fitzgerald: Vet, Comedian and CU Legend Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:48

Sophia McKeown

Kevin Fitzgerald (EPOBio’73; MBio’78, PhD’82) is a bit like Forrest Gump — always in the right place at the right time. He joined CU’s swim team in 1969 and began working as a bouncer at The Sink and Tulagi to put himself through school. From there, he worked security for rock bands like the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. Eventually, he dedicated his life to veterinary medicine and starred on the reality show Emergency Vets, which ran for 11 seasons on Animal Planet and was filmed at his Denver veterinary practice. Kevin also found a passion for stand-up comedy and has opened for George Lopez and Joan Rivers.

In his new memoir, It Started With a Turtle, Kevin recounts these sometimes strange and always interesting experiences, starting with his days at CU Boulder.

Tell us about your memoir. What do you hope readers, especially CU grads, take away from it?

I decided to use the COVID-19 pandemic time to get all my stories down on paper. I hope any CU students reading it would take away this: Your education doesn’t end with graduation. Your life is just beginning, and you should never be afraid to try new things.

As someone who’s worn so many hats — vet, comedian, author, conservationist — what is the common thread that has guided your career?

I have learned we weren’t put here to be sad, and we must live life to suck the orange dry! If we do anything, we should do it well and put a bow on it. The common thread is that love and kindness save the day. Always.

Of all the animals you’ve worked with over the years, which is your favorite?

I love anything with a heartbeat. However, I have to say I have a special feeling for turtles.

Looking back on your time at CU Boulder, how did the university shape the path you’ve taken?

I came through Boulder during a special time, but I would have to think that anyone’s college years are special. The professors and instructors that mentored me at CU Boulder helped mold me into who I am and what I have become. They have stayed with me in how I live and how I act with others.

How do you find the courage to try so many new things?

We have to be fearless. What are we afraid of? Failing. Failing is how we learn; failing is how we grow. If we always play it safe, there is little reward. We have to take a chance, and we have to put it out there. Once in a while, sometimes, we win one. But we never win if we don’t play.

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Photos courtesy Kevin Fitzgerald

Kevin Fitzgerald shares his adventurous life journey from working as a bouncer for rock legends to becoming a celebrated veterinarian, comedian and author of a memoir.

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Five CU Innovators Changing the World

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:04:07 +0000

Five CU Innovators Changing the World Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:04

CU Boulder is teeming with innovation, curiosity and thought leadership. And the people who comprise the university — CU Buffs — make global impact.

We’re highlighting five stellar Buffs — CU Boulder students, alumni and faculty whose work is relevant, leading-edge and promises to create ripples out into the world. Their stories were written by five equally outstanding CU affiliates, who personally know and understand the importance of their work.

As journalist Tom Costello (Jour’87) wrote in his essay on his NBC colleague Savannah Sellers (Jour’13), she “breaks through.”

Many Buffs are breaking through — they bridge traditional silos, strive to think differently, and take huge risks. And just as many credit the university for equipping them to pursue their passions. CU Boulder is more than its stunning location — this university is the people who push for more.

Idowu Odeyemi (PhDPhil’27)

Charting New Paths as a Rising Philosopher

Idowu Odeyemi came to CU Boulder to refine his philosophical acumen while carving a path for young Africans like him who aspire to study philosophy.

Beyond his research, he said, “I want to challenge and expand the traditional boundaries of the discipline so that the philosophical community must either engage with African thinkers or justify why not.”

Idowu’s work — centered on oppression and blame — delves into how oppressive systems like patriarchy, colonialism, Nazism and slavery affect moral agency. He invites us to consider haunting questions such as why a battered wife doesn’t simply leave while her husband is out, illustrating how the threat of severe harm to one’s welfare can override considerations of morality and compel individuals to remain in oppres-sive circumstances.

Consider a battered wife who faces an oppressive double bind: resisting her abuser risks her safety, while compliance perpetuates the very system that oppresses her. This leads to an untenable situation where she is damned if she revolts, and damned if she doesn’t. In Idowu’s view, this dilemma complicates blaming oppressed individuals for not revolting.

Another facet of Idowu’s scholarship introduces the term “epistemic disgust” — a neglected psychological response that prompts us to reject certain beliefs and utterances because they repulse us. If someone says, “All white men smell like hot dog water,” for instance, many listeners feel revulsion that blocks such an utterance from entering our belief system. Idowu’s ground-breaking theory on how disgust can shape belief formation was published in the prestigious journal Episteme.

He also ventures beyond academia: His essay “On Accent and Confidence” in Isele Magazine was nominated for the 2025 non-fiction prize and recognized as one of the 50 notable essays from Africa in 2024, and another piece, “Living in America, Leaving Nigeria” (published by The Republic), was named among the 18 notable essays by a Nigerian in 2023.

As a graduate student, Idowu has published four peer-reviewed papers in leading journals — an achievement typically expected of faculty. Recently, he delivered a philosophy colloquium at the University of Missouri — uncommon for a graduate student. He was a Harper PhD Fellow at the Benson Center, a fellow at the Center for African and African American Studies and, in 2023, a fully funded fellowship took him to the University of Oxford. This summer, he will be visiting the National Archives in London through a research award from CU Boulder’s Center for African and African American Studies.

Through Idowu’s compelling research and prolific achievements, he exemplifies how CU Boulder’s nurturing environment fosters tomorrow’s transformative thinkers.

CU Boulder philosophy associate professor Ajume Wingo serves as Odeyemi’s advisor. Ajume is a member of the royal family in the Nso kingdom, located in the northwest region of Cameroon. In addition to being widely published in political and social philosophy, he is the founder of several NGOs, including PridePads Africa and Pathfinders4peace.

Photo by Alastair Norcross

Savannah Sellers (Jour’13)

Serious, Fun, Whimsical — and Never Dull

As the face of “the Generation of Now,” Savannah Sellers co-anchors the streaming morning newscast of NBC News NOW, then reports for The Today Show and NBC Nightly News. She demonstrates how a journalist can break through a saturated news market and reach a new generation of consumers who crave accurate information on their own terms.

While transitioning from CU Boulder to NBC News in New York could have been daunting, Savannah quickly established herself as smart and determined, yet easy-going and relevant. This rare combination made her a natural choice to help lead NBC’s outreach to younger viewers, where they are — on social media.

She helped map a new look and pacing for NBC News. The target age: 20-to-40- somethings who want news on the go for their 24/7 lifestyle. Almost immediately, the audience was there. The newscasts moved fast. They were serious, fun, whimsical — and never dull.

Savannah took Snapchat viewers to Parkland, Florida, hours after a former student murdered 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Her coverage was raw and real. A record 18 million people tuned in: mostly kids seeking information about a tragedy affecting other kids they didn’t know, but who were their age.

She has documented America’s heroin epidemic with an Emmy award-winning Nightly News series, revealing that the victims are not always stereotypical drug addicts — they could be your own neighbor or family member.

She has detailed and explained the confusing fight over banning TikTok, the app-of- choice for her younger audience, led honest discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion, and shared the deeply personal and painful struggle she and her husband have faced with fertility.

To meet Savannah is to discover a person of tremendous warmth, charm and insatiable curiosity who wants to know your story — what motivates you, and why. Those are the traits of a great broadcast journalist.

As one NBC exec put it, “She breaks through! She pops!”

It delights me to see a fellow CU alum become such a trusted voice and valued colleague at The Peacock. Go Buffs!

Tom Costello (Jour’87) is the senior correspondent at NBC News. With nearly 30 years of experience at CNBC and NBC News in London, New York and Washington, D.C., he reports daily across all NBC News platforms.

Photo by Nate Congleton

Dania Arayssi (MPolSci’22; PhD’26)

Vital Work in Transnational Politics

Dania Arayssi doesn’t just care deeply about the big social and economic problems that affect people’s everyday lives — she rigorously studies them and takes action.

Before coming to CU Boulder, she participated in the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) at the U.S. State Department and earned multiple advanced degrees. She then founded the Gleam of Hope Group, which works with thousands of young people and women to address food and health needs. For many, these accomplishments would constitute an entire career. For Dania, this was just the beginning.

Dania brought her passion for understanding pressing socioeconomic and political issues to CU Boulder in 2021. Her dissertation work centers on remittances, money sent by those working abroad back to their families in their home countries. Remittances are an important source of income for families around the world. Dania’s research seeks to explain how these remittances affect people’s incentives to be politically active. Does the added economic security make people more likely to pressure the government for change? Or does economic security dampen any potential dissent, making people less likely to vote or protest? What issues do people who receive remittances care about the most?

Dania uses a rigorous combination of interviews, focus groups and original survey data to study these questions in her home country of Lebanon. Her work helps us understand how diaspora communities affect politics around the world. In an era of transnational politics, her work is vitally important.

Dania represents the best of CU Boulder. After completing her dissertation, she plans to work at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, D.C. During these politically contentious times plagued by myriad challenges, I personally find enormous hope that CU alumni like Dania will be out in the world contributing their expertise, knowledge and wisdom.

Sarah Wilson Sokhey works as an associate professor in CU Boulder’s Department of Political Science, a faculty associate at the Institute of Behavioral Science and the founding director of the Studio Lab for Undergrads in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her current research focuses on the local provision of public services in Ukraine during wartime. In 2024, she was inducted into the President’s Teaching Scholars Program, one of the highest CU teaching awards.

Photo courtesy Dania Arayssi

Jun Ye (PhDPhys'97)

Using Quantum for High-Tech Innovation

My friend and colleague Professor Jun Ye is an ever-flowing fountain of scientific and technological innovation.

One of the greatest laser scientists in the world, he and his students have built several generations of record-setting optical clocks. The technology has advanced to the point where Jun’s clocks would gain or lose less than a second in the whole age of the universe. These highly accurate clocks are tied into technology improvements to support better navigation, communication and the ability to sense unseen things (for example, small changes in gravity associated with objects buried underground). Additionally, his lab created the world’s first nuclear clock.

Through his research at JILA, Jun uses lasers to detect slight traces of unusual elements in gas samples. His group is now examining the air exhaled by people with various diseases to find tiny traces of certain chemicals associated with a particular disease. If this works, one day cancer testing might be as easy as puffing some air into a soda straw.

Much of his research is built around using the properties of quantum mechanics to do high-tech research — precision measurement, secure communication, exotic material design — that eludes the reach of “old-school” classical mechanics.

Perhaps as impactful as anything else he does, Jun has trained an entirely new generation of elite scientists and engineers, who are now the beating heart of Colorado’s, and the nation’s, high-tech industry. When I visit high-tech Colorado companies, it often seems that the technical leadership are CU Boulder alums who earned their degrees while working in Jun’s group.

On top of his research, Jun is working with me on a joint project to understand why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe. It sounds like a very abstract topic, but it is part of a bigger question: How are the conditions in the universe such that the development of humankind is possible? I feel very privileged to collaborate with Jun. I’ve learned a lot from working with him. Sometimes I wonder if the man ever sleeps!

Eric Cornell has been at CU for 34 years and wears many hats. He teaches first-year physics for the CU Boulder Department of Physics; he is a JILA fellow; and a scientist with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2001, he and CU Boulder professor Carl Wieman won the Nobel Prize in Physics for creating Bose-Einstein Condensation, the “world’s coldest stuff.”

Photo courtesy Jun Ye

Steve Swanson (EngrPhys’83)

Space Commander Gains and Gives Respect

Steve Swanson was one of the most highly respected members of the NASA astronaut office during the Shuttle and Space Station Programs in the 1990s and 2000s.

Steve and I met in the late 1980s when we were both in the aircraft operations division at Johnson Space Center. I was an instructor pilot in the space shuttle training aircraft. Steve was a software wizard and the flight simulation engineer responsible for managing the computer that enabled a Gulfstream II business jet to fly like a space shuttle. We were both interested in becoming astronauts. I was selected in 1992, and

Steve was named an astronaut in 1998 after obtaining a PhD in computer science from Texas A&M University.

Steve excelled right away in the astronaut office and was selected as one of the four extra-vehicular activity (EVA) crewmembers to install one of the four solar array elements of the station. It was considered an honor to be chosen for such a significant mission on his first flight — he was clearly a rising star!

I began working at CU Boulder thanks to Steve. He talked to me after his post-flight trip to Boulder to visit with the students and return items he had flown for the university. CU asked him to consider a professor position in the CU aerospace department, but he wanted to fly more for NASA and so asked if I might be interested instead.

Steve also led the EVA team to install the final solar array element two years later. His final mission in 2014 was serving as a station crewmember and the mission commander.

That fall, I was proud to arrange a live video conference in the Fiske Planetarium so Steve could talk to the students while he was on the Space Station. Today, Steve shares his experiences at Boise State University, leading and advising student teams participating in NASA’s Artemis Challenges, inspiring them to do great things in science and engineering.

Joe Tanner is a retired NASA astronaut, Navy pilot and CU Boulder teaching professor. During his 16-year career as an astronaut, he flew four missions on the space shuttle, one to the Hubble Space Telescope and two to the International Space Station. He also mentored astronaut Sarah Gillis (AeroEngr’17) when she was a CU student; Gillis traveled to space in fall 2025 with SpaceX.

Photo courtesy NASA

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From quantum science to journalism, these five CU Boulder students, alumni and faculty are making bold, world-shaping contributions.

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Celebrating Miss Peggy

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:02:08 +0000

Celebrating Miss Peggy Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:02

Peggy Coppom (A&S ex’46) has charmed the entire Buffs nation. After the feature about her in the spring Coloradan was published on social media, dozens of people posted photos of themselves meeting Coppom.

“Meeting her was the highlight of our Buffs event!” declared Brian Varner.

“What a gift to the community she is,” wrote Joell Tori.

At commencement on May 8, Chancellor Justin Schwartz recognized Coppom with the Chancellor’s Impact Award, and Folsom Field roared with delight.

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Photos courtesy (via Facebook) Haley Deese; Shelley Forrest; Brandie Hopek; Joell Tori; Jennifer Schoon Morris; Michael Nate Richardson

Peggy Coppom was honored with the Chancellor’s Impact Award.

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A Century of CU Spirit from CU Twin Peggy Coppom

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:33:00 +0000

A Century of CU Spirit from CU Twin Peggy Coppom Anna Tolette Mon, 03/10/2025 - 14:33

Maria Kuntz

Peggy Coppom in her Boulder home.

When I arrived at Peggy Fitzgerald Coppom’s (A&S ex’46) home, I was immediately greeted by Eddie Olivari (MPubAd’78), a friend who drives her to and from church daily. He explained that her phone interview with The Today Show was running a little long, but he invited me in, offered me a Coke and showed me the ins and outs of her 1940s pink-and-chrome Frigidaire electric stove.

Peggy is perhaps the most unlikely of modern-day superfans. She doesn’t wear face paint and costumes or seek the attention of cameras and Instagram. When Peggy and her identical twin, Betty Fitzgerald Hoover (A&S ex’46), who died in 2020, began cheering on the Buffs in the 1940s, they were just out to have a good time.

“Growing up on Colorado’s eastern plains, moving to Boulder for high school equated to the big city. At the time, high school games and city dances were the common ways to socialize,” said Peggy.

The twins met their future husbands at Longmont High School, where their love of football and basketball took root.

“We liked basketball and football because that’s what we had in high school. We didn’t have anything else,” Peggy said. “And then we said, well, let’s go. We better go.”

When they enrolled at CU Boulder, they found a new love: CU athletics. In addition to football and basketball, Peggy and Betty started following more sports, including volleyball and tennis.

For some years, raising children took them away from their beloved stands. But that break was short-lived.

“Well, Betty and I used to say — and I still do — we pray and play,” she said. “Prayer is first. Play is second.”

Peggy recounted, “My older son Jack (PE’67) played baseball at CU Boulder and was an All Big Eight Player his junior year. So we went to all the baseball games in those days.”

In time, the sisters began faithfully attending football and basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, baseball, lacrosse and track, and they became a staple in the bleachers — easily spotted in their custom athletic gold sweatshirts.

Pray and Play

While Peggy is most famous for her Buffalo fandom, there are two constants in her life: church and CU athletics. Raised Catholic, Peggy started attending daily mass in the 1950s.

“Well, Betty and I used to say — and I still do — we pray and play,” she said. “Prayer is first. Play is second.”

Peggy and Betty were known to pray for CU Buffs players, and the list is always growing. Even if Peggy forgets someone’s name, she puts them on the list because “He knows who they are,” she said, pointing upward. Prayer anchors Peggy, and she places it first because it helps her “have good faith, keep a positive attitude and be happy.”

Peggy represents more than CU fandom — she embodies goodness and loyalty. During our visit, I asked her friend Mike Richardson — who is from Estes Park, Colorado, and stopped by with a black-and-gold holiday wreath for Peggy — how they met.

“I was just drawn to her,” he said. “When my kids were little, I’d see the twins at all of the games, and so I finally went up and introduced myself and my kids.”

In November, a packed Folsom Field sang “Happy Birthday” to Peggy on her 100th birthday.

“I just stood there and cried because that’s the way it made me feel — very, very humble,” she said. “I don’t feel like I’ve done anything except be a good fan to CU. [Betty and I] went to so many sporting things. I can’t deny that we have been good fans. We have been.”

But don’t think for a minute that she lacks fire.

When we talked about winning and losing, she said: “If no one wanted the other team to win, it wouldn’t be any fun. It’s a big competition. When the opposing team’s fans come to the game and cheer loudly, those are the games that we get excited about.”

Peggy Gets Her Bowl

“Be loyal. No matter if they win or lose in the end, it’ll make you feel better to be loyal to your school because everyone can’t be a winner every time. And sometimes your loyalty is more important when you lose than when you win.”

The “CU Twins” and their famed school spirit were legendary in Boulder before Coach Prime’s arrival, but Peggy credits him with making her internationally famous.

Reflecting on the press conferences, interviews, photo ops and her own name, image and likeness (NIL) deal, she said, “I was thinking the other day, ‘You know, God, I wonder if your part in this was to help me not miss Betty so much. You’re giving me all these things to do now.’” For the past two years, the CU Boulder community has filled her life when she needed it most.

When Peggy and I met, the bowl game Coach Prime promised her at the beginning of the season was 17 days away. She would fly first class to Texas for the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl.

Her advice to other CU fans: “Be loyal. No matter if they win or lose in the end, it’ll make you feel better to be loyal to your school because everyone can’t be a winner every time. And sometimes your loyalty is more important when you lose than when you win.”

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Peggy Coppom, a lifelong supporter of CU athletics, celebrated her 100th birthday and reflected on her loyalty to the Buffs.

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Thinking Huts Is Printing a Brighter Future

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:24:56 +0000

Thinking Huts Is Printing a Brighter Future Anna Tolette Mon, 03/10/2025 - 14:24

Kelsey Yandura

In 2015, “3D printing” still conjured up images of the absurd, the novel or the futuristic — think custom tabletop game pieces, small replacement parts, decorative novelties and even 3D-printed chocolate.

But Maggie Grout (Mgmt’21) has never been one to think small. At just 15 years old, three years before she enrolled as a Buff, Grout walked up to her dad and asked a life-changing question: “What if we 3D-printed a school?”

The answer, in the form of Grout’s nonprofit Thinking Huts, would ripple out to impact not only her own future, but the futures of families and communities across the globe.

Welcome to Bougainvillea

In 2022, seven years after Grout’s initial idea sparked, Bougainvillea was born — a 700-square foot, 3D-printed school in south central Madagascar and Thinking Huts’ first officially completed project.

According to data from UNESCO and the United Nations, sub-Saharan Africa faces the highest education exclusion rates in the world. In Madagascar, the crisis is acute: three-fourths of secondary-age children don’t attend school due to issues like overcrowding and dangerous commutes. One-third won’t complete primary education, and 97 percent of 10-year-olds who finish primary school cannot read simple sentences.

Thinking Huts hopes to change that. Bougainvillea is small but mighty, holding up to 30 students and serving as a beacon of hope for the local community and proof of Thinking Huts’ potential to address the global education opportunity gap.

And while the grunt work of planning and preparing spanned the better part of a decade, the execution was swift — using an industrial-scale 3D printer and a cement mixture, an on-site team printed the modular wall components in just 18 hours. These units were designed to fit together seamlessly, forming a puzzle-like assembly to complete the structure. The roof, doors and windows, handcrafted by local artisans and builders, were added on several weeks later.

Grout recalls: “When I was looking at the walls being printed, I kept thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is crazy. It’s finally happening.’”

Patience Pays Off

Thinking Huts was forged at the intersection of two different causes: education and sustainability. For Grout, they are intimately connected.

“We know that in order for us to continue to increase access to education in these communities, we have to have a focus on sustainable building metrics,” said Kristen Harrington, director of development at Thinking Huts. “A lot of organizations focus on speed. But if you’re looking at how to build more holistic communities and better equip families and address the poverty cycle, you have to take the whole picture into account.”

While this kind of long-term, intersectional problem-solving does not lend itself to the immediate gratification of a “quick fix” — each decision requires careful thought, planning and foresight — Grout said the result is lasting.

“It’s not an overnight thing,” said Grout. “We’re trying to set up the next few generations to succeed and go further than us, rather than thinking of the short term. It’s a long haul type of journey.”

A Relational Approach

For Thinking Huts, this kind of holistic approach means focusing on building strong, equitable, sustainable relationships in their partner communities.

“Relationship building is a slow drip,” Harrington said. “It’s an opportunity for us to really assess what’s going to be able to create sustainability in these structures for generations.”

In order to create this sense of longevity, Thinking Huts spends time building trust with community leaders and students, taking their needs and skills into account and assessing how to collaborate with local workers, builders, artisans and technicians. For Bougainvillea, this meant partnering with area manufacturers in the construction process, handing off 3D operational skills that can be applied to future construction projects.

Grout said this relationship-first ethos has roots in her years at CU Boulder, where she said the people she met were the most impactful, including her mentorship with Mike Leeds (Fin’74).

“I think even now I’m realizing how critical it is to have a network of people around you,” she said. “The relationships I developed are the biggest things that I took away from school.”

CEO with a Story

Grout said her passion for educational opportunities has been a lifelong journey. Born and abandoned in a rural village in China, she was adopted by American parents at 18 months old and grew up in the U.S.

“I think I’ve already always been more aware of how people’s lives are different from mine,” said Grout. “I had big visions from a young age, just knowing my life could have followed a very different path. That’s what drew me more to understanding the importance of education.”

The result is a work ethic and leadership style that Harrington said extends beyond her years and has garnered international attention from major media outlets like Forbes and Good Morning America. In fall 2024, Grout was featured as one of Time magazine’s featured “Next Generation Leaders.”

“Maggie has this true grit and determination,” said Harrington. “She doesn’t want any child to feel like they don’t have the access that she had because she was adopted. So now she can bring opportunity to children in the pockets of the world that often don’t see innovation.”

Honeycomb on the Horizon

For Grout and her team of 10, Bougainvillea is just the beginning. Next up is the Honeycomb Campus. Named for its design of adjoining hexagonal bases, this multi-building project will serve three remote villages on the west coast of Madagascar. The project is set to include solar power and Wi-Fi access and will impact more than 200 students ages four to 16, starting in summer 2025.

When asked about her approach to the future and how she’d encourage other innovators in philanthropy and sustainability, Grout emphasized a sense of hope.

“I know that what we do now will have a major impact later on,” she said. “I am trying to aspire for a legacy of change, even if it takes time.”

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Photos courtesy Thinking Huts

Thinking Huts, founded by Maggie Grout, uses 3D printing technology to build sustainable schools in underserved communities.

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From College Roommates to National Business Co-Founders

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:55:22 +0000

From College Roommates to National Business Co-Founders Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:55

Sophia McKeown

In 2023, Eddy Connors (Bus’21) and Luke Siegert (FilmSt’22) went from college roommates and fraternity brothers to startup co-founders when they launched Goodie Bag, a marketplace for surplus food. The app aims to reduce food waste by offering “perfectly good unsold food” from local businesses at a significant discount. Since its inception, Goodie Bag has expanded nationally to over 200 partnering shops, including OZO Coffee, Charleston Bagels and Blend Juice Bar. Connors, who serves as CEO, talks about the company here.

Eddy Connors, middle left, and Luke Siegert, far left, started Goodie Bag in 2023.

You came up with Goodie Bag during a CU entrepreneurship course. How did it come about?

From the get-go, we wanted to muster up an idea that would both make positive social change and generate profit. There was an opportunity to prevent good food from going to waste by connecting it to people at lower prices. That business idea ended up winning the “Startup Summer” pitch competition.

How did you and Luke go from college roommates to business partners?

As roommates, we would always talk about different business ideas, different industries that needed to be shaken up. We both knew there was so much opportunity to create better outcomes for people and our planet, and that excited us.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in scaling the business?

In the beginning, our biggest challenge was figuring out the technology of our app since Luke and I were not engineers ourselves. We also faced some team challenges that required difficult conversations early and often as we took the company from a school project to a full-time business. Team is everything.

With over 200 partner shops and 45,000 meals saved from going to waste, what are your next big goals for Goodie Bag?

Our greatest goal is to ensure no good food goes to waste. That’s the vision that guides us. As for what’s next, we want to increase our presence in existing markets by partnering with more shops in cities like Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins.

Reflecting on your journey from CU student to CEO, what advice would you give current students interested in launching their own businesses?

Do it! In all seriousness though, just remember that inaction is always the wrong answer. Know that you’re going to have failures along the way, but as long as you’re able to learn and adapt, it’ll be a worthwhile experience.

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Photo courtesy Goodie Bag

Eddy Connors and Luke Siegert transformed their college project into Goodie Bag, a successful startup that connects local businesses with consumers to reduce food waste.

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Spring 2025

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Authentic Storytelling in Higher Education

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:49:51 +0000

Authentic Storytelling in Higher Education Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:49

Kelsey Yandura

A principal at TVP Communications, a boutique public relations agency specializing in higher education (higher ed), Teresa Valerio Parrot (Comm, EPOBio’97; MPubAd’03) is known as the agency’s “president whisperer” for her ability to help senior administrators translate their expertise into sharable insights (think: blogs, podcasts and other media formats). Valerio Parrot also co-hosts the Trusted Voices podcast and is the founding co-editor and a contributor to the blog “Call to Action.”

What are some of the biggest issues higher ed is facing?

Higher education is critiqued for being too elite, expensive and out of touch — but these criticisms boil down to an education being too far separated from someone else’s current experience, reality or memory. When I talk to people about their own experiences of college, I almost exclusively hear stories about how a degree positively changed someone’s life.

If you could communicate one thing to institutions, what would it be?

I would encourage institutions to own their excellence and stop trying to be like everyone else. Each institution has its own sparkle, and they often lose what makes them unique when they try to be like everyone else. Mimicry is where institutions go to die.

You’ve been called a ‘higher ed truth teller.’ What does that mean?

It is easy for leaders to surround themselves with those who tell them what they want to hear. I tell presidents and boards what the moment requires and what it demands from a leadership response — which means telling the truth. It’s never the easy route, but it’s the appreciated approach.

Why does higher ed matter today?

Higher education provides opportunities. Degrees and institutions make a difference in graduates’ lives, create economic impact in their communities and directly benefit society through research.

How did your time studying and working at CU shape your career?

I majored in just about everything CU had to offer before settling on communications and public relations, and I’m so thankful this is where I landed. This field has allowed me to travel the world, specialize in higher education and launch my own business. Through the university, I have been fortunate enough to learn from and have access to phenomenal leaders, mentors and communicators who invested in me as a professional and human being. I’m forever grateful to CU and the Presidents Leadership Class for seeing my potential and investing in me as a professional.

Sko Buffs!

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Photo courtesy TVP Communications

Teresa Valerio Parrot, a principal at TVP Communications, helps higher education leaders communicate their unique stories and expertise.

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81-Year-Old Earns PhD from CU Boulder

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:40:59 +0000

81-Year-Old Earns PhD from CU Boulder Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:40

Christie Sounart

At the age of 81, Alan Cohen (PhDHist’24) defended his dissertation and received his doctorate in history from CU Boulder. His work focused on the early years of commercial jet aviation and the Boeing 707. Before returning to school, Cohen spent many years working in government and running a Denver-based scrap metal business, Iron & Metals, Inc.

Talk about your career.

I received my undergraduate degree from University of California, Berkeley, then went to graduate school for economics at Yale. Afterward, I got a job working with USAID in South America and spent nine years in Guatemala and Colombia before becoming an economic consultant on natural resource issues in Washington, D.C. Later, I took over as manager at the family scrap metal business in Denver. When I approached retirement myself, my son took it over from me.

What was your experience pursuing a PhD?

Economic history interested me, particularly in the American West. When living in Colorado, I met CU professors Ann Carlos and Patty Limerick and took their courses as an auditor and eventually decided to take the courses for credit. I figured I would learn more by actually doing the work. I took the first course about 15 years ago. It took me six years to do all of the coursework before I passed the oral exam. My wife and I moved to Palm Springs because she was sick, and that slowed my research down. When she died, I moved back to Denver to be near my two sons. After another long break during COVID, I finally finished my dissertation in about two years.

What was it like going to school in your 70s?

Going back to graduate school was a wonderful experience — learning from younger people and this generation of teachers. One of my biggest takeaways has been political: I think of myself as progressive, but I’m actually a lot more conservative than some of the younger generation.

Will you take any more classes?

I think I will start another research project. I’m fascinated by Singapore and its modern history, especially how it managed to break away from colonialism successfully.

What else should we know about you?

I started out as a young person learning about the American Civil War, and my interest grew out of that. Also, when I went to Berkeley, it was free — California didn’t charge tuition to in-state students at the time. Right now, I’m helping a couple of other students go to college by paying their tuition. It’s payback for my free education.

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Photo courtesy Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen earned his doctorate in history from CU Boulder, reflecting on his diverse career and passion for research.

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Alumni Profile

The Rebuiling of a Family Business

How do you describe your position at BDI?

What inspired you to rebuild BDI?

What was it like stepping into a leadership role at a company your parents built?

Looking back now, what advice do you have for yourself as you were graduating?

What else should we know about you?

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The Scoop on Sweet Cow’s Journey to Success

What inspired you to start an ice cream business?

What qualities does Sweet Cow prioritize when hiring staff?

What sets your ice cream apart?

What’s your most unique flavor?

I’ve seen your stickers all over town. What’s your marketing strategy?

What’s your go-to Sweet Cow order?

What’s your most popular flavor?

What advice would you give those looking to start their own business?

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Kevin Fitzgerald: Vet, Comedian and CU Legend

Tell us about your memoir. What do you hope readers, especially CU grads, take away from it?

As someone who’s worn so many hats — vet, comedian, author, conservationist — what is the common thread that has guided your career?

Of all the animals you’ve worked with over the years, which is your favorite?

Looking back on your time at CU Boulder, how did the university shape the path you’ve taken?

How do you find the courage to try so many new things?

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Five CU Innovators Changing the World

Jump to:

Idowu Odeyemi (PhDPhil’27)

Savannah Sellers (Jour’13)

Dania Arayssi (MPolSci’22; PhD’26)

Jun Ye (PhDPhys'97)

Steve Swanson (EngrPhys’83)

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Celebrating Miss Peggy

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A Century of CU Spirit from CU Twin Peggy Coppom

Pray and Play

Peggy Gets Her Bowl

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Thinking Huts Is Printing a Brighter Future

Welcome to Bougainvillea

Patience Pays Off

A Relational Approach

CEO with a Story

Honeycomb on the Horizon

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From College Roommates to National Business Co-Founders

You came up with Goodie Bag during a CU entrepreneurship course. How did it come about?

How did you and Luke go from college roommates to business partners?

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in scaling the business?

With over 200 partner shops and 45,000 meals saved from going to waste, what are your next big goals for Goodie Bag?

Reflecting on your journey from CU student to CEO, what advice would you give current students interested in launching their own businesses?

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Authentic Storytelling in Higher Education

What are some of the biggest issues higher ed is facing?

If you could communicate one thing to institutions, what would it be?

You’ve been called a ‘higher ed truth teller.’ What does that mean?

Why does higher ed matter today?

How did your time studying and working at CU shape your career?

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81-Year-Old Earns PhD from CU Boulder

Talk about your career.

What was your experience pursuing a PhD?

What was it like going to school in your 70s?

Will you take any more classes?

What else should we know about you?

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