Faculty Profile

Chancellor Schwartz on What Makes Buffs Bold

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:13:24 +0000

Chancellor Schwartz on What Makes Buffs Bold Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:13

Maria Kuntz

Chancellor Schwartz at the AAPI graduation ceremony this spring.

Coloradan editor Maria Kuntz sat down with Chancellor Justin Schwartz to gather his perspective on what makes Buffs so extraordinary and bold.

You’ve worked and studied at several of the nation’s most respected institutions. What is it about CU students and faculty that sets them apart?

They’re not only focused on their disciplinary interest but also deeply committed to using whatever disciplinary expertise they have to create real impact on the world. In particular, [there’s] a core underpinning — a commitment to sustainability that is really genuine. It’s not an item on a list. It’s very much embedded into the culture of our community.

Alumni are leading space missions, launching startups and advancing climate science. What do you think is happening here that produces such bold, purpose-driven people?

Decades ago, a culture of excellence, doing big things and taking on leadership roles developed in Boulder. And it’s just continued to feed on and develop itself. Now, we naturally attract people with that mindset and core values so that the culture becomes self-propagating.

Tell me about a moment from this past year, maybe involving a student, alum or a faculty member, that genuinely surprised or moved you.

One of the moments that stands out was the first time [my spouse, Dr. G, and I] worked out with the Ralphie handlers in the gym. We witnessed how much camaraderie and esprit de corps there was between them, and then they brought us in seamlessly and naturally. It’s a truly energetic, dedicated and ridiculously hard-working culture.

You’re a year into your tenure. What’s your boldest hope for what people will say about CU Boulder five years from now? Not just as a university, but as a force in the world.

Five years from now, we want to be known for having transformed how higher education institutions across the country approach sustainability in terms of academics, implementation and knowledge transfer. I hope we will become a resource for our peers across the country.

When you’re talking to someone who’s never been to Boulder, what do you say to help them understand what’s special about this place?

I would start by saying: Until you’ve experienced it, it’s hard to explain. There are so many people I’ve heard say, ‘I came to visit and knew right away that this is where I was going to stay.’ These are alums who are now 70, who came from out of state 50 or 60 years ago. It’s not just the natural beauty of the environment. There is something energetic and inspiring about the community itself.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Chancellor Justin Schwartz shares how CU Boulder’s culture of boldness, sustainability and community drives students and faculty to make a meaningful impact on the world.

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The Secret Life of Mary Rippon

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:07:42 +0000

The Secret Life of Mary Rippon Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:07

Christie Sounart

Mary Rippon in 1882.

In September 1877, the University of Colorado began its first academic year. Joseph Sewall served as the university’s president, and 55 students were enrolled. Old Main was the sole building on campus.

While looking for faculty to staff the school, Sewall sent a letter to 27-year-old Mary Rippon, whom he met while teaching at her high school, the Illinois State Normal School. He offered her a position teaching French and German language and literature.

Rippon accepted and traveled West via train. She was enamored with Colorado’s beauty, which she likened to Switzerland, where she’d traveled previously.

In January 1878, she became CU’s first female professor and was among America’s first female professors to teach at a state university. The regents offered her a salary of $1,200 a year.

For over 30 years, Rippon worked for CU, gaining respect and admiration from students, faculty and the Boulder community. When she retired in 1909 as head of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature, the CU newspaper Silver and Gold stated, “By her untiring energy as a teacher and her lovable personality, she has brought the German Department to its present high standing and popularity, and all who knew her will be sorry to learn of her departure from the University.”

In 1936, CU dedicated the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre in recognition of her contributions to the university, especially in the arts and humanities. The theater remains home to the second-oldest Shakespeare Festival in the United States.

Yet, despite her revered standing at CU, there was more to Mary Rippon’s story — she lived a double life driven by a deeply personal secret.

Very few people knew Rippon’s secret while she was alive. But in 1993, Boulder historian Silvia Pettem (Psych’69) began digging into her past life to unearth the whole story.

It started when Pettem was poking around the Norlin Library archives in search of ideas for Boulder’s Daily Camera newspaper, where she worked as a columnist. A librarian presented her with intriguing information about Mary Rippon.

“I thought it would be my next article,” said Pettem. “It ended up being a five-year project.”

Rippon pictured in her CU classroom.

A Secret, Kept

In 1986, a man named Wilfred Rieder claimed to be Rippon’s grandson and donated her diaries and account books, which itemized Rippon’s financial expenses, to CU. Seeing as Rippon had always been known to be unmarried and childless, the revelations within puzzled many in the university community. The librarians hoped a researcher could delve into the works to sort out the story. Pettem was hooked.

As she began her research, Pettem learned something shocking: In spring 1888, at age 37, Rippon fell in love with a 25-year-old student, Will Housel, and became pregnant with his child. When the semester ended, the pair married privately and returned to Rippon’s home state of Illinois for the summer.

CU’s regents then approved a year-long sabbatical request from Rippon, in which she stated she hoped for time to focus on her health. No one at the university knew she was pregnant. In the fall, Housel returned to CU to complete his studies, and Rippon traveled to Germany to stay with a trusted friend. In January 1889, Rippon gave birth to their daughter, Miriam.

Pettem learned that Rippon would hide Miriam and her relationship with Housel from the public, but financially support them for the remainder of her life.

The story captivated Pettem, who decided to write Rippon’s biography.

“She was a very well-respected and well-loved professor,” said Pettem, who was influential in obtaining an honorary doctorate for Rippon, which was conferred at commencement in 2006.

“I didn’t want to tarnish her reputation in any way,” she said. “I wanted to know: Was this a tragic story? Was it a happy story? Did she like her life? Did she hate her life?”

Living a Double Life

William Housel, Rippon’s former husband and father to her daughter.

Pettem’s years-long journey took her through countless artifacts and across the country to Rippon’s hometown in Illinois. She poured through newspaper articles and photographs. And she had Rippon’s own words in her hands.

“She had a real delicate handwriting with purple ink,” Pettem said.

As reported in Pettem’s biography Separate Lives: Uncovering the Hidden Family of Victorian Professor Mary Rippon (first self-published in 1999, with a second updated version released by Lyons Press in 2024), Rippon loved Boulder’s wildflowers, had great rapport with her students and was meticulous with journaling her expenses — including the ways she divided her meager university wages to support her small family.

During the Victorian era, Pettem said Rippon would have almost certainly lost her job if people had known she had a child. It was considered a woman’s duty to care for her husband and child at home, Pettem explained. Her position at the university would have been given to a man who would likely provide for a wife and children.

And so, to keep her job at the university and to care for her students (many female students referred to her as “mother”), Rippon chose a life of secrecy.

“As a writer, I couldn’t pass judgment on her. I just reported on her,” said Pettem. “I admired her determination. She did what she wanted to do.”

Supporting a Child From Afar

Pettem’s book sheds light on Rippon’s life after giving birth to Miriam.

This photo is most likely Miriam Housel, Rippon’s daughter.

Rippon spent the remainder of her sabbatical in Europe, and Housel joined her after graduating from CU. However, since Housel had no money or job, and Rippon was returning to teach at CU, the couple decided to place Miriam in a Catholic orphanage in Geneva, Switzerland, where Rippon could afford her care. Housel remained close to the orphanage while taking graduate courses at the University of Geneva, also paid for by Rippon.

When Miriam was two years old, Housel moved back to Boulder, leaving Miriam at the orphanage. Housel and Rippon saw each other twice weekly, but never publicly as husband and wife.

Two years later, Housel traveled to Europe to bring Miriam to the United States. She most likely lived in a Denver girls’ home, Pettem wrote, financially supported by Rippon, who saw her daughter only occasionally. Miriam called her “Aunt Mary,” unaware of their true relationship until Rippon told her as an adult.

Eventually, Rippon and Housel divorced. Between the secret marriage and living separately, they were unable to maintain a close relationship. Housel moved permanently to Michigan with Miriam and remarried. Rippon continued to provide money to the pair, occasionally sending funds to support Housel’s new wife and their children.

Meanwhile, Rippon lived alone at 2463 Twelfth Street in downtown Boulder, a home she’d bought after boarding with Boulder families for nearly two decades. She could walk to campus. She planted lilies of the valley in her garden. Students visited her home frequently for stimulating conversations about literature or language.

Pettem reports that in 1907, students wrote under her yearbook photo: “Earth’s noblest thing — a woman perfected.”

She appeared, Pettem said, content.

Duty or Love?

If Pettem were to meet Rippon today, there’s one thing she’d want to know first.

“I’d say: ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but how did it all start with Will?’”

Rippon in 1906.

She mused that the pair could have shared a love for languages, authors or the beauty of the Colorado outdoors. (Housel had a farming background and rode to campus on a horse.)

Whatever drew them together, it created a bond that defined Rippon’s private life — forever.

But how did her dual lives affect Rippon internally?

Pettem has her ideas.

“Did she feel guilty? Possibly,” she said. “Maybe this was all out of duty ... or maybe it was love.”

While her writings were often cryptic, Rippon left one small clue to how she felt about it all in a diary entry written before she died in 1935 at the age of 85, Pettem said.

Rippon wrote: “Conventionality is the mother of dreariness.”

“I think with that statement,” Pettem said, “she felt she had lived the life she wanted to.”

Photos courtesy Carnegie Library for Local History/Museum of Boulder Collection; Mary Rippon Papers, Cou: 1353, Box 2, Folder 1, Rare and Distinctive Collections, 91��Ƭ��AV Libraries; Heritage Center

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Mary Rippon, CU Boulder's first female professor, lived a remarkable double life, teaching students while secretly supporting a hidden child born from a forbidden love with her former student.

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How a Fish Proved a Mathematical Breakthrough

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:06:33 +0000

How a Fish Proved a Mathematical Breakthrough Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:06

Alison Van Houton

On a March day in 2023, Ben Alessio, then a research assistant at CU Boulder, was wandering around the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, California, when he clocked a surprising sight: a male ornate boxfish undulating in the water, tessellating with violet and tangerine hexagons. It was dazzling — but more importantly, it was vindicating.

The rare fish’s markings were a real-life example of something that he and Ankur Gupta, CU Boulder assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, had previously only modelled mathematically. It confirmed that they were onto a scientific breakthrough.

Turing Patterns

To understand Gupta’s research, one must first understand morphogenesis. Morphogenesis is the process by which cells, tissues and organisms develop their shapes.

Nearly 75 years ago, the famed British mathematician Alan Turing published a paper titled “The Chemical Basis of Morphogenesis.” Since then, Turing’s work has been key to our understanding of how many — but not all — patterns form in nature.

“That’s sort of the foundational thinking, mathematically speaking, for this area of work,” said Gupta.

Turing had an uncommonly innovative mind — his ability to think beyond the status quo and make connections between various fields of thought led to breakthroughs in electronic computing, artificial intelligence, code breaking in WWII and, in this case, mathematical biology.

When it came to morphogenesis, Turing was interested in how heterogeneity, or diversity, arises out of homogeneity, which is when something is composed of all one type of thing. In other words, why does a zebra have both black and white stripes instead of a coat with hairs that are all one solid color, like gray?

The reason is diffusion — which is central to Turing’s theory. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration; molecules tend to spread out until there’s an even distribution (much like people in an elevator). In chemistry, diffusion often dominates systems, especially when particles are tiny.

“Diffusion essentially promotes homogeneity,” said Gupta.

What he means is that if you drop blue dye into clear, still water, for example, it will slowly diffuse, in a gradient, until the whole container is equally blue. Similarly, when mixing red and blue dye in a diffusion-dominated system, one expects the colors to blend, ultimately yielding a homogenous purple hue. However, when a chemical reaction also occurs, something different may happen. In certain conditions, even a diffusion-dominated system can promote heterogeneity from homogeneity.

“Essentially, what [Turing] argued was that under the right conditions, if there is diffusion as well as [a chemical] reaction between different components — if I have five or six dyes, or three or four dyes, and they’re reacting with each other — then essentially it’s just a delicate dance between these two processes.”

These days, the term “Turing pattern” is generally applied to any reaction-diffusion pattern. This natural pattern forms when chemicals react with one another and spread out, often resulting in wavy lines or spots. A notable example of a Turing pattern in nature is the sparkling blue zebra fish, a slender creature that’s gilded with horizontal, blurry-edged golden stripes.

However, some wild animals feature very crisp markings.

“Why would a diffusion model describe something that is so striking and sharp?” Gupta wondered.

An Accidental 91��Ƭ��AVy

Gupta didn’t initially set out to answer that question. His focus was on diffusiophoresis, which is the combination of diffusion, described earlier, and phoresis, which describes how ultra-small dissolved particles — around a tenth or even a hundredth the width of a single human hair — can sometimes drag other things along with them in a solution. So, if diffusion is the way that blue dye spreads through clear water, phoresis is the movement of particles that happens because they’re temporarily dragged by that dye.

Alessio, who was doing computational research at the time, had been running mathematical simulations of reaction-diffusion systems that also had a diffusiophoretic element. The resulting visuals were notably defined, unlike the fuzzier ones that emerge from reaction-diffusion models (as seen in the zebrafish). And it was the striking violet and tangerine hexagon boxfish pattern that caught his attention in the Southern California aquarium.

“I was just literally simulating something like this on my computer,” thought Alessio when he saw it. He snapped a slew of photos and messaged Gupta excitedly. “I have something exciting to show you.”

Until that point, Gupta and Alessio had the models, but they didn’t have an example of them in nature.

“I didn’t have any sort of idea about this fish or anything like that,” said Gupta. “He showed me this, and then we sort of reverse-engineered the missing link.”

They dove into existing research and realized that chromatophores — cells that create pigment in the bodies of fish, reptiles and some other animals — can be carried by dissolved chemicals. In other words, they can move diffusiophoretically (like the particles temporarily dragged by dye).

In late 2023, Gupta and Alessio published a paper titled “Diffusiophoresis-Enhanced Turing Patterns” in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances. Their research advances Turing’s theory by describing how more precise patterns — like the one seen on the ornate boxfish — come to exist.

While Alessio is now working on a PhD in mechanical engineering at Stanford, Gupta intends to continue researching how diffusiophoresis factors into Turing patterns.

“On the pattern-formation side, it would be useful to see if we can replicate some of this synthetically,” he said.

It’s a tall order, but more investigation can potentially help us understand how to control things synthetically.

Gupta is now investigating this phenomenon at an individual-cell level, which he likens to studying a single human versus a population of people.

“If I’m thinking about a population, then one option is to track individual people, and one is to say, ‘What is the population density?’” he said. “It was the population density approach that we were taking in our first paper. But now, we’re examining individual cells, and that has been interesting, because now what we start to see is imperfect Turing patterns.”

While mathematical models tend to be perfect, in reality, you often see imperfections: deformed hexagons or hexagons sliced in half. Taking an individual-cell-level approach to diffusiophoretic Turing patterns could provide more insight into why patterns sometimes don’t appear as expected based on mathematical models.

“We think it’s exciting, because real systems actually are not perfect,” Gupta said.

A Pilgrimage

In October 2023, before the “Diffusiophoresis-enhanced Turing patterns” paper was published, Gupta’s wife was traveling to a conference in San Diego. With anticipation, he packed his bags, hoping to set eyes on the ornate boxfish that inspired their discovery.

Inside the Birch Aquarium, he did a lap around the right side, where most of the fish seemed to be. But he wasn’t sure exactly where to look, and he struggled to spot its telltale scales.

“I couldn’t see it,” he said. “It was hidden.”

Ten minutes passed, then 20. Increasingly worried, he considered enlisting a staff member to help him track it down. Finally, in a last-ditch effort, he ventured off in the direction of the children’s area, toward the other side of the building. There, at long last, he caught his glimpse of the elusive fish.

Eureka.

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Illustration by Petra Péterffy

CU Boulder's Ankur Gupta’s discovery of sharper, more precise natural patterns expands on Alan Turing’s mathematical theory.

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Honoring Alice Eastwood’s Legacy at CU's Herbarium

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:01:03 +0000

Honoring Alice Eastwood’s Legacy at CU's Herbarium Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:01

Julia MacLean

Factoids

Specimen: Primula parryi A. Gray (Parry’s Primrose)

Location: Grays Peak, Colorado
Habitat: Found along streams and in moist meadows in the Rocky Mountain subalpine to alpine regions
Aroma: Has a skunky odor
Collected: July 1888 by Alice Eastwood

The University of Colorado Herbarium houses the world’s most complete documentation of Colorado flora. Located in the basement of the Clare Small Arts and Sciences building, the herbarium’s collection contains nearly 600,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and fungi.

The herbarium’s founding collection dates to the 1880s and belonged to Alice Eastwood, a self-taught plant scientist. During her life, she named 395 species — the fourth-highest of any female scientist.

Eastwood, who served as a teacher in Kiowa, Colorado, spent her summers collecting plants in the mountains. In the preface of her 1893 book, A Popular Flora of Denver, Colorado, Eastwood wrote that she created the publication “with the sole aim of helping students to learn the names of the plants that grow around Denver.” Her collection lived in the Colorado State Historical Society until CU Boulder’s herbarium, which is part of the university’s Museum of Natural History, acquired it under curator William Weber in the 1940s.

Today, Eastwood’s specimens, along with hundreds of thousands of others, support research on and of campus — even internationally. The robust collections are often toured by CU students, faculty, botanists, scholars and local plant enthusiasts.

Said botany collection manager Amber Horning: “I believe that natural history collections have the power to inspire an audience of all ages and backgrounds.”

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Photo courtesy University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO)

CU Boulder’s Herbarium is a resource for researchers and plant enthusiasts worldwide.

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Saving Endangered Languages

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:58:24 +0000

Saving Endangered Languages Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:58

Sophia McKeown

CU Boulder linguistics professors Ambrocio Gutiérrez Lorenzo and Rai Farrelly are working to preserve Zapotec, a family of languages that originated in Southern Mexico and Central America.

For most of human history, the survival of specific languages has relied on one generation passing it on to the next — a process that, in many speech communities, unfolds naturally.

But, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, around half of the world’s 7,000 documented languages are currently considered “endangered.”

CU Boulder linguistics professors Ambrocio Gutiérrez Lorenzo and Rai Farrelly hope to slow the decline.

“Languages are tied very closely to peoples’ identities and their cultures,” said Farrelly in an interview with KUNC this spring. “We believe that there is tremendous value in working to maintain and revitalize [languages].”

Currently, Farrelly and Gutiérrez Lorenzo are working to preserve Zapotec, a family of languages that originated in Southern Mexico and Central America, spoken mostly in Oaxaca, Mexico. Gutiérrez Lorenzo collaborates closely with members of the Teotitlán del Valle community who are interested in learning more about the Zapotec language and contributing to preservation efforts.

Since 2011, he has held monthly meetings with community members to discuss linguistic aspects of the language and the practical applications of his research, including the creation of small dictionaries and the documentation of local narratives.

“[Zapotec] is the language I grew up speaking, so I don’t want it to be lost with my generation,” said Gutiérrez Lorenzo. “I don’t want to be the generation that let it go.”

Besides creating real-world solutions, Gutiérrez Lorenzo and Farrelly are determined to raise awareness around the issue, both on campus and around the world. The colleagues developed a global seminar for CU’s Education Abroad based in Teotitlán del Valle, which offers CU Boulder students the opportunity to live in a rural Mexican community while learning and practicing Spanish and Zapotec.

“Maintaining languages in a community serves to strengthen intergenerational connections,” said Farrelly. “It brings together youth and elders through oral traditions that have been celebrated in many of these communities for centuries.”

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Photo courtesy Rai Farrelly

CU Boulder linguistics professors Ambrocio Gutiérrez Lorenzo and Rai Farrelly work closely with Mexican communities to preserve the endangered Zapotec language and strengthen cultural ties.

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The Stories that Sustain Us: Phaedra Pezzullo's Unique Approach to Sustainability

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:30:53 +0000

The Stories that Sustain Us: Phaedra Pezzullo's Unique Approach to Sustainability Anna Tolette Mon, 03/10/2025 - 14:30

Joe Arney

When you’re trying to change the world — in Phaedra C. Pezzullo’s case, by improving the environment — you need more than scholarly publications to create impact.

It’s why one of her favorite stories involves the fact that her first solo-authored book, Toxic Tourism, inspired the lyrics to a punk-rock song by the band The Holland Dutch.

“Something like that reaches people in more profound ways than just talking about policy or politics,” said Pezzullo, CU Boulder communication professor in the College of Media, Communication and Information (CMCI).

In early 2025, Pezzullo opened CMCI’s Sustainability and Storytelling Lab. And while an academic lab in a formal university setting may sound out of step for someone whose work galvanizes protesters and inspires musicians, she sees it as an exciting next step in the shifting conversation around sustainability.

“The lab is already becoming a space where people from a range of disciplines who study sustainability — students, staff, faculty and community partners — can build relationships and consider the role of storytelling in the field,” she said.

“Something like that reaches people in more profound ways than just talking about policy or politics.”

As with any university lab, creating high-impact learning opportunities for students is key.

Activist Becomes Academic

Pezzullo’s formative educational experiences inspired her teaching philosophy. While a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she interviewed activists and community members in Warren County — known as the birthplace of the environmental justice movement — where landfill toxins were poisoning the water source serving a predominantly Black community.

Listening to their voices and adding her own to the cause helped Pezzullo to see how a single story could unlock millions of dollars to clean a landfill. Cleanup work began as she completed her studies.

“I became hooked on stories,” she said. “When we put storytelling into practice in service of complex problems, like sustainability, we discover why communication is captivating.”

It’s part of why Pezzullo doesn’t limit her storytelling to scholarly publications. Her public-facing work on sustainability includes a podcast, Communicating Care, where she explores sustainability issues like plastic bag bans, disability justice and environmental treaties with other voices from the field.

One of these voices was Emy Kane (IntlAf’13), managing director of Lonely Whale, an organization that raises awareness about and offers alternatives to problematic plastics through partnerships with brands and engagement with companies, scientists and the global youth movement.

“When we put storytelling into practice in service of complex problems, like sustainability, we discover why communication is captivating.”

“What inspired me most about Phaedra is her commitment to sharing stories borne from empathy and action,” said Kane. “I’m thrilled to see my alma mater support her platform and research so that the next generation of leaders are equipped with the stories they need to reimagine the systems that run our world.”

Conversations on the podcast helped inform Pezzullo’s 2023 book, Beyond Straw Men: Plastic Pollution and Networked Cultures of Care, which won three national book awards. Highlighting success stories, she said, is important to counteract the defeatism and fatalism that typically accompany sustainability stories — and she’s seeing such sentiments rising, even in her classroom.

Oftentimes, in the wake of a victory, “people point out just how much is still wrong with pollution, with our climate, with the world,” she said. “Success isn’t that there won’t be more disasters — it’s that, with more thoughtful choices, future disasters may be less impactful. And that is a more challenging story to tell.”

Science Demands Better Stories

Amid news of rising temperatures, invasive microplastics and melting glaciers, it might seem frivolous to talk about sustainability in terms of good storytelling. But experts argue that we’ve struggled to make progress on environmental issues because the deeply scientific nature of these problems makes it hard for the general public to relate.

Robert Cox — Pezzullo’s mentor at UNC Chapel Hill, where he remains an emeritus professor — credited his protégé with laying the basis for how understandable stories can change the course on climate.

“All the work being done to communicate climate science in the public sphere is now being talked about in terms of relatable stories that demonstrate the impact of climate change,” said Cox, a three-time president of the Sierra Club environmental organization and co-author (with Pezzullo) of a textbook on the discipline. “Those stories resonate far beyond just the pages of an academic article. Phaedra’s work really laid the basis for the importance of narrative, of storytelling, to make complex environmental issues approachable.”

“Success isn’t that there won’t be more disasters — it’s that, with more thoughtful choices, future disasters may be less impactful. And that is a more challenging story to tell.”

In her lab, Pezzullo is searching for that impact by forging partnerships within CMCI and CU Boulder to bring different kinds of expertise to the challenge of impactful storytelling — something she’s already doing as director of the university’s graduate certificate in environmental justice. She’s lectured at universities across the globe and has collaborated extensively with Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment on climate change. In the meantime, she and her students build digital “story maps” that illustrate how Colorado communities are affected by environmental and climate injustice.

Pursuing Stories with Confidence

Independent reporter Anthony Albidrez (MJour’24) took a foundational course in environmental justice with Pezzullo to better understand how journalism supports sustainability through storytelling and rigorous news reporting standards.

Because of his class experiences, Albidrez turned a course project about a stream cleanup in Honolulu, where he lives, into a report detailing how the local unhoused population was blamed for a mess that, when cleaned, amounted to 16 tons of trash being removed from the Makiki Stream.

“I don’t think a group of homeless people can drag tons of trash into a streambed, but from my research, they were receiving the brunt of the blame,” Albidrez said. “Phaedra’s course helped give me the confidence to go beyond the government numbers and explanations and find the real story.”

Pezzullo’s ability to encourage that sort of intellectual curiosity is what Cox most appreciates about her impact. Though he’s quick to credit her with pushing the boundaries of their field, Cox most admires how Pezzullo has guided the next generation of thinkers as they seek to advance sustainability through storytelling.

“So many of her students are pursuing academic, business and nonprofit work in this area, and that speaks to her strength as a mentor,” Cox said. “She is such an unselfish person in terms of contributing her labor to the field of environmental communication — and that’s the kind of champion a story like this needs.”

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Illustrations by Scott Bakal

Professor Phaedra Pezzullo aims to make sustainability issues more relatable by integrating storytelling into environmental communication.

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Chancellor Schwartz Discusses CU Boulder's Sustainability Efforts

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:46:52 +0000

Chancellor Schwartz Discusses CU Boulder's Sustainability Efforts Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:46

What do you want people to understand about sustainability?

Sustainability is the most pressing issue facing humankind in the 21st century. We need to ensure that human life continues on the planet in a manner that gives everyone the opportunity for a life worth living. There is a misconception that sustainability is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) issue — that it’s a problem for scientists and engineers to solve. But sustainability is a human challenge. Our failure or success will affect each of us, and we must work together across disciplines to implement solutions.

CU Boulder will soon welcome its first vice chancellor for sustainability. How will this position influence future campus efforts?

I am thrilled that we’ve hired Andrew Mayock, chief sustainability officer for the federal government since 2021, as our inaugural vice chancellor for sustainability. I’ve charged Andrew with advancing CU Boulder’s reputation for bringing climate solutions to life. As the “face of sustainability” for our campus, he will take an inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to build on our legacy and make CU Boulder a household name for sustainability impact across Colorado, the United States and around the globe. I know he is eager to get started!

How can alumni and friends of CU Boulder get involved in sustainability efforts?

We’re always looking for partners who are willing to share their insights, time and financial support to advance CU Boulder’s vision and support our incredible sustainability-focused research and teaching. You also can be an ambassador for CU Boulder in your own communities — tell your friends, neighbors and prospective students about what we’re doing in sustainability! Explore how you can minimize your carbon footprint and address issues of concern in your own cities. If you are an employer, you can also engage with CU Boulder on implementing climate action strategies in your company or workplace.

In five or 10 years, what evidence will show that CU Boulder has advanced in sustainability?

As a campus, we will pursue some “quick wins,” while also working on priorities that take more time and effort. I want to see CU Boulder lead the charge in making Colorado the most sustainable state in the nation. In the coming years, we’ll aim to advance both climate education and the implementation of solutions across the United States and beyond, transforming the way higher education drives sustainability.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Chancellor Schwartz reveals the importance of a collaborative approach and the role of alumni in advancing climate action and sustainability on campus and beyond.

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Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:05:30 +0000

Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:05

Kelsey Yandura

Azza Kamal wears many hats — besides teaching sustainable planning and urban design in CU Boulder’s Environmental Design (ENVD) department, she is an urbanist, policy researcher, and licensed architect in Egypt with a passion for building better and just cities. Her work tackles some of the toughest challenges in urban planning — housing instability, affordability and equitable development — while incorporating cutting-edge geotechnology and a commitment to social and environmental sustainability.

What is sustainable planning and urban design?

Many factors affect sustainability — walkability, resource allocation, population density and the relationship with cars and the transit system. Sustainable planning examines how these factors intersect and addresses policy gaps that impact how and where people live, how they move around the city and the cost for all of this.

What is the link between social and environmental justice and sustainability?

Sustainability without social equity is a problem for everyone. It drives up costs — when we design and build beautiful, green-certified buildings, they often become unaffordable for large portions of the population. This exclusion can increase our carbon footprint, even as we aim to reduce it. Balancing housing affordability with sustainability is complex. We need to ensure we’re not just adding asphalt and concrete but creating livable, environmentally sound spaces that meet the needs of both people and the planet.

What’s an example of these consequences?

When there isn’t enough affordable housing near transit hubs and jobs, low- and moderate-income individuals often have to live farther from their workplaces. This leads to long, costly commutes, which can consume 60% or more of some households’ income while also increasing emissions. Everyone should have access to high-quality, healthy, walkable communities designed with strong environmental policies.

What is the solution?

Developers must be aware of community needs, supported by policies that ensure underserved populations benefit from sustainable, high-quality development. Both affordability and sustainability should be lenses for every project we build and every policy we create at the city and state levels. Otherwise, we risk solving one issue while exacerbating another. It’s complicated to advocate for these policies, but educating students to become thoughtful planners is essential. This is how we can move things in the right direction.

What major changes have you witnessed in urban planning?

For years, local governments have approached urban planning in silos — different departments working independently without much connection. But in the last 10 to 15 years, as we’ve seen more tangible impacts of climate change, cities have begun to adopt a more connected approach. Departments of sustainability are looking at the built environment from a holistic, performance-centered approach: how developments are shaped, how people move to jobs, schools, goods and service areas and how infrastructure interacts with sustainability goals. This perspective is crucial if we’re going to design resilient cities for the future.

What does your day to day look like at CU?

My primary role is teaching and research, but I’m also part of an interdisciplinary team addressing housing affordability in the Mountain West. When I arrived at CU Boulder in January 2024, we received a seed grant to model affordability forecasts for Boulder County. We’re analyzing data to understand what areas are affordable, how the housing market is behaving and the characteristics of households in different areas. This research supports future policies that promote equity in housing access.

What other policy gaps are you addressing in Boulder and across Colorado?

Colorado has made strides in emissions reform, particularly through policies tied to some typologies of affordable housing like ADU [Accessory Dwelling Units] and minimum parking requirements. But the state hasn’t yet measured how impactful these changes are and whether they suffice growing demand for low-cost housing or whether they meet the target emission reduction. That’s the next step — quantifying their effects. This spring, I’m working with students to study developments around transit hubs. We’ll analyze how reducing parking requirements impacts density, increases non-car commuting and reduces CO2 emissions.

What drives you to make an impact?

Justice for everyone. Developing according to the status quo might be easier and faster, and often more profitable, but it eventually harms us all. We must approach development with social and environmental justice in mind, ensuring that those who need affordable housing don’t fall through the cracks. High-quality, affordable housing should be the norm, not the exception. That’s far more important than flashy, high-end buildings.

What brought you to CU Boulder?

Colorado is known for its high quality of life, and the Environmental Design program is multidisciplinary, focusing on social and environmental justice. It’s one of the best programs for educating students on these critical issues. CU also attracts a high percentage of out-of-state students, giving it a broader impact. I see this as a privilege — I get to mentor students who will carry these lessons back to their communities and make meaningful changes wherever they practice.

How does technology fit into your work?

Technology is a powerful tool for planners. For example, we can use virtual and augmented reality to engage communities in urban design projects. When people see realistic models of proposed changes, they’re more likely to support them. This type of community engagement fosters trust and collaboration, helping us create solutions that reflect real needs and concerns.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Although my work seems complex and high-level, it’s rooted in connectedness — every decision we make impacts what we build, how we build and whom we build for. If we don’t consider these connections, we risk falling short of our goals. Teaching this can be challenging because it does not rely on linear thinking, as it involves so many intersecting factors, but I’m optimistic that multidisciplinary collaboration will equip the next generation with the skills and perspectives to make a real and lasting difference.

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Photo by Patrick Campbell

CU Boulder's Azza Kamal discusses balancing affordability and sustainability in urban design.

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Spring 2025

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Welcoming the Wolf to Colorado’s Western Slope

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:48:21 +0000

Welcoming the Wolf to Colorado’s Western Slope Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:48

Dan Oberhaus

On a cold morning in December 2023, Joanna Lambert found herself surrounded by five gray wolves on Colorado’s Western Slope. For most people, this sounds like the stuff of nightmares. But for Lambert, a professor who teaches animal ecology and conservation biology at CU Boulder, it was a dream come true.

“I was so close to the wolves, I could smell and hear them,” Lambert said. “The whole experience was just extraordinary.”

For the first time in over 75 years, gray wolves were about to set foot on Colorado soil, marking the first time an endangered and federally protected species was reintroduced to its native habitat by a democratic vote. And this historic occasion was due in no small part to Lambert’s tireless — and often thankless — work advocating for this misunderstood apex predator.

The “Big Bad Wolf”

Lambert was elated as she watched the wolves bound across the snow-dusted field. But as the last wolf disappeared into the Coloradan wilderness, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety. After a decades-long career studying and advocating for endangered species worldwide, Lambert knew that releasing these wolves into the Rockies was just the beginning. The true test would be whether humans could learn how to co-exist with the wolves — and she had every reason to be worried.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, North America was home to millions of gray wolves whose habitats stretched from modern Mexico into the Canadian north. The largest of any dog species — technically known as Canis lupus — gray wolves were despised by settlers, who viewed them as a threat to their livestock, big game, and personal safety.

“Western settlers brought all these myths and legends about the ’big bad wolf,’” said Lambert. “There’s something about gray wolves that evokes more fear, dread and loathing than any other species I have ever worked with.”

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, settlers systematically tried to exterminate gray wolves in the region. Their programs were devastatingly effective, and by the time gray wolves were officially listed as an endangered species in the mid-1970s, only a few hundred breeding pairs remained in the lower United States.

A vote decides

When Lambert arrived at CU in 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had recently delisted gray wolves as an endangered species in the Northern Rockies. This sparked controversy among conservationists, who argued that gray wolf populations were nowhere near the levels needed to justify delisting.

“Colorado is arguably the best place in the U.S. to reintroduce gray wolves,” Lambert said. “We have around 20 million acres of protected public lands, the most abundant elk population anywhere in the country, and a prime location to enable full latitudinal distribution.”

The lack of government support particularly troubled Mike Phillips, director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, who was previously a state senator of Montana and former biologist with the National Park Service. When Lambert arrived in Boulder, Phillips was cooking up a plan to put the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado to a state vote.

Lambert jumped on board and spent the next five years working with a political campaign team of scientists, nonprofit partners, pollsters, lawyers and citizen volunteers known as the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project (RMWP). By 2019, RMWP had enough signatures to get the initiative on the 2020 General Election ballot. Along with several RMWP colleagues, Lambert herself delivered those signatures to Colorado’s secretary of state.

She was also a spokesperson for the campaign. “Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be in television ads for a political campaign,” reflected Lambert. “I’m happiest in wild landscapes running around after animals, and there I was in the trenches of a campaign.”

The result was Proposition 114, which was voted into law by Coloradans in 2020. Beginning in 2023, it committed the state to releasing around ten gray wolves per year for the next three to five years.

Into the wild

The initiative was a landmark moment for ecological conservation, and it passed by the narrowest of margins — 50.9% in favor. When considering why some would be opposed to the measure, Lambert says that a lot of the opposition stems from concerns about personal safety (though gray wolves almost never attack humans) and impact on livestock producers.

For Lambert, these concerns echo the fears that once nearly drove gray wolves to extinction.

“We’ve lived with wolves and other apex predators through virtually all of our evolutionary history,” said Lambert. “That’s one thing humans are very good at — we’ve got a big brain and the tools to cope. It will just take time to attenuate the inherent fear that many folks have about these predators and to relearn how to share a landscape with them.”

Today, one of Lambert’s major research initiatives is investigating the different evolutionary trajectories of gray wolves and coyotes, the closest living genetic relative to the gray wolf. Unlike gray wolves, coyotes are increasingly co-existing with humans in urban environments. The question for Lambert is why, and the answer may have a lot to teach conservationists about how to tilt the odds in favor of successfully reintroducing the gray wolf throughout the American West.

In the meantime, Lambert believes that Colorado taking the reintroduction of gray wolves into its own hands bodes well for future conservation efforts in the state and across the nation. The journey, however, could be a long and winding one. In August, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials announced that two of the gray wolves released last year — along with three of their pups — would be relocated following a spate of attacks on livestock that local ranchers blamed on wolves.

While Lambert acknowledges this was a blow, she doesn’t see the relocation as a setback and says it’s important to keep sight of the bigger picture.

She says fewer than 0.01% of cattle in the northern Rockies are attacked by gray wolves, and that cattle are far more likely to die from eating larkspur weeds or even being struck by lightning than a wolf attack. And the majority of the reintroduced wolves, she says, are not causing any problems.

“The fundamental reality is that we are living through the sixth extinction crisis and we must learn how to live with wildlife,” said Lambert. “We are turning into a state that represents an alternative way of thinking about how to manage wildlife, and this should be a source of hope for everyone.”

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Illustrations by Anuj Shrestha

After an 80-year absence, gray wolves have returned to Colorado. CU’s Joanna Lambert discusses the implications — and why she fought so hard to make it happen.

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Fall 2024

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CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz Is Setting a New Pace

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:36:30 +0000

CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz Is Setting a New Pace Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:36

Maria Kuntz

Chancellor Justin Schwartz spoke with Coloradan editor Maria Kuntz about innovation, inclusion, sustainability and philanthropy as keys to CU’s future.

You said the chancellor position is exactly what you were looking for. Can you say more about that?

CU’s emphasis on sustainability, inclusivity and innovation struck such a deep chord. These are things I’ve been working with at every stage of my career. There was such a strong, clear commitment to create a meaningful impact. I thought, “This is what’s important to me. This is what I want for the next stage of my career.”

You told the CU Independent that you’ve spent your entire career in large, state universities because it’s most meaningful to you. What is meaningful to you about the missions of these institutions?

Large, state universities were created to democratize access to information and give opportunities to all citizens. They are meant to advance individuals for their self-betterment and also to create knowledge for the betterment of others.

So they’re empowered to discover, not just learn from what has been discovered?

Yes. We’re not teaching people what to think so much as how to think. Higher education has to be creative — it’s about fueling a different kind of conversation that leads to something new.

You’ve recently launched a search for a new position: Vice Chancellor of Sustainability. Can you paint a picture of where CU will be in two, five and 10 years regarding sustainability?

Our goal is to advance an integrated, holistic view of sustainability across campus internally and externally so that our students, researchers and campus can have even more impact. This means putting sustainability into our curriculum and programs and asking: What does society need graduates to know and do to advance sustainability? How do we activate that knowledge? Ten years from now, I’d like the world to say, “Wow. CU Boulder was the one who helped bring together all these constituents across the country and around the globe to address the issue.”

You’re an engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. How do these identities and experiences inform your approach as chancellor?

This is a very innovative and entrepreneurial campus. Sometimes, in academia, we can be hesitant and conservative to try new things — but I want us to remember that it’s OK to fail. Many attempts at innovation don’t work the first time. For the best outcome, you probably have to experiment and experience a few false starts before you strike gold.

You’re open about your dedication to creating greater inclusion and belonging on campus. What are some of the next steps to growing and developing these areas as an institution and a community?

It’s a challenge of both culture and numbers. At many institutions, resources are poured into building numbers. However, what’s often missed is the slow, hard work of building the culture and sense of belonging needed to support those who are being invited in. Without that, inclusion doesn’t work.

We also need to reinforce the idea that inclusivity is truly including all. As a community of scholars, we should be dedicated to appreciating and giving credence to all views — which means all voices must be present and invited to speak.

I’ve heard you talk about life-work balance. What does that mean to you?

I appreciate that you said life-work balance. I tell my staff that I want them to look forward to the weekend, and I want them to look forward to Monday. I don’t want them to miss a moment with their loved ones because there’s something at work they have to do. There’s always a way around that. I have my daughter’s volleyball camp on my calendar. I want to make sure we are present where we are and that we all are where we really want to be.

You’ve been an avid triathlete for a few years, and I’ve seen your Instagram photos on area trails. Any favorite places to get outside?

There are so many great trails. I usually start on the Enchanted Mesa, then go around McClintock and the Mesa Trail. And there are so many more to explore.

You’ve jumped right into fundraising and engaging with Forever Buffs. Why is this important for CU’s future, and how can people support the university?

Beyond donations, spread the word. It’s important because we have a critically important mission to Colorado, to the country, to our students and to the world. We have too many students who would become Forever Buffs but for lack of funding. I don’t want students who belong at CU Boulder to not graduate because of finances. We also have amazing faculty doing incredible work, and breakthroughs rely on funding.

The other thing is the importance of alumni philanthropy. I want Forever Buffs to feel deeply and permanently connected to the campus. Some of the best moments in philanthropy are the connections between donors and beneficiaries. Sometimes, the stories bring tears.

You look touched. Something touched your heart just now, if you’ll share it.

I recently had a conversation with a student whose parents were well-educated, but their degrees were not recognized in the U.S. They each worked two jobs so that their two daughters could go to college, but only had money to send one to college.

However, the older daughter received a scholarship to study computer science, and the resources that were supposed to go to her went to her sister. So they both went to school.

That shows the value — that cascade effect of philanthropy. This story happens over and over again, every week.

When I talk about Forever Buffs being permanently connected with CU, it’s about remembering what got them where they are today. I’ve met so many successful alums who say: “I grew up low [socioeconomic status], and I wouldn’t be where I am in life if it weren’t for CU Boulder.”

It’s crucial to help alumni remember what it was like to be at the beginning of their journey. And that moment, when they see the impact of passing it on, is profound.

How do you envision continuing to build strong ties with communities across Colorado?

We are Colorado’s flagship institution. That means we’re the ship with the flag up high so that others can follow. CU needs to be more proactive in bringing CU Boulder across the state. We need to connect with and understand Colorado’s communities. And we need to partner with more institutions across the state and get more Coloradans excited to be CU Boulder students, alumni and supporters.

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa

We sat down with CU Boulder’s 12th Chancellor, Justin Schwartz, to find out why he says innovation, inclusion, sustainability and the power of philanthropy are keys to CU’s future.

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Fall 2024

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Faculty Profile

Chancellor Schwartz on What Makes Buffs Bold

You’ve worked and studied at several of the nation’s most respected institutions. What is it about CU students and faculty that sets them apart?

Alumni are leading space missions, launching startups and advancing climate science. What do you think is happening here that produces such bold, purpose-driven people?

Tell me about a moment from this past year, maybe involving a student, alum or a faculty member, that genuinely surprised or moved you.

You’re a year into your tenure. What’s your boldest hope for what people will say about CU Boulder five years from now? Not just as a university, but as a force in the world.

When you’re talking to someone who’s never been to Boulder, what do you say to help them understand what’s special about this place?

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The Secret Life of Mary Rippon

A Secret, Kept

Living a Double Life

Supporting a Child From Afar

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How a Fish Proved a Mathematical Breakthrough

Turing Patterns

An Accidental 91��Ƭ������AVy

A Pilgrimage

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Honoring Alice Eastwood’s Legacy at CU's Herbarium

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Saving Endangered Languages

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The Stories that Sustain Us: Phaedra Pezzullo's Unique Approach to Sustainability

Activist Becomes Academic

Science Demands Better Stories

Pursuing Stories with Confidence

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Chancellor Schwartz Discusses CU Boulder's Sustainability Efforts

What do you want people to understand about sustainability?

CU Boulder will soon welcome its first vice chancellor for sustainability. How will this position influence future campus efforts?

How can alumni and friends of CU Boulder get involved in sustainability efforts?

In five or 10 years, what evidence will show that CU Boulder has advanced in sustainability?

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Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning

What is sustainable planning and urban design?

What is the link between social and environmental justice and sustainability?

What’s an example of these consequences?

What is the solution?

What major changes have you witnessed in urban planning?

What does your day to day look like at CU?

What other policy gaps are you addressing in Boulder and across Colorado?

What drives you to make an impact?

What brought you to CU Boulder?

How does technology fit into your work?

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

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Welcoming the Wolf to Colorado’s Western Slope

The “Big Bad Wolf”

A vote decides

Into the wild

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CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz Is Setting a New Pace

You said the chancellor position is exactly what you were looking for. Can you say more about that?

You told the CU Independent that you’ve spent your entire career in large, state universities because it’s most meaningful to you. What is meaningful to you about the missions of these institutions?

So they’re empowered to discover, not just learn from what has been discovered?

You’ve recently launched a search for a new position: Vice Chancellor of Sustainability. Can you paint a picture of where CU will be in two, five and 10 years regarding sustainability?

You’re an engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. How do these identities and experiences inform your approach as chancellor?

You’re open about your dedication to creating greater inclusion and belonging on campus. What are some of the next steps to growing and developing these areas as an institution and a community?

I’ve heard you talk about life-work balance. What does that mean to you?

You’ve been an avid triathlete for a few years, and I’ve seen your Instagram photos on area trails. Any favorite places to get outside?

You’ve jumped right into fundraising and engaging with Forever Buffs. Why is this important for CU’s future, and how can people support the university?

You look touched. Something touched your heart just now, if you’ll share it.

How do you envision continuing to build strong ties with communities across Colorado?

Off

An Accidental 91��Ƭ��AVy