New year, new Board of Regents

The CU Board of Regents on Friday officially welcomed its newest members, Heidi Ganahl and Jack Kroll, and returning Regent Sue Sharkey, all of whom took their oaths of office during a ceremony at 1800 Grant St. in Denver.

The three, who were elected to six-year terms in November, were joined by family, friends, current and past members of the board, CU President Bruce and Marcy Benson and many other members of the CU community.

Nancy E. Rice, chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, presided over the swearing-in ceremony, which was delayed a day and moved from CU Boulder because of last week’s snowstorm.

Ganahl, R-Superior, holds an at-large seat. She is best known as the entrepreneur who founded and later sold the pet-care franchise Camp Bow Wow. The CU Boulder alumna also leads a nonprofit, Moms Fight Back, which links Colorado women fighting problems confronting youth, including teen sexual assault, school safety, family court reform and the impact of marijuana.

“It’s been quite an experience over the past year,” Ganahl said. “I’ve made wonderful friends. … I’ve fallen even more in love with the University of Colorado and everything it does for our children, for our communities and for everyone across the state.

“I will do everything I can to make you proud. Go CU!”

Kroll, D-Denver, represents the 1st Congressional District. A CU Denver alumnus, he works on staff at CU Boulder as an admissions officer. Kroll previously interacted with the board directly while in his role as chair of the Intercampus Student Forum.

“I am keenly aware that many wiser regents have come before me,” Kroll said. “I plan to learn from all my fellow regents. As regents, we are governors of our state’s most valuable asset. … We are obliged to work our hardest to sustain and improve this university for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Sharkey, R-Castle Rock, was first elected in 2010 to represent the 4th Congressional District. She has long been involved in leadership and business in the state and is a proud CU parent. She is the mother of three adult children, two of whom graduated from CU Boulder. Her husband, David, also is an alumnus and past president of the CU Boulder Parents Association; she thanked him for first introducing her to CU.

“I came to love (CU) as well,” she said. “I wish I would have had that privilege (of attending), but I did not. I hope I can … make sure that first-generation college students have access to CU and higher education. If I, as a regent, can affect that, I’ll feel l have accomplished something.”

President Benson gave kudos to the newly elected board members and the regents they’ll be joining. The nine-member board’s mid-winter retreat is Jan. 19 at CU South Denver.

“I think this will go down as one of the better boards we’ve had at this university,” Benson said. “I really look forward to working with this new board.”

Also attending Friday’s ceremony: Board Chair Irene Griego; Regents John Carson and Stephen Ludwig; Regents Emereti Steve Bosley, Michael Carrigan and Norwood Robb; CU Denver Chancellor Dorothy Horrell and CU Anschutz Medical Campus Chancellor Don Elliman.