News of prestigious accolades for University of Colorado faculty and staff drew readers to CU Connections throughout 2025. Details of impressive measures of CU’s impact within the state and across the nation also proved popular reading. Revisit these highlights by exploring our Top 10 list of the most-read features from the past year.
Seven educators at the University of Colorado are being added to the roster of Distinguished Professors, CU’s highest honor for faculty across the four-campus system: Kristen Carpenter, J.D.; Russell Cropanzano, Ph.D.; Marcia Douglas, Ph.D.; Noah Finkelstein, Ph.D.; Karl Linden, Ph.D.; Jade Morton, Ph.D.; and Marc Moss, M.D.
For more than a century, the University of Colorado has served as a launching pad for future officers in the U.S. military through its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs, a college-based pathway that combines academic study with leadership development and military training. CU is the only university in Colorado to host all major branches of ROTC, making it a singular hub for military leadership training in the state. Each year, more than 100 students commission as officers through these programs.
Professor Ann England has been a driving force in Colorado’s legal community for nearly two decades, championing the wrongfully convicted, training the next generation of lawyers and providing pro bono defense for those most in need. This year, her extraordinary service has been recognized with the University of Colorado’s Chase Faculty Community Service Award.
The University of Colorado has announced two recipients of the 2025 Thomas Jefferson Award, one of the university’s highest honors. The award recognizes members of the CU community who exemplify the ideals of Thomas Jefferson, including a commitment to educational excellence, broad interests, civic responsibility and the welfare of individuals.
This year’s honorees are Hannah Wilks, assistant dean of students at CU Boulder, and Wesley Marshall, professor of civil engineering and urban and regional planning at CU Denver.
Following its successful debut last year, CU’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Showcase returns Sept. 15 as part of Colorado Startup Week in downtown Denver. The shift helps signify the power of CU’s innovation engine, which continues to drive change and impact across the state and nation. This year’s showcase includes Inspiration Hall, an expo with more than 60 innovators, entrepreneurs and industry leaders displaying and demonstrating their work; and a keynote session featuring world-class innovators sharing their experiences.
