Higher education must remain a critical investment for the state of Colorado, even in the face of a daunting $800 million state budget shortfall. This was the prevailing message of CU President Todd Saliman and the university’s shared governance leaders who testified last week before the state’s Joint Budget Committee (JBC) at its annual hearing on higher education.
Chad Marturano’s career began in government and public policy, where he developed a front-row perspective on how financial decisions shape outcomes for communities across the state. Marturano has served as CU vice president and chief financial officer since 2022. He advises system leadership, campus CFOs, state agencies and the Board of Regents on complex choices that influence CU’s mission of educating students, advancing research and delivering life-changing health care.
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.
As CU’s chief procurement officer, Ed Mills oversees purchasing, contracting, strategic sourcing, travel, expenses, data analytics and technology for the university, which he likens to operating a handful of small cities. “Each (campus and system administration) needs supplies, services and support to function,” he said. “My team makes sure those things are there, on time and at scale, in support of each one’s mission.” Mills shares his thoughts on what constitutes good procurement, how CU works to strengthen Colorado businesses and the next frontier in his field.
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.
The 2025 CU Presidential Outreach Tour concluded last week with a visit to Colorado’s Western Slope, where President Todd Saliman, Regent Ray Scott and system administration leaders visited Mesa and Montrose counties. The tour capped off CU’s summer effort to strengthen relationships with communities across the state, demonstrating how CU is for all of Colorado.
