Five questions for Kerry Tipper
Kerry Tipper didn’t take a straight line to the University of Colorado. Raised in Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States, she learned early the value of language, identity and perspective as the daughter of a teacher and a military veteran.
Before law school, she waited tables. She credits that job with teaching her about listening, patience and real-world problem-solving. She still draws on that experience, which reminds her that every role, regardless of title, is about service.
As CU’s vice president of University Counsel and the system’s chief legal officer, Tipper serves as the top legal adviser for the university, providing leaders with legal insight, political experience and strategic guidance to help them navigate complex decisions while prioritizing the university’s mission and people. She previously served in a similar role for the city of Denver; her past time in public service also includes two terms in the Legislature, winning election to represent House District 28 in central Lakewood.
1. Your background spans multiple cultures and countries. How did that shape your path into law and public service?
I was born in Denver, but my childhood was spent largely in Costa Rica and Mexico, where my mother attended graduate school. Growing up bilingual and bicultural opened my eyes to how identity and experience shape opportunity.
I always saw lawyers in books and on TV as people with agency and a voice, people who could help others, and that resonated with me from a young age.
My early job as a Spanish translator at an immigration law firm exposed me to the real stories behind immigration and the difficult choices families make. Seeing people risk everything to cross a desert for a chance at a better life solidified my desire to become a lawyer, not for prestige, but to advocate for those who need it most.
2. What drew you to CU and this leadership role?
I was serving as the city attorney for Denver and loved the combination of legal complexity, strategy and public service. CU offered something similar, but on a much larger scale. We are the third-largest employer in Colorado with a mission that directly transforms lives.
Education changed my parents’ trajectory, and mine, in a single generation. Being part of an institution like CU, whose purpose is to create that kind of generational change, was irresistible. I’m living proof of what access to education can do, and working at CU means I get to help ensure that opportunity exists for thousands of others.
My political background and time in the Legislature also give me a unique lens for navigating decisions that aren’t just legal, but strategic and public-facing.
3. How would you describe your leadership style?
I’m deeply collaborative and inquisitive. I want to understand the “why” behind people’s perspectives and create space for honest insights, including the things people usually think but don’t say out loud. In the city, we called these the “left-hand column thoughts,” and I encourage my team to voice them respectfully. If we don’t surface concerns, we can’t solve problems. Nine times out of 10, someone else is thinking the same thing – and naming it respectfully moves us from assumptions to solutions.
Leadership, to me, is helping people get where they want to go by meeting them where they are, not dictating from above.
4. People often assume your job is purely legal. What’s something they might not realize about your role?
Yes, I’m the top lawyer for CU, but legal expertise is only part of what this job requires. I serve as a sounding board and strategic adviser. Some days, my role feels like that of an ER doctor: I triage the issue, stabilize the situation and hand it off to subject-matter experts.
Being calm under pressure sets the tone. My responsibility isn’t just to identify legal risks, but to help leaders understand operational, political and optical implications so they can make fully informed decisions.
My role is to provide as much information as possible so decision makers can make informed choices. You can’t be afraid to speak your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. My job isn’t to make decisions for others, but to give leaders the clearest picture possible so they can make the right ones.
5. When you’re not navigating legal strategy, how do you unwind?
If it’s Friday afternoon, I’m probably trying to get out of Denver with my 1- and 5-year-old in tow. Camping has become our reset button, even if it means a terrible night’s sleep.
Recently, we visited Camp Hale, the former 10th Mountain Division training ground, and it was stunning. Getting my kids outdoors, spending time with them and my husband exploring different parts of the state – that’s my joy.
