CU-Boulder chancellor names Shea chief of staff

Catherine Shea

University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano on Tuesday named Catherine Shea his next chief of staff, effective Aug. 20.

Shea currently serves as senior associate counsel for technology transfer and research compliance for the University of Colorado system.

The chancellor’s chief of staff reports directly to the chancellor and is a member of the chancellor’s senior leadership team, serving as a point of contact for the chancellor in coordinating with the cabinet and executive committee, campus faculty and students, and other internal and external constituencies.

“Catherine brings years of knowledge of CU policies and procedures into this position and I’m delighted she has agreed to serve as my next chief of staff,” DiStefano said. “In addition, her strong ties to our federal lab community and her years as chief of staff at the National Center for Atmospheric Research will be an asset to the university.”

The chief of staff also coordinates work flow and project management for the Office of the Chancellor and assists in policy coordination and implementation in conjunction with the Office of the President and the University of Colorado Board of Regents.

In her current position, Shea handles a wide variety of transactions related to the university’s research and education missions, including those that involve technology transfer, intellectual property policies, data and privacy rights, as well as trademark and copyright issues.

Before joining CU in 2007, Shea served as chief of staff at the National Center for Atmospheric Research where she led several management initiatives during the center’s reorganization. She also has held legal positions with the University Center for Atmospheric Research, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Shea has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

Shea succeeds Mary Jo “Joey” White, who will continue to work limited hours assisting Shea in the transition to her new position and completing special projects for the chancellor.