Regents recognize exceptional individuals with annual awards
The University of Colorado Board of Regents has announced the 2026 list of individuals receiving Honorary Degrees, Distinguished Service Awards and University Medals.
Upon the recommendation of the Regents Awards Selection Committee, the full Board of Regents in November approved the nominees. Each recipient has been invited to attend a campus commencement ceremony to accept an award; the dates and locations are to be announced.
Honorary Degrees recognize outstanding achievement in one or more of the following areas: intellectual contributions, university service, philanthropy and/or public service.
Distinguished Service Awards recognize those persons whose achievements and contributions are particularly associated with the state and/or nation.
University Medals recognize those persons whose achievements and contributions are particularly associated with the university.
The 2026 recipients are:
Honorary Degrees
Sue Anschutz-Rodgers (CU Anschutz)
Richard “Dick” Brown (CU Anschutz)
William King (CU Boulder)
Alice Mortenson (CU Boulder)
Distinguished Service Awards
Lorii Rabinowitz (CU Denver)
June Waller (UCCS)
University Medals
Jim Hodge (CU Anschutz)
Deborah Mahan (UCCS)
Clyde Zaidins (CU Denver)
Learn more about the honorees below:
Honorary Degrees
Sue Anschutz-Rodgers (CU Anschutz)
Sue Anschutz-Rodgers is a trailblazing rancher, conservationist and philanthropist known for transformative contributions to health care, education and conservation. As chair and president of the Anschutz Family Foundation since 1982, she has overseen over 10,000 grants totaling $60 million, supporting rural and underserved communities. Her philanthropic legacy includes founding the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Fund to promote women’s self-sufficiency and leadership. Her first major CU gift in 1988 to the CU Anschutz College of Nursing marked the beginning of a legacy of giving that includes support for the CU Anschutz Cancer Center and the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research. Most prominently at CU Anschutz, she endowed the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, which has become a national leader in vision research and care. Her support has enabled groundbreaking scientific achievements, attracted NIH funding and fostered innovative solutions in ophthalmology.
Anschutz-Rodgers also pioneered conservation easements in Colorado, co-founding the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust to protect working ranchlands. Her leadership extends globally, with board service for organizations such as the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, Anschutz-Rodgers’ lifelong dedication to philanthropy and public service has left an indelible mark on Colorado and beyond.
Richard “Dick” Brown (CU Anschutz)
Dedicated philanthropist Richard “Dick” Brown, ’54, is a University of Colorado Boulder alumnus and longtime supporter of the university. His significant contributions to CU have focused on education and the advancement of medical research and women’s health. His generosity includes establishing two endowed chairs at CU Anschutz: the Joyce M. Brown Chair for Developmental Therapeutics in Women’s Cancers and the Brown/Moore Endowed Chair in Excellence in the Patient Experience. He also has been a foundational supporter of CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute, including establishing the Joyce M. and Richard N. Brown Endowed Chair for the BioFrontiers Institute, and early leadership support for the BioFrontiers building.
Brown’s commitment to CU Anschutz was solidified after his wife, Joyce, received life-saving cancer treatment at the campus in 2014. Since then, he has made significant gifts that have supported groundbreaking initiatives, especially women’s health curriculum development and staff excellence at the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research.
A CU Foundation Trustee since 1997, Brown has supported programs across CU’s campuses, including the Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization and the Center for the American West. A U.S. Army veteran, he has supported ROTC at CU Boulder and Boots to Suits at CU Denver. His successful career in insurance, securities, real estate development and banking showcased his strong business acumen. His work, as well as his philanthropic legacy and dedication to community service, have made a lasting impact.
William M. King (CU Boulder)
William M. King, Ph.D., professor emeritus at CU Boulder, is a distinguished scholar, educator and community leader. He was the second tenured African American professor at CU Boulder and the university’s longest-serving Black professor (1972-2012) in history, known for pioneering contributions to Black Studies, transformative teaching and dedication to social justice.
During his 40-year career, King played a pivotal role in establishing CU Boulder’s Black Studies curriculum, which later evolved into the Department of Ethnic Studies. He designed and taught numerous groundbreaking courses, including “Black Religious Life in America” and “The Civil Rights Movement,” inspiring generations of students. A founding member of the National Council for Black Studies, King also served as its chairman and historian, shaping the discipline nationally.
An accomplished author, King has published books, scholarly articles and essays that explore African American history, science and public policy. His widely cited work has enriched academic discourse. Beyond academia, King has served as chairman of the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver and contributed to organizations such as the Black American West Museum and Colorado Historic Preservation Review Board.
Alice Mortenson (CU Boulder)
Alice Mortenson is a renowned philanthropist and community leader who has made exceptional contributions to education, public service and global development. Her enduring legacy of advocacy, collaboration and generosity has left a profound impact on CU Boulder and communities worldwide.
Mortenson – alongside her late husband, M.A. “Mort” Mortenson Jr. – co-founded the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience at CU Boulder in 2009. The center has impacted over 5 million lives globally through innovative solutions addressing water, sanitation and resilience challenges. The center and its affiliates are involved in such international research programs as the Sustainable WASH Systems partnership, Bill Gates’ Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, and the Drought Resilience Impact Platform. Graduate students participating in field practicums benefit from partnerships developed in over 80 countries.
Beyond CU Boulder, Mortenson has made significant contributions to education and community development. She and Mort co-founded the Mortenson Family Foundation, which focuses on expanding opportunities for children and families, sustaining environmental systems and strengthening developing communities. She established the Alice D. Mortenson/Petrovich Chair in Russian History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations, including Macalester College, Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.
Distinguished Service Awards
Lorii Rabinowitz (CU Denver)
Lorii Rabinowitz, CEO of the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF), is known for her transformative leadership and dedication to educational equity in Colorado. Since joining DSF in 2017, Rabinowitz has doubled the organization’s staff, expanded its reach to serve over 7,500 Denver Public Schools students annually and increased scholarship funding to a record $7.6 million in 2024. Under her guidance, DSF has been named a Top Workplace by The Denver Post for six consecutive years.
A recognized leader, Rabinowitz was named Denver Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO in 2023. Her many other accolades include Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business and the Girl Scouts of Colorado Women of Distinction Award. Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured uninterrupted student support, including virtual advising and expanded resources for food, housing and mental health.
Beyond DSF, Rabinowitz is a passionate volunteer, serving on boards and committees for organizations including the CU Denver Business School, MSU Denver, Rose Community Foundation, Swedish Medical Center and Project Angel Heart. Known for her collaborative approach and commitment to equity, Rabinowitz has made a lasting impact on Colorado students, families and communities.
June Waller (UCCS)
June Waller, who studied at UCCS, has over five decades of service as a leader in Colorado Springs, advocating for social equity, community empowerment and public service. She has made significant contributions to housing, civic engagement and education in Colorado and beyond.
During her career with the Colorado Springs Housing Authority, her leadership directly improved access to affordable housing for countless families. She also advanced affordable housing policies while managing Denver’s Section 8 Housing Program. She founded the Savvy Seniors Lunch Program, addressing food insecurity among older adults, and established the Hillside Advisory Team to combat gentrification and promote community health.
Waller’s dedication to civil rights and voter education is evident through her work with the NAACP and the League of Women Voters. She played a key role in restoring the historic Leon Young Pavilion and preserving the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers in Colorado Springs. Her achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the NAACP Living Legend Award, the League of Women Voters’ Love the League Award and the Colorado Springs Business Journal Women of Influence Legacy Award.
University Medals
Jim Hodge (CU Anschutz)
During his eight-year tenure at CU Anschutz, Jim Hodge provided transformative leadership in philanthropy and made lasting contributions to the institution. As Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement, he played a pivotal role in securing landmark gifts, including a $120 million commitment from The Anschutz Foundation. Under his leadership, annual contributions to the campus tripled and the endowment approached $1 billion, ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
While at CU Anschutz, he drew from experience in previous leadership roles at Mayo Clinic and Bowling Green State University, where he spearheaded major fundraising campaigns and initiatives. Known for his generosity, compassion and mentorship, Hodge fostered a culture of collaboration and innovation at CU Anschutz, leaving an indelible mark on the institution’s operations and values. His strategic vision and ability to inspire stakeholders have been credited with reshaping the campus’s philanthropic efforts and advancing its mission.
Valued for his enthusiasm, perspective and thoughtful counsel provided to leadership, Hodge has been a vital force in advancing the mission of CU Anschutz. His guidance helped with navigating critical moments for the campus, and his legacy continues to influence the community.
Deborah Mahan (UCCS)
Deborah Mahan, a distinguished alumna of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, is widely recognized for her exceptional contributions to the university and the broader community. She graduated magna cum laude in psychology in 1999, embarking on postgraduate work focused on trauma. Ever since, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to UCCS through philanthropy, advocacy and service.
As Executive Director of Gazette Charities Foundation and an affiliate of The Anschutz Foundation, Mahan facilitated over $5.4 million in funding for UCCS initiatives, including the Anschutz Engineering Center, Cybersecurity Center, Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience and the School of Public Service. She also played a pivotal role in creating the UCCS Fellowship with Gazette Charities and served on the UCCS Regional Connect for eight years, helping establish Downtown UCCS in 2020.
A champion for mental health, Mahan founded the Colorado Mental Health Consortium and serves as chair of the Lyda Hill Institute’s Advisory Board. Her leadership on the board has advanced mental health initiatives including the GRIT program, which has achieved national and global impact. She further leads at the national level in her role as a vice president for the nonprofit Mindful Philanthropy. Mahan’s lifelong commitment to health equity, education and community resilience exemplifies the values of UCCS.
Clyde Zaidins (CU Denver)
Clyde Zaidins, Ph.D., a distinguished physicist and founding faculty member of the University of Colorado Denver’s Physics Department, built an extraordinary legacy of service, scholarship and philanthropy that spans more than five decades.
Zaidins joined CU Denver in 1967 and played a pivotal role in establishing the Physics Department, serving as chair multiple times, including a return from retirement to stabilize the department from 2015 to 2019. A dedicated educator, he received multiple teaching awards, including the CU Denver College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Teacher Award. He is renowned for his innovative NSF-funded modular science curriculum and his commitment to science communication through his “Just Ask Clyde” platform.
Beyond academia, Zaidins has been a tireless advocate for CU Denver’s growth and independence. His philanthropic efforts include establishing the Zaidins Family Endowed Undergraduate Research Award Fund and supporting student scholarships and emergency funds.
Zaidins’ lifelong dedication to education, research and community continues into his second retirement. He remains a visible and engaged presence on campus, attending events, mentoring students and serving as a vital link between past and present faculty.