CSU Spur of the Moment

Laura Weinberg believes that the best way to improve a community is to bring everyone to the table — not just government, but private industry, neighboring cities, and the people who live and work there every day. For Laura, real progress on complex challenges like housing doesn't come from a single solution, but from collaboration across borders and sectors. Laura is the Mayor of Golden, Colorado...

Abby Bysshe believes the most powerful museum experiences start with fun and lead to curiosity. From hands-on exhibits to full-body interactive moments, her work centers on creating spaces where visitors of all ages can explore science, ask questions, and leave inspired to learn more long after they walk out the door. Abby is the Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at the Franklin Institute in P...

How do great teams solve hard problems? Dr. Michaela Kerrissey believes it starts with curiosity, care, and a willingness to work together. Her research explores what makes teams thrive—how people from different backgrounds can bridge gaps, listen to one another, and turn collaboration into real innovation. Michaela is an Associate Professor of Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public...

George Sparks believes that cultural institutions have the power to bring people together. Not just literally in a collective space but by making a display of the inherent understanding that we are all a part of nature.  George is the CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and has been with the museum for 20 years. Before that, he spent 24 years in the electronics measurement business at H...

The Water in the West Symposium, hosted at CSU Spur, brings in speakers from different disciplines from around the world every year to discuss global and local water challenges. The 2023 symposium was centered around “Next Gen Water: From AI to Gen Z,” and in this special episode of CSU Spur of the Moment you will hear a panel discussion that focuses on Indigenous and Tribal water challenges and s...

Mike Gabel laughs anytime he sees food scientists depicted as wearing lab coats and looking through microscopes. It’s not how he sees himself and the work that he does. In fact, he claims that in his 20-year career as a food scientist, he’s never even used a microscope. Instead, Mike helps food entrepreneurs develop products and bring them to market.  Mike is the Director of the Food Innovation Ce...

If you talk to George Franklin he’ll be the first to tell you that lobbyists have a bad rap. Ask him and he will emphasize that integrity and building trust with those around you is what make a good lobbyist, and those things are not often the image that’s depicted on screen and online.  In this special episode of Spur of the Moment, you will hear a conversation between Kristin Kirkpatrick, Managi...

April Giles gets to see things every day that most people don’t — people trying to change the world. Whether it’s predicting lung cancer, molecular wound care, or groundbreaking arthritis treatment, she works closely with organizations from startups to commercial enterprises that are focused on healthcare and life science innovation.  April Giles is the Vice President of Business Development for t...

Nature conservation can mean a lot of things in different contexts — it’s not just working in wetlands and forests, but it also has a role to play in the ways our cities function, too. Additionally, nature doesn’t recognize boundaries or borders, and it requires cooperation between the different countries and states that many natural areas cover. This is the kind of work Leslie Harroun focuses on...

Coca-Cola is one of the most recognized brands on the planet, but how much do you know about their efforts towards a more sustainable planet? For instance their global goal of replenishing 100% of water used during beverage production? Or collecting and recycling a bottle or can for every one sold by 2030? They’re big-time ambitions, and Bruce Karas and his team were tasked with making that happen...

Dan Dye thinks a lot about food. More specifically, Dan thinks a lot about how we can improve our food systems to make for a healthier and more holistic future for both the employees within those sectors and the communities that rely on them.   Dan is the CEO of Ardent Mills, a flour and milling company based here in Denver, CO, and the sponsor of the Ardent Mills Teaching and Culinary Center here...

If you have ever been to one of Adam Schlegel’s restaurant ventures here in Denver, you probably understand his ethos: food is fun! From cozy brunch spots that aim to make breakfast a party, to a chicken joint inspired by his time in Australia, Adam is on a mission to make healthy food exciting! Adam is CEO of Cumulus Etc, a consulting company focused on food, beverage, agriculture, and sustainabi...

Throughout her career, Dr. Sybil Sharvelle has been focused on the notion of fit-for-purpose water. That is, “How can we take various forms of wastewater (i.e. greywater, stormwater, etc..) and treat it to make it safe for human and agricultural consumption?”    A professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University, Dr. Sharvelle also serves as the techn...

Dr. Lakisha Odom, Scientific Program Director at the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), firmly believes in the inclusivity of agriculture. She actively puts that to work by leveraging innovative science and interdisciplinary thinking to address the complex challenges in food and agriculture. Her work at FFAR bridges research and policy, aiming to tackle complex issues while ins...

The nature of work is evolving rapidly, posing both challenges and opportunities for companies. How do organizations adapt to this shifting landscape to attract and retain talent? That moving target is exactly what Joe Fuller is trying to hit. A Professor of Management Practice in General Management at the Harvard School of Business and co-lead of the school’s initiative, Managing the Future of Wo...

Brad Udall is a senior water and climate research scientist at Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center. Though focused on the Colorado River Basin, he is an expert in hydrology and policy-related concerns of the American West, where his work often weaves together science, policy, and communication about these complicated issues. Brad holds an engineering degree from Stanford and an MBA f...

Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and the Director of AgNext — a program at CSU tasked with finding solutions to feeding 12.3 billion people by the end of this century. That might seem like a seriously wicked problem, but it is one that requires addressing, and Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson and her team at AgNext are working diligently to find answers....

Ben Shepherd is the director and planning practice leader at Atelier Ten, an environmental design consulting firm based in New York City. Ben has extensive experience with urban ecology, renewable energy, and green development. He's worked on plans including commercial, university, government, and transportation projects, and has consulted on more than 100 high-performance building projects. Ben a...

What is influencing the health and well-being of populations? Why do people in some neighborhoods develop diseases when those in other neighborhoods don’t? These kinds of questions are often at the forefront of Dr. Sheryl Magzamen’s day-to-to life. Sheryl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Sciences at Colorado State University and her work is primarily fo...

What does it mean to be the Chancellor of a state university system? Dr. Tony Frank joined CSU in 1993 and served in a variety of capacities before becoming university President in 2008. In 2015 he moved into a dual role as president and chancellor of the CSU System — a network of three degree-granting campuses, as well as the CSU Spur campus in Denver, and the CSU Todos Santos Center in Baja Cali...

Jim Lochhead was appointed as the CEO of Denver Water in 2010, where he oversees the management of the drinking water for Denver and the surrounding suburbs. Prior to his tenure at Denver Water, Jim held a variety of positions including working in private law practice on natural resource issues in the US and around the world. Jim will be leaving Denver Water this spring but will leave behind a las...

In December 2018, Governor Jared Polis appointed Kate Greenberg as Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture. Kate brings more than 12 years of working in agriculture that spans from legislative advocacy to working directly in the field. In her current role, Kate provides leadership and direction serving producers operating more than 38,700 farms and ranches in the state. Department of Agriculture We...

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