Alumnus Ed Coet Publishes First Book: "SLK-Serial Killer"

In the 35 years since graduating from Metro State, Ed Coet has worked as a career counterintelligence and human intelligence officer, taught kids in an alternative school and a confinement facility, written poetry, married, had children, and, most recently, published his first book. “SLK-Serial Killer” delves into the dark past of Colorado’s most prolific serial killer. The book took more than two years to research and write, was an expensive endeavor that required a lot of travel to meet with SLK, and was time consuming and stressful.

“It had an emotional price attached to it, the extent of which I did not anticipate,” he explained. Now that it’s done, he feels relief. Unfortunately, not long after publishing the book, the stress returned when he discovered that his daughter has a very rare form of cancer (Proliferal T-Cell Lymphoma). The proceeds of “SLK-Serial Killer” will be donated to help her pay off her medical bills.

Metro State recently traded some emails with this poet and author.

Metro State: Who was your favorite professor?
Ed Coets: My favorite professor back then was Professor Reed (now deceased) in the Law Enforcement and Criminology Department. He was a very tough yet kind professor. More than anything else, he was brilliant. You couldn’t possibly make it through one of his classes without becoming a whole lot smarter. It was a privilege to have been one of his students, and I signed up for his classes whenever I had the opportunity to do so. This in no way diminishes the other professors who were also outstanding. It just that Professor Reed was, well, special.

MS: What inspired you to write this book?
EC: My writing experience previously was as a poet and short story fiction writer, and I also wrote a number of non-fiction articles.

MS: Why did you choose this topic?
EC: It was never my intent to write a true crime novel. The SLK story practically fell in my lap, and I just couldn’t ignore it. I was privy to SLK’s life history and, in some measure, to the inner workings of his unique criminal mind. This special and privileged access, coupled with my own experiences, collectively gave me the skills that I needed to undertake this project. In other words, I was well positioned to reveal, in its grand scope, this spectacular true crime story.

MS: What does this book mean to you?
EC: I view it as a “mission accomplished” endeavor. It was simply a story that had to be told. If I didn’t write it someone else, without doubt, would have. The SLK case and story is just that unique and compelling. SLK is the most prolific serial killer in Colorado history according to numerous news reports. His case is so unique in the realm of true crime that professionals and students of criminology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology and other behavioral sciences will probably study this case for many years to come.

MS: How do you feel about publishing the book?
EC: The first thing that comes to my mind is “relief.” For reasons I already noted, it was a relief to finally finish this work and get it published. It was also very satisfying to know that I could complete a project of this magnitude. My only hope now is that “SLK-Serial Killer” will be widely read and that my readers will enjoy my work. After all, I believe, writers should not write for themselves. They should instead write for the benefit and pleasure of others. Writing is an art form and if others don’t appreciate it, then it’s not good. That’s why I never judge my own work. Only the reader can decide how well I write “for them.” In the end it’s all about them – the reader. So far I have had a very good response to this book and I am deeply grateful for that.

MS: When did you find out about your daughter’s illness?
EC: When I started this writing project I had no idea that my daughter would be diagnosed with cancer and how much her medical bills would be crippling to her and her family financially. For that reason this book has taken on new meaning. I hope that it will earn enough royalties to pay down a major portion of her medical bills.

MS: Is there anything I’m not asking you that you want to share with me about this book?
EC: Metro State has a large student population in the fields of criminology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and related behavioral sciences. Metro State also has a huge alumni base in these disciplines. It is my hope that they will especially become aware of this book and read it. For everyone else it’s just an interesting and entertaining true crime thriller but for them, and other professionals in these disciplines, “SLK-Serial Killer,” I think, offers a lot to learn from.

To read more about the book or to purchase it, please click here.

IWSS faculty Jacqueline St. Joan publishes novel

Award- winning writer and editor, lawyer and Metro State adjunct faculty member, Jacqueline St. Joan recently published her first novel, My Sisters Made of Light. This is a fictional account of the extraordinary courage of ordinary women living in the closed society that is contemporary Pakistan. It explores the country’s myriad cultures—from the mystical Sindhis in the South to the noble Pathans in the Northwest Province, the Punjabis in the East and the Balochis of the West.

“This novel is a means for Western readers to learn about Pakistan in a broad sense and at the same time relish the story of a hero's journey, a love outside the boundaries, a travelogue of a diverse, struggling country,” St. Joan stated in a recent email. Though it started out as a non-fiction story, as St. Joan did more research on the lives of women in Pakistan the story transformed. The process took some time, with the re-writes and publicizing. However, she added, it has been worth it.

“At last this story has its own life,” she stated. “It's a cliche, but it is like raising a child who can finally find her own way in this world. People will treat her well, or they won't. She will overcome, or she won't. You can only hope that the thing itself has the stamina to survive and thrive.”

St. Joan was inspired to write the book after meeting a “remarkable” Pakistani woman, who taught in that country for 25 years and who made efforts to prevent honor crimes against her students. The woman, Dr. Tahira Khan, authored the book, Beyond Honour, and also taught classes at Metro State. Kahn commented that St. Joan did a good job blending reality with fiction, telling “stories of realities seen in Pakistani newspapers every other day.”

St. Joan is now the Public Education Chair of the Asian American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights, a non-governmental organization in the U.S. that works to support Pakistani efforts to end human rights violations. Half of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to SOIL, a grass-roots community organization in Pakistan, to pay for the construction of a safe shelter for abused women and children. Copies of My Sisters Made of Light are available at The Tattered Cover, Press53 http://www.press53.com/ and the Auraria Campus Bookstore. To read more about the book, click here.

Metro State Alumni and Veteran Nominated for MillerCoors Líder of the Year Award

Sgt. Dean Sanchez is a decorated Marine who has served his community and country. Sanchez, who has done three tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan, was nominated by the Mile High Chapter of the American GI Forum as MillerCoors Líder of the Year. These are people nominated by MillerCoors Hispanic non-profit partners for their unwavering commitment to the advancement of the Hispanic community.

The Líder will be announced on Nov. 16 and will be awarded with a $25,000 grant to be used for a community leadership program. If he wins, Sanchez has some inspiring plans for younger soldiers. “We would do a leadership conference for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans partnering them with veterans from older generations and fostering our future leaders,” he said.

Sanchez spoke to La Voz Nueva about his decision to join the Marines. He said that after the 9/11 attacks, he decided to leave during his senior year at the Metropolitan State College of Denver and enlisted. “When 9/11 happened I thought it was everybody’s duty to protect our country—serve their tour of duty. So I dropped out of college and enlisted in the infantry Marine Corps,” said Sanchez in La Voz article. “The Marine Corps has given me a level of self-worth and pride that no other company, no other job could ever do.”

Read the complete article written by Bertha Velasquez at La Voz Nueva here

Alumni Association Board & Annual Meeting update

More than 50 people attended Alumni Association Annual Meeting & Board Meeting at the PE & Events Center Lobby, Auraria Campus, on September 14. In addition to welcoming the new board members and new Board President Jim Garrison (1980, Economics), the audience also enjoyed meeting the seven new Alumni Scholars, hearing a speech from Alumni Scholar Jeremy Casey about how the scholarship has benefitted him, and, finally, a presentation from John Lay. a veteran economic development executive who’s working for Colorado for Responsible Reform. Lay discussed three bills that will slash taxes and adversely affect higher education. Read more about the fight against tax cuts by clicking here. Finally, attendees were presented with the Annual Report. To get a copy of the report, please call the Office of Alumni Relations at 303-556-8320.

To see photos from the event, click here.

Check out Jeremy Casey's engaging speech.

Where Are They Now?

A Profile of Retired Faculty Member Charlie Branch

Article by Lizzy Scully

Photos by Kenn Bisio

Just a year before he turned 50, Charles “Charlie” Branch found his way to Metro State College of Denver and became the Dean of the School of Education. Three decades later, this dapper 80-year-old still dresses in a suit and tie, combs his now white gray hair neatly back, and drives to work. Of course, he retired two years ago, and so now only works a couple days per week. But his passion for his job remains the same.

“At age 80 I feel very, very good,” Branch says. “I feel like there are a lot of things yet to be done.” He currently teaches applied behavior analysis, a “scientific psychological way of solving human problems. I love teaching the course! I jumped at the chance to get back after being out for six months. I have a problem with being cooped up. I love working with people.”

According to three-decade Metro veteran, Debora Martin, the office manager for the Department of Human Services, students love working with him, too. “What I hear from students is that he is wonderful to work with, and they enjoy his classes. He is a really nice, genuine guy.”

Branch came to Metro State after getting his PhD from the University of Florida.
After stints at various colleges, including Ball State University, he landed in Denver. “I was excited about Metro because it was a new institution and an institution that had the potential and diversity that I valued highly,” he explains. “We were making history, and we still are.”

One of the main drawing cards was the fact that he had the opportunity to work with thousands of Denver-area K-12 teachers who needed to renew their teaching certificates. “I thought that was a gold mine out there,” he adds. “Nobody was furnishing their needs.”

Branch would plan programs based on the expressed needs of the teachers. “They would tell me their needs, and we could write curriculum and give it to them three days later,” he says. “It would normally take three to four years to get a curriculum change, whereas out here we could change it momentarily. We filled a need within a community. That has kept me around for a long time.”

Things aren’t like that these days, he admits, but he still feels the institution is flexible, and that President Stephen Jordan is carrying Metro State “onward and upward.” Plus, he says, “The quality and commitment of the faculty here is unbelievable compared to other institutions.” Wanting to add to the roster of excellent professors, Branch decided to transition into full time teaching himself.

“I saw that as an opportunity to make an even bigger difference with students,” he says. “It’s exciting to see the ‘aha’ moments students have and their growth.” The diversity on campus also pleases him.

“It’s not just ethnicity,” he says. “I’m talking about academic background diversity, age diversity. I like working in an environment with adult learners and young learners. They learn more from each other than they do from me.”
And that is how Branch likes it. He tries to facilitate a classroom environment that encourages people to search for the truth and to work with each other to do that. “Nobody does anything by him or herself that has any lasting meaning,” he explains.

Branch has always applied this attitude in his dealings with staff members as well, says Martin. As dean, he always encouraged people to come to his office to talk to him about anything, anytime, she says. “When I think of Charlie, I think of a person who is dedicated and always here. He is not afraid to take on conflict and deal with issues that come up, and he does that in a positive manner. He brought a lot of openness to Metro State.”

Plus, he inspired her and others with his work ethic. “He’s the type of person who would be in here at 6a.m. and get a couple hours of work done before we even got here. And, he really worked hard to give students great customer service.”
Though he only teaches one class at Metro now, Branch hopes to work in some capacity for the institution as long as he can.

“I still feel a part of Metro,” he says, “and I will until my last breath.”

This is the first in a series of monthly articles about retired faculty.

Upcoming articles

Check out the blog and Office of Alumni Relations e-newsletter later this week for our latest articles. Our weekly alumni profile highlights the efforts of Juanis K. Lual, the founder of a nonprofit that seeks to bring sustainable assistance to his native country of Sudan.

As well, we have our first "Where are they now" article on retired faculty members. We will have a written article, still photos, and some recorded Q&As with Charles Branch, a long-time professor of Human Services.

Finally, we are publishing the third in our series of how social media use can help you get a job. Entitled, “Creating Google Juice: How to Get Your Message Out.”

Win a Ring Contest Going strong with 80 entries. One week to go

Heartwarming, funny, sincere, creative... these words aptly describe the colorful array of entries submitted to the Metropolitan State College of Denver's Office of Alumni Relations Win a Ring Contest. Held on Facebook, this contest has more than doubled the number of fans on the Facebook Fanpage and has inspired nearly 80 entries to the contest. The contest ends on Sunday, March 14. Anyone can vote on entries, and the top ten most voted on entries will be included in the final vote, to be officiated by the Office of Alumni Relations staff. Three prizes are being offered: First: an official Metro State College of Denver Ring worth $300; Second: $150 gift certificate to the Auraria Campus Bookstore; Third: $75 gift certificate to the bookstore.

Entries have run the gamut. Nicole Barrientos exemplifies entries focusing on the question, "Why do you love Metro State." She said she's having Metro "withdrawals. Every day I wear my Metro State hoodie to display my Metro State Roadrunner pride! I will forever cherish my experiences I had while a student at Metro State!" She submitted various photos, including this one of a cake imprinted with her name and the Metro State logo.

Hedy Anselman's "Metro, my brain pane" melds creativity with this same pride. She wrote, "Metro State College has opened the window of my mind not only to the future, but to a new awareness and outlook into the world ... I’ve shared in things such as the development of a pre-school for autistic kids in China to Indigenous medicine in South America. I am so proud to be a student at Metro State College, my brain-pane."

And Wendy Ponns' and Alid Britt's entries bring in a bit of humor. Ponn wrote: "I smell my degree! It is so close! 82 days and a wake up and I am a Metro Alumnus!" While Britt supplied a photo of her leaping in the air on campus (photo at top of article).


Some of the more creative entries include, "Metro a Mouthful," by Kelly Keefe, and this poem by Angela Barsotti: Magnificent
Scholastic
Creative
Dynamic

MSCD.
Oh, for my days as a student on Auraria Campus at the college that to adults is geared.
The fun! The people! The classes! The struggle! The books, dog-eared.
To mark my achievement, a white-gold ring with onyx, lovingly worn till it disappeared.
The days have passed; my ring is gone.
Forever, the years at MSCD, revered

To read all the entries and see more photos, visit the Contest Home Page. Only people on Facebook can enter, but anyone can vote.

Metro State College of Denver Alumni & Friends launches Job Blog

Have an interview and want to know what to expect? Check out the new Metro State College of Denver Alumni & Friends Job Blog for a list of common interview questions, as well as resources to help you find your job and various articles that will help you in your job search.

As a result of a LinkedIn discussion the Office of Alumni Relations had with alums, we contacted the Office of Career Services to find out how we could better support you. In addition to offering other services, we created a Job Blog, to be administered by both offices.

This job blog will include original articles written by the Office of Career Services and myself (Lizzy Scully, Social Engagement Manager), as well as a plethora of resources to help you find a job. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the content of this job blog and what you would like to see, please email me at escully @ mscd.edu, or contact me via our various social media sites.

Metro State’s success begins with … Carlos A. Frésquez

Assistant Professor of Art Carlos Fresquez stands in front of his art “Un Corrido Para La Gente” (A Ballad for the People) at Morrison Road and Sheridan Boulevard on Nov. 13 during a dedication ceremony by the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Program.

From @Metro, Feb. 24, 2010

When you’re three years old and using your mom’s mix of flour and water (which she uses to make tortillas) as paste to make exotic art collages, you should probably just go ahead and claim art as your major.

That’s exactly how Carlos Frésquez’s life as an artist started, and today, 50 years later, he still loves art—which is blatantly obvious after just one minute with the assistant professor of painting at Metro State.

“I think my parents saw something in me at age 3, maybe a knack to assemble items and bring them together,” says the 1980 Metro State alumnus. “They nurtured that in me and encouraged me.”

Then there was kindergarten. “Mrs. White, the teacher, put out the primary colors red, blue and yellow and let us play with them. I remember the yellow and blue became green and to me that was magic. From that moment I wanted to play with that magic forever.”

Today, Frésquez says art still feels magical. “Not just for me, but now for my students … when they move from conception to finished product, they love it. And I do, too.”

He says over the years, art “became me, it defines me and it’s so deep inside me. It’s always a challenge and I’ve always liked that challenge, to create something that’s intriguing and interesting.”

Those are certainly two words you can use to describe much of his work, which ranges from murals that cover entire sides of buildings to a much smaller George and Jane Jetson (the cartoon characters of the ‘70s) hugging in front of a map of the world.

One piece he says that’s come “to define him” is a 6-ft. by 6-ft. mural he painted in 1990, with intense colors, of a couple getting married at a church, “but no people are there celebrating, it’s like a dream. And a lot of people ask me about it.”

He explains the meaning: When the Auraria Campus was built, a Hispanic community was displaced and were promised scholarships. “But that took a while to happen, so there wasn’t a reason to celebrate without those scholarships.” But when Metro State began offering the scholarships, he repainted it and added a celebration.

When asked what he hopes people take from his art, he says he doesn’t really think about that. “I do art for myself. If someone gets something from it, that’s great.”

He says some have asked to buy his work and he remembers one such customer he saw 20 years later who still had the piece and said that he was still happy to have it. “That makes you feel good.”

Then he expands on his philosophy of art: “It should give something to you. We need to feed our stomachs and we need to fill our souls, our spirits, to make ourselves stronger, better people. I just hope my works gives something to people.”

The rise of the citizen journalist: blogging 101

By Lizzy Scully
This is the second of a three-part series...

So what is a blog anyway? Literally it’s a “web log”—aka a website on which individuals or sometimes groups of people publish written, photographed, or filmed “posts,” including personal stories, political rants, product raves, news exposes, etc. Blogs are created, managed, and regularly updated primarily by individuals. And most are unedited by third parties, which makes them significantly different from printed newspapers and magazines, in which content is edited numerous times before publication. Blogs can exclusively represent a person, or as with this Alumni & Friends blog, they can offer readers a more in-depth and often personal look at what an organization is doing.

No one knows exactly how many blogs exist now (to see various statistics, click here), but as far as Metro State Assistant Professor of Journalism Kip Wotkyns is concerned, the "blogosphere" is a phenomenon that has transformed the way news is disseminated and has encouraged the rise of the citizen journalist.

“Blogging allows people to be published basically with a click of a button. To have a voice in the past you had to get published. But blogging is available to anyone, and the blogosphere is now gigantic in scope.” Subsequently, traditional publications have lost much of their influence, garnering less advertising and fewer readers. People now turn to blogs for information. Take the Mumbai Massacre, cites Wotkyns. “A lot of the best reporting was actually coming from a hostage inside the Palace Hotel who was tweeting in real time and was picked up by millions of people.” (A tweet is a “post” on the micro-blog Twitter).

Unfortunately, Wotkyns warns, the blogosphere isn’t always a positive space. A lack of regulation allows people to unethically use blogs. Companies sometimes pay bloggers to rave about their products, while other business owners anonymously trash competitors in reviews. As well, “clutter” has become a problem, with people regurgitating information and/or spewing out inaccurate, unsubstantiated opinions in the form of rants.

“The era of the citizen journalist will only emerge if blogging moves beyond this rant and rave stage,” he says.

Still, blogs can be an effective way to disseminate news. “What will be precious in the end is balanced accurate information that’s original,” Wotkyns says. “Original content will become the coin of the realm. Those blogs will do fine and prosper.” And that is why blogs created and maintained by people such as Metro State alum and photographer Jeff Ball have the potential to rise above the clutter.

Ball’s blog is chock full of original photos and commentary on art and photography, and, along with his other social media platforms, has become a hub of community activity. Ball has build trust with his readers and what Watkins calls “brand equity.” He has made himself an “expert” on the subject of photography. Subsequently, his blog has helped him establish a stronger presence on the web, which drove traffic to his website and helped him fundraise, make more direct sales, collaborate with other artists, and engage with fans.

“With more and more people online searching for information and making connections through social networking sites, a blog is a great forum for self-promotion and self-expression,” Ball says. “It’s a truly versatile tool.”

See next month’s Enewsletter for the third of this three-part social media series is titled, “Creating Google Juice: How to Get Your Message Out.”

Metro Alumni Business Brief: Eric Peterson Cruises Into the New Year

The Metropolitan State College of Denver Office of Alumni Relations profiles and/or reviews alumni-owned businesses each month as a part of its outreach efforts. Businesses will be highlighted on the blog and in the Office of Alumni Relations enews. Please email escully@mscd.edu if you have a business or know of someone who has a business we should consider profiling.

By Lizzy Scully

After spending 150 nights at sea, including a four-month educational odyssey across the globe, Metro State alumnus Eric Peterson ('99, marketing) has developed a passion for the sea that runs deep. And because his work in the mortgage industry slowed significantly due to increased regulation, he opted to do what he loves best—plan cruises. But instead of arranging all the trips for himself, he started another business, Denver-based Cruise Planners in January, and will now help others chart their dream tours across the ocean.

“The ability to sell and plan cruises provides me with all of the passion and excitement that I missed working as a mortgage agent,” he explained in a recent email. And that enthusiasm, he adds, translates to an ability to really dial in to what his clients are looking for.

“Knowing that I have cruised around the world and continue to seek out new cruising adventures will help my clients to feel confident that buying a cruise from my agency was the right decision,” Peterson explains. There are a lot of people in the industry who never travel via cruise ship. Not Peterson. He’s been to dozens of ports of call, from Japan to Vietnam and Egypt to Cyprus. When his clients book a trip, he likely has first-hand knowledge about the ships and ports of call they are interested in.

“I believe I can truly recommend the vacation that best suits their needs,” he says. He can also offer them deals just as good as ones they would find online, but without the hours of searching. As a franchise of Cruise Planners/American Express, Peterson has relationships with every cruise line in the industry.

And, to keep up with the ever changing industry, Peterson will regularly scout new opportunities. He goes to Mexico on a five-day reconnaissance mission this spring, and regularly travels around on his 28-foot Lancer sailboat, “the amiga”.
In addition to traveling often to keep his business perspective fresh, Peterson one day hopes to regularly charter an entire ship and to create and maintain several themed cruises.

Traveling by ship, he says, “is an experience of a lifetime. Why not share it with as many other people as possible?”



Eric Peterson’s most memorable time at sea…

My junior year at Metro State, I spent the entire Fall Semester (1997) on Semester at Sea, which is a globe-circling educational odyssey that takes 600 students around the world over a four-month period. We spent one week each in Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Spain and Morocco. I spent countless hours staring over rail at the sea with amazement. Ever since that journey, each time I get on a ship, the excitement level never wanes.

September of that year, it took us 15 days to cross the Pacific between Vancouver, BC and Kobe, Japan. During that voyage, we encountered two typhoons, and sea conditions that were unfathomable to me. Watching our ship take on 50-70 foot waves was frightening and fascinating at the same time. We were stuck indoors for five days because the winds were too dangerous to be on the decks of the ship. While sitting in class one day, a rogue wave hit the side of our ship and all of us fell over in our desks. The chalkboard rolled across the classroom and shattered into pieces as it slammed against the wall. Luckily, I was not seasick. Several of my classmates could not leave their cabins for days. I learned to respect the sea and to never underestimate it.

Metropolitan State College of Denver Announces Availability of College Ring Collection

"For the first time in the history of Metropolitan State College of Denver, we have an official college ring collection. This new tradition reminds us that every day is a great day to be a Roadrunner and that your degree from Metro State is a source of pride."
--President Stephen M. Jordan

The official college ring collection, designed for and by students, alumni, staff and faculty, is now available and exclusively offered by Jostens.

Visit the Metro State College of Denver -- Alumni & Friends Facebook Fan Page and enter to win a free ring from the collection!

Be the first to purchase this unique and lasting symbol of your lifelong connection to your alma mater. Your official college ring does a lot more than rekindle fond memories. It will:

• Connect you to your campus community and fellow alumni.
• Act as a networking tool. Your distinctive Metropolitan State College of Denver ring makes it easy for alumni and potential employers to identify you with your alma mater.
• Symbolize your accomplishment and pride in your school.
• Last forever; protected by Jostens lifetime warranty.

Order an Official College Ring

The official college ring collection can be previewed at the following events. You will be able to purchase a ring from Jostens at this time. In addition, a link to order your ring online will be coming soon.

Spring 2010 Graduate Fair: Tuesday, March 16 from 10am-2pm and Wednesday, March 17 from 12-6pm, St. Cajetan's, Auraria Campus

Special Lunch Preview: Thursday, April 29 from 11am-1pm, Office of Alumni Relations, 1059 Historic Ninth Street Park, Auraria Campus (Enjoy free pizza; this event is open to the entire campus and alumni community.)

Cap & Gown Pick-Up: Tuesday, May 11 from 10am-6pm and Wednesday, May 12 from 10am-6pm, Multicultural Lounge, Tivoli Student Union, Auraria Campus

Spring Commencement: Sunday, May 16 from 7am-9am, Auraria Soccer Fields, Auraria Campus (Commencement begins at 9am.)

Rowdy the Roadrunner visits North Middle School HEalth Sciences and Technology Campus

On Monday, February 8th, Rowdy the Roadrunner, the official mascot of Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD), visited North Middle School Health
Sciences and Technology Campus students during lunch, accompanied by Mr. Ron Christian, the Assistant Athletic Director at MSCD. Mr. Christian spoke to students about Metro and the colleges on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver, and the benefits of attending Metro State, including strong, championship athletic programs and 86 different college majors. North students had a great time with Rowdy who gave away many fun prizes, including free tickets to see a Roadrunner’s Men’s Basketball game for all students at North!

Rowdy’s visit was one of many activities at North during “College Week,” a week dedicated to celebrating and reinforcing our vision in Aurora Public Schools (APS)that, “We will graduate every student with the choice to attend college without remediation.”

College Week culminates with student-led, parent-teacher conferences and College Night on Wednesday, February 10th from 4:00 until 7:30 p.m. Many colleges, universities, LIGHTS APS feeder high schools, and more will be represented that evening. All parents and students of all grade levels are invited to attend. We hope to see you there!

From North Middle School's website.

Josh McGuckin built this wild composite vehicle as a part of Metro State program

I was fortunate enough to be selected to be part of the AXYS vehicle concept design and build team. This is a hand selected program at Metro State College of Denver. The premise of this project is to build an entire composite vehicle, design all the elements of the vehicle (except the body shape) and present the vehicle to the public by the spring of 2010.

The presentation portion of this will be a soft presentation, the vehicle will not be fully functional at that time and the interior will not be completed, but most of the design should be finished and the vehicle should be presentable enough to show off what it is going to be in the end.

Overall this is quite the process there is an incredible amount of work to do including sanding, finishing and forming this whole thing by hand...

Read more here.

Torres speaks in DC briefing on College’s work to serve Latinos

Feb 10, 2010
From @Metro

Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs Luis Torres co-chairs Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force.

Last week in Washington D.C., Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs Luis Torres participated in a briefing on the role of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in President Barack Obama’s national college completion goals for the next decade.

Held at the Cannon House Office Building, the briefing featured a panel of six speakers, including Torres, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Director of the White House Initiative on Excellence for Hispanic Education Juan Sepulveda. The panel discussed the finding of a report by Excelencia in Education that examines how a growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are adapting their educational practices and policies to better serve the needs of Latino students. Metro State is one of four institutions featured in the report for its successful efforts to effectively serve its Latino students.

“The report tells us we’re heading in the right directions,” says Torres, who co-chairs the College’s HSI Task Force with Judi Diaz Bonacquisti, associate vice president of enrollment services.

“Emerging HSIs: Serving Latino Students” concludes that emerging HSIs – institutions that enroll 15-24 percent or more undergraduate full-time equivalent Hispanic students – are not waiting for official HSI status to enact policies to better serve Latino students.

“We can learn from these emerging colleges that are producing successful results,” says Deborah Santiago, report author and vice president for policy and research at Excelencia. “As the number of college-going Hispanics and HSIs continues to grow, it’s important to understand what it means to serve Latino students well, and we can look to these colleges as models.”

The report highlights Metro State for creating an HSI Task Force, hiring culturally competent faculty and staff, adopting a strategy of ‘inclusive excellence,’ increasing outreach to Latinos in the surrounding community, and offering programs such as the First-Year Success Program, CAMP and Chicano Studies.

Torres says he is not surprised the College became a model, citing the leadership roles of the Board of Trustees and President Stephen Jordan, along with the amount of work the task force accomplished. “We approached the process in a structural and fundamental way. Many emerging HSIs are familiar with enrollment trends of Hispanic Serving Institutions, but not graduation and retention rates.”

While in DC, Torres delivered a letter to co-panelist Polis recommending that “the United States Congress consider providing funding to the U.S. Department of Education for emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions… We recommend that, in addition to the current Title V program, separate funding is needed for emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions to better plan and to accelerate when such institutions can become HSIs. Such planning-and-implementation funds would allow these institutions to more effectively enhance the academic success of the students and institutions.”

To read the full report, visit Excelencia in Education. A presentation by Excelencia in Education on campus scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12, has had to be postponed due to the massive snowstorm in the Northeast.

Excelencia is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. Metro State has contracted with Excelencia tohelp keep HSI efforts on track and to provide feedback for the Urban Teacher Partnership initiative.

Other HSI-related news
Metro State, CCD and UCD are hosting the next meeting of the Colorado Coalition for the Educational Advancement of Latinos (CO-CEAL)on Friday Feb. 26 in Science 212. CO-CEAL was formerly known as HACU-CO.

Natural Veteran Duber-Smith Honored by Wall Street Journal

Excerpt from Happi.

Lauded for integrating practical business tools into the classroom.
The Dow Jones Company has presented natural products industry veteran and marketing professor Darrin C. Duber-Smith with the 3rdannual Wall Street Journal Distinguished Professor 2009 award. Duber-Smith, president of Green Marketing, Inc. and marketing professor at Metropolitan State College in Denver, CO, was chosen among nine other professors out of 1,000 candidates who were nominated nationally to receive the honor for integrating practical business tools and experiences into the classroom.

Duber-Smith had held marketing management positions with ZAND Herbal Formulas, Nature’s Apothecary, and Natural Business Communications (the founders of the LOHAS market segmentation) prior to forming Green Marketing, Inc. in 2000.

"I am truly thrilled to have the unique opportunity to work with clients, publish, speak at conferences, and bring it all directly into the classroom,” said Duber-Smith. “It’s a nice balance for all of us."

Read more here.

Metro State trumpeter heads to national semifinals

Excerpt from Feb 3, 2010 @Metro publication.

Senior Steven Jon-Billings heads to Virginia in March for The National Trumpet Competition.
After years of sweating behind the brass, 25-year-old Steven-Jon Billings has been accepted as a semifinalist in the undergraduate division of The National Trumpet Competition.

Under the tutelage of Michael Hengst, visiting assistant professor of trumpet, Billings submitted an eight-minute solo to become one of 46 finalists out of a pool of almost 500 candidates.

The competition takes place March 11-14 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Billings’ trumpeting started when he was in second grade. His parents were both trumpet players, and wanted a creative outlet for their son's energy. He joined the school band and continued on to a community college to study music. He tried a number of different routes from there. He spent a semester at University of Arizona and a semester at Arizona State University before landing at Metro State.

“I came because I got the opportunity to play in an orchestra,” says Billings, a senior majoring in music. He was dismayed by the competitiveness of the schools in Arizona. Metro State gave him a chance to gain more experience, which helped him rise to where he is today.

To read the full piece, please visit @Metro.

Think Outside the Box When Looking for a Job

Standard job boards and searches are no longer effective, reporter David Migoya states in a Feb. 3 Denver Post article ("New Way Forward" pg. 7B). As the article notes, fewer than 10 percent of all jobs are found on job boards, and 80 percent of job seekers focus their efforts there. So, how can you, the Metro State Alumni, increase the likelihood of finding a job?

According to Migoya and the various experts he quoted in the article, you need to think outside the box and look for different solutions. While you still need to have excellent writing and interviewing skills, you also need to be able to market yourself.

"The key is in personal marketing, selling yourself to a specific job with a specific set of criteria," writes Migoya. He then continues to encourage job seekers to focus on being specific about how to really help a company by making and saving it money and minimizing its risks.

These are good suggestions. You certainly need to be able to convey how you can help your potential employer. But how can you actualize Migoya's suggestions? First, consider creating what Metro Alumni and owner of Your Brand Plan David Sandusky calls a "personal brand plan." You need to know exactly what you are all about--what your expertise is, what jobs you are looking for, etc. If you clearly understand your personal brand, you will be able to convey that brand to potential employers.

Once you create your personal brand, find ways to convey that brand to potential employers. Hands down, the most effective and affordable way to do this is through social online media platforms such as: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Blogger, etc.

Not only can you create profiles on these free sites, but you can also network extensively with former colleagues, classmates, friends, and really anyone and everyone who shares an interest or industry with you. You can post your resume along with articles you have written or accolades you have won. On some sites you can even request that people recommend you. As well, you can position yourself as an expert by commenting on subjects you know a lot about. The options are limitless, and the only commitment is time. But if you have that free time now, what do you have to lose?

As Sandusky stated, "People who aren’t engaging their community in conversation and developing their network are going to find it difficult to do business in the future." Social media, he adds, is required for an individual's ability to be successful. So, figure out who you are and what your expertise is, and then spread the word in the best, most viral way possible--by utilizing online social media platforms.

See "Personal Brand: marketing may be the key to finding a job during hard times" for more info.

Susanne Brent Reflects on Alumni Night in Phoenix

Excerpt taken from The Metropolitan.

On a mild and clear Arizona winter night in January, a fire danced in the outdoor fireplace, white lights graced the tree branches, and the moon smiled down upon a small group of fellow Metropolitan State alumni gathered to dine together.

In 1986, I graduated with a journalism degree from Metro State and moved to Arizona to work as a reporter. This dinner was the first alumni event I’d attended, and I felt excited for the opportunity to connect with fellow Metro alumni living in the Southwest.

President Stephen Jordan spoke about developments and changes at Metro State: planned graduate schools, new construction and innovative methods for student retention.

I noted how successful we all looked in our professional attire, teacher, banker, insurance adjuster, former city councilmen, and myself, a journalist. Yet, at one time, we were no different than the Metro students of today.

Placed at each table, and much to my delight, was a copy of The Metropolitan. I felt as if I were seeing a cherished, old friend again. I proudly told everyone, including Dr. Jordan, how thrilled I felt when I had my first news article published.

When I started Metro in 1982, I had been out of high school for several years. I had marginal high school grades, no scholarships or academic awards, no teacher recommendations, and no one in my family had attended college before me. Yet, I was accepted and given the chance to embark upon a college education.

To read the full letter to the editor, please visit The Metropolitan.

Metro State Alum Jonathan Stalls to Walk Across America to raise funds

This March, Jonathon Stalls and his dog, Kanoa, will embark on a coast-to-coast cross country trek covering an estimated 3,000 miles from Delaware to San Francisco, CA - and he’s taking Kiva with him. For more information on how you can help out, click on his KivaWalk website.

He will be walking through hundreds of towns, cities, and communities in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California.

Why is Jonathon going on this cross country trek?

“Since living in Ireland (2005-2006), visiting Honduras in 2007, and swapping life stories with many ‘travelers,’ I have craved an adventure that would challenge my daily activities, expectations, and priorities. The speed and growth of our commodity driven and over-communicated culture feeds a personal call to engage in quieter, slower, and more intentional experiences with less. 
This walk will be a journey in listening, eating, sharing, and growing with: strangers, neighbors, officials, hikers, animals, wind, and dirt.”


Why is he partnering with Kiva?

"I wanted and needed a larger purpose that would stretch far beyond my own personal attractions to such a trek. I came across Kiva in my social entrepreneurship class at Metropolitan State College of Denver in the fall of 2007. I craved to do more the minute I clicked on the link, browsed the website, and began donating. After meeting and engaging Kiva staff and many hours of creative brainstorming ‘we’ have cultivated an exciting relationship to spread Kiva’s mission and build lending communities across the country. I am more than enthusiastic to work with one of our nation’s leading incubators in the fight to alleviate extreme poverty across the world – GO KIVA!” 


Jonathon is requesting the support and hospitality of the Kiva lending community. If you wish to support him, learn more here about the following ways you can get involved:


Walk: "I strongly encourage everyone and anyone to take a day, a week, or more and find a way to meet me on the trail."

Host: "Connect with me at kivawalk@gmail.com if you or anyone you know can host Kanoa and I along the way."

Inspire: "Have me speak and be the reason to host a party that will help to raise awareness about Kiva in your community!"


Connect: "Put me in touch with someone you know at a University along the trail. I'd love to present to students and/or teachers who are interested in learning more about how to bring Kiva onto their Campus and into their classrooms!"


Donate: "Contribute to my personal walk budget"

Also, we're thrilled to announce that Jonathon has partnered with Sports Basement in San Francisco! They will be hosting a fundraising party for Kiva Walk on Wednesday, February 10th! Come out and support the walk, have a couple of drinks and take advantage of a special discount (20% discount on any personal purchases).

When: Wednesday, February 10th from 6-8 pm

Where: Presidio Sports Basement, 610 Old Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94129

RSVP: Click here to RSVP and invite friends to the event!

How it supports the walk: Gear on Jonathon's Kiva Walk gear list can be purchased at a 20% discount! Sports Basement will ship all gear donations to him in Colorado free of charge. Discounted ski lift tickets (for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Homewood resorts) will also be sold at the event with 100% of sales supporting Kiva Walk!

Jonathon would like to thank Kiva staff, The Sports Basement and all friends and family who are supporting this adventure. Check out Jonathon's website to stay updated on his trip!

This information taken from the Kiva website Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.