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Staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to participate in the fifth annual Staff Summit, a two-day event dedicated to learning, community and professional growth. This year’s theme,ÌýThriving Together in Changing Times, reflects the evolving landscape of higher education and our shared commitment to collaboration, adaptability and progress.

Day 1Ìý(Tuesday, May 20) will take place virtually and feature campus leaders, expert panels and timely updates—including a keynote from Chancellor Justin Schwartz, discussions on workplace civility and innovation and briefings on federal policy and HR transformation efforts.

Day 2Ìý(Wednesday, May 21) will bring staff together in person at the Idea Forge for connection, creativity and celebration. Activities include community-building sessions, networking opportunities, updates from the Be Heard 2.0 initiative, a hands-on design thinking workshop and a guided campus tour to close the summit.

All staff in the College of Arts and Sciences are welcome to attend.Ìý, and we encourage managers and supervisors to support staff participation in this opportunity for professional development and community connection.

The Staff Summit is an outgrowth of the college’sÌýBe Heard initiativeÌýand reflects our continued investment in staff engagement and organizational wellbeing. We look forward to seeing you there!Ìý

How to attend and next steps:

• Please register by Friday, May 9, forÌýone or both daysÌýof the Staff Summit at thisÌý.
• Please include your dietary restrictions for breakfast and lunch.
• Help us celebrate college wins!ÌýAs part of the 2025 Staff Summit, we want to celebrate the great accomplishments of the arts and sciences departments. Please take a moment to describe your department's biggestÌýwinÌýof the year by completing a short questionnaire at thisÌý.

For questions, contactÌýErin Cunningham Ritter.Ìý

Full schedule of events:

10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.:ÌýWelcome and opening remarks

Bernadette Stewart, Assistant dean of culture and people, College of Arts and SciencesÌýÌý

10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m.:Ìý Keynote presentationÌý

Chancellor Justin Schwartz will kick off the summit with a briefÌý keynote that speaks directly to the theme:ÌýThriving Together in Changing Times. In the midst of ongoing reorganization and the challenges facing higher education, his remarks will offer insight, encouragement and connection. Staff are encouraged to bring questions related to campus strategy and how we can move forward—together.

Justin Schwartz, chancellor, CU СÀ¶ÊÓƵÌýÌýÌý

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ÌýÌý Break

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ÌýÌý Blueprint Project updateÌýÌý

Blueprint Project updates will highlight the progress of CU СÀ¶ÊÓƵ's multi-year HR Blueprint initiative, which aims to transform HR systems, processes and governance to create a more equitable and consistent experience for staff and faculty. Co-sponsored by campus leadership, the project supports broader institutional goals around transformation and financial resilience by streamlining operations and enhancing strategic HR partnerships. The session will share key findings from the campus-wide assessment and outline progress related to designing and implementing improvements across HR functions.

Robyn Fergus, vice chancellor of human resources

Michele Moses, vice provost and associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs

12 p.m.–1 p.m.: Lunch break

1 p.m.–2 p.m.: ÌýPanel discussion: Brave Spaces & Bold Ideas: Navigating Safety, Discomfort & mInnovationÌýÌý

How do we distinguish between being unsafe and merely uncomfortable in the workplace? And how can constructive dissent fuel innovation instead of division? This panel explores the evolving meaning of psychological safety, the role of respectful disagreement in driving creativity and how organizations can foster brave spaces where diverse ideas thrive.

MODERATOR

Marysia Lopez, program manager, access and community engagement, College of Arts and Sciences

PANELISTS

Kirsi Aulin, Ombuds director

Dr. Ashley Grice, Senior consultant,ÌýOffice of Leadership Support and Programming

Stanley Ly, MA, LPC, ACS, director, Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

2 p.m –2:15 p.m.:Ìý Break

2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m.:Ìý Federal transition updates

CU government relations specialists will provide an overview of the latest federal transitions, including recent executive actions and policy shifts, and what they mean for CU СÀ¶ÊÓƵ. This session will focus on how these developments may affect staff across our campuses—highlighting both challenges and opportunities as we navigate a changing national landscape together.

Kirsten Schuchman, associate vice chancellor for public policy, government relations, Office of Government and Community Engagement

Heather Bené, associate vice president of research and federal policy, Office of Government Relations

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Wrap-up

Erin Cunningham Ritter, PhD, director of wellness and employee engagement, College of Arts and Sciences

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Light breakfast

10:15 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.:ÌýÌýWelcome and opening remarks

Daryl Maeda, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, interim

10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: CELEBRATE!Ìý Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) Employee of the Year winners

Chris Marelli, SAC co-chair, director of the general chemistry labs

Robyn Ronen, SAC co-chair,Ìý business manager, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences

10:45 a.m. - 11Ìý a.m.: Break

Ìý11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: SAC A&S college staff connection networkingÌý

Building on the success of the inaugural event held in the spring, this session will provide an opportunity for networking, learning and collaboration. The event will include group activities and discussion designed to foster cross-division collaboration, share best practices and strengthen relationships among staff.

Staff Advisory Committee members

12 p.m. -Ìý 1 p.m.: LunchÌý

1 p.m. -Ìý 1:45 p.m.: SAC Be Heard 2.0: Advancing civility and connection in A&S

This presentation provides an update onÌýBe Heard 2.0, theÌý multi-phase initiative to strengthen workplace civility, engagement and inclusion across the College of Arts and Sciences. We will revisit each phase, including Phase 1, which focused on the effect of emotions, stress and resilience on workplace behavior, and Phase 2, in which SAC participants crafted personal leadership narratives aligned with SAC’s vision for civility. We’ll also preview the goals of Phases 3 and 4, which will support team-level dialogue and unit-specific actions that promote a culture of respect, accountability and collaboration.

Staff Advisory Committee MembersÌý

Erin Cunningham Ritter, PhD, Director of wellness and employee engagement College of Arts and Sciences

1:45 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Break

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Design thinking activity ÌýÌýÌý

Kristen Alipit will lead the group through a skill-building session on design thinking—a commonly used and very effective approach to solving complex problems and issues in organizations.Ìý We will apply these tools toÌýideatingÌýandÌýprototypingÌýthe Be Heard 2.0 initiatives to include staff expertise in solutions design. Kristen has many years of experience working in design thinking, both in training others in the framework and leading organizational projects using this technique.

Kristen Alipit, director of organizational effectiveness and engagement, finance and business strategyÌý

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Idea Forge tourÌý

Victoria Lanaghan, program coordinator, Idea Forge

3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Campus tourÌý

Concluding the College of Arts and Sciences Staff Summit, we invite you to join us for a tour of the Idea Forge followed by a campus tour of the University of Colorado СÀ¶ÊÓƵ. As the final session of the summit, this tour will immerse you in our top-tier public research institution nestled below the Flatirons. Discover the academic excellence, cutting-edge facilities and vibrant community that define the College of Arts and Sciences. From historic landmarks to awe-inspiring outdoor spaces, CU СÀ¶ÊÓƵ offers an unforgettable educational journey in a stunning natural setting.Ìý Bring your water and walking shoes and dress for our Colorado weather!Ìý

Gavin Laing, faculty affairs senior coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences