Press Releases:
December 2008
METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE of DENVER
Assistant athletic director joins Roadrunner staff
Athletic Director Joan McDermott has announced the hiring of Ron Christian as assistant athletic director for media relations/marketing.
Christian will direct marketing and sponsorship initiatives for the Athletic Department, while overseeing the sports information office and serving as primary contact for media relations. He will also provide assistance with fundraising and special events.
Christian brings 12 years experience in collegiate athletics to the Roadrunner staff. He spent six years with the Mountain West Conference office, including two years as director of communications. He served as assistant commissioner for public relations for the College Hockey America Conference for three years, and was sports information director at Bemidji State University and Morningside College.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Christian began his career in athletics as a project assistant with Meeting & Event Design, Inc., in Omaha, Neb., the company that managed the NCAA College World Series. He has worked several NCAA Championship events including the College World Series, the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four and the NCAA Division I Volleyball Final Four.
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METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE of DENVER
Newly selected House Speaker-Designee Terrance Carroll
to address nearly 1,000 Metro State grads
On the heels of his own historical moment, Terrance Carroll will address 984 graduates on the verge of entering the next phase of their lives.
The newly selected Speaker-Designee of the Colorado House of Representatives will address Metropolitan State College of Denver graduates at Fall Commencement on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. in the Colorado Convention Center.
Carroll (D-Denver), who will begin his fourth term in the Colorado House of Representatives in January, was selected Speaker of the House in November by the Democratic caucus. Pending election by the full house in January, he will be the first African American to hold the position in Colorado.
A longtime supporter of education, Carroll has chaired the Metro State caucus of the legislature since it formed in 2006. During his tenure in the state legislature, Carroll has also championed affordable housing, secure pensions, fair wages, and quality and affordable healthcare. He has served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee and as a member of the Legal Services and the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committees. He became assistant house majority leader in February 2008.
In addition to his legislative duties, Carroll is an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
About the class
Metro State expects to graduate 984 students this fall. This represents a 5.6 percent increase over last fall. More than 20 percent are students of color. Latino candidates represent 10.4 percent.
The top 10 majors for the above candidates are as follows: (1) Behavioral Science with 82; (2) Criminal Justice & Criminology with 60; (3) Management with 56; (4) Accounting with 51; (5) Biology with 48; (6) History with 46; (7) Psychology with 43; (8) English with 41; (9) Art and Finance with 39. Note that 180 or 18.3 percent of the candidates are seeking some type of licensure.
There are 126 candidates who will receive a graduation honor of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude, which represents 12.8 percent.
There will be a live Webcast of the event. For more details, go to http://www.mscd.edu/student/commencement/event/.
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METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE of DENVER
Board of Trustees votes yes on graduate program proposal
The Metropolitan State College of Denver Board of Trustees today voted to authorize President Stephen Jordan to continue the process of researching the feasibility of modifying statutory language to allow Metro State to offer master’s degree programs.
“This vote gives me the go-ahead to continue testing the water regarding legislative approval for us to offer master’s degrees,” Jordan said during a break. “We already have been meeting one-on-one with legislators and many of the other higher education and community leaders to gauge their support, and if, at any time, we decide it is not prudent to continue, the process will be stopped.”
The 7-to-1 vote came after a presentation by Jordan and a prolonged discussion of the proposal, in which every trustee went on record with their concerns and support for or against it. (Chair Adele Phelan did not vote as there was no tie.)
In his presentation, Jordan covered how graduate programs can support Metro State’s mission, benefit students and the community, and support the College’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiative. He went into some detail regarding potential master’s programs in teacher education, accounting and social work. The three departments had surveyed their students since the November board meeting, and Jordan’s presentation highlighted the students’ substantial support. It also listed the numerous government and professional organizations that have expressed their backing.
One major concern was why Jordan feels the College must proceed for this upcoming legislative session, rather than wait until the 2010 session. “Why the rush to judgment on such a major issue?” asked Trustee Mark Martinez.
Jordan answered that too often he has witnessed institutions that have an idea and are asked for more and more information until they’ve lost the opportunity. “I absolutely believe that now is the time to proceed. The timing is the right timing with the leadership we have in place,” he said. Jordan continually reiterated that at any time he could decide that it isn’t going to work and stop the process. “This will be a deliberative process with decisions and judgments every step of the way.”
To answer a question about whether this would diminish the College’s mission regarding undergraduates, Trustee Michelle Lucero said she believes it will add to the commitment to undergrads. “This is to complement, not overtake or replace, our bachelor’s programs,” she said.
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