We are excited to announce the Korbel School is now officially named The Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs. Approved by the University of Denver Board of Trustees, this change reflects the bold, evolving scope of Korbel’s mission and its growing impact on the world stage and, increasingly, at the local level.

Founded 60 years ago by Czech diplomat and scholar Josef Korbel, the School had an extraordinary ambition: to build a world-class institution here in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West committed to making the world more peaceful, just, equitable and democratic. With more than 7,000 alumni and a global reputation for excellence, Korbel has solidified its place as a leader in international and public affairs; one that is driven by an enduring commitment to the public good and a clear vision for the future.

“The name change is not a departure,” says Dean Fritz Mayer, “it’s a declaration of our enduring commitment to our founding values, but one that better reflects who we are today. We don’t just study issues, we train future leaders to act on them. We engage with public policy at all levels, from the global to the local. And we recognize that the public good is co-produced by governments, businesses and civil society organizations.”

Our location in Denver continues to offer a distinctive vantage point, geographically removed from the nation’s capital, yet rooted in a state capital and deeply connected to the world. Korbel has always been a place that invites elevated thinking, bold ideas, and unconventional solutions.

The new name also reflects our ambitions for the next 60 years. “The mission of the Korbel School has never been more important,” says Dean Mayer. “In this moment of unprecedented change, of uncertainty about our common future, the world has never been more in need of principled, pragmatic, and courageous leaders capable of confronting the great global challenges of the age.”

We’re not simply signaling where we’re headed, we’re leading the way. We are shaping the next generation of leaders and ideas that will define the future of global and public affairs, and we stand ready to meet this moment with purpose, vision and an unwavering commitment to a better world.

Colorado – On June 17–18, 2025, a diverse group of civic, political, and private sector leaders from across Colorado will gather in Sterling as part of the Colorado Project’s Rural Learning Tour. The Colorado Project is a unique statewide effort to advance shared prosperity and sustainable and inclusive growth in every corner of the state. The initiative is convened by the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs and the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy at the University of Denver, in collaboration with partners across the state.

In its second iteration, the Colorado Project will explore the substantive policy challenges that rural communities face, as well as the creative solutions they are developing in response. Dean of the Korbel School, Fritz Mayer, explains, “The Colorado Project is about bridging Colorado’s urban-rural divide with evidence‑based policy solutions. Sterling is where that conversation begins this year.” The Rural Learning Tour aims to capture local innovations that align with the Colorado Project’s four cornerstones: Colorado’s Promise (access to prosperity in all Colorado communities), sustainability and resilience, economic mobility and workforce, and cost of living. These cornerstones emerged from the first iteration of the Colorado Project, which culminated in a report detailing a strategy for inclusive statewide growth.

The Sterling gathering will spotlight rural housing innovations, career‑connected learning, renewable energy stewardship, and small businesses. Participants will tour a wind‑energy site in Crook, meet with Northeast Colorado Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and Northeastern Junior College leaders, and network with local entrepreneurs at community events on Main Street. "We're thrilled to welcome the Colorado Project's first Rural Renaissance convening to Sterling. Our community is eager to share how we are innovating and discuss stronger partnership opportunities across all northeast Colorado" shares Trae Miller, Executive Director of the Logan County Economic Development Corporation. The convening will also benefit the Colorado Project participants, who represent other communities across the state. Participant Heidi Williams, President and CEO of Civic Results and Executive Director of the Metro Mayors Caucus reiterates this point: “Colorado’s small towns have long been laboratories of innovation. By listening to Sterling’s local ingenuity we can scale ideas that benefit every corner of the state.”

After Sterling, the Rural Learning Tour will visit Alamosa (August 14–15) and the San Luis Valley, followed by a visit to Steamboat Springs (October 9–10) and the Yampa Valley. Each region’s challenges are distinct, but the tour seeks to surface cross‑cutting solutions that advance inclusive growth for all of rural Colorado.

To learn more about the Colorado Project, visit the website or contact [email protected].

DENVER, CO — The Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver is proud to announce that Carol Spahn, former Director of the Peace Corps, will join its faculty in fall 2025 as the Rice Family Professor of the Practice of International and Public Affairs.  

Spahn was appointed as Acting Director of the Peace Corps by President Joseph R. Biden on his first day of office and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate thereafter.  During her tenure, she guided the agency through a historic global relaunch following the COVID-19 pandemic, where more than 3,000 volunteers returned to service across 61 countries. She led transformational efforts to modernize operations, strengthen volunteer safety and trauma-informed care, and launched new country programs in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, and Palau. She also successfully secured the Peace Corps’ first budget increase in seven years. 

In addition to her recent government service, Spahn has more than 25 years of international development experience, including leadership roles at Women for Women International, Accordia Global Health Foundation, and in multiple Peace Corps posts as both Country Director and Volunteer. 

“Carol Spahn embodies a lifelong commitment to public service and international engagement,” said Fritz Mayer, Dean of the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs. “Her experience and insight will be invaluable to our students and our broader community.” 

The appointment of Spahn as the Rice Family Professor of Practice reflects Korbel’s deep and ongoing connection and commitment to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korbel launched dedicated scholarships for evacuated volunteers, resulting in a surge in RPCV enrollment. Korbel remains steadfast in its support for those called to service. In fact, the University of Denver and the Korbel School have consistently been recognized as one of the top volunteer-producing universities by the Peace Corps. 

For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Stephanie Worden | Assistant Dean for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications
[email protected]    

Each quarter, Dean Mayer hosts an informal meal with students where you can discuss the topics that matter most to you. This is your chance to engage directly with the Dean and your fellow students in meaningful conversation. Don’t miss it!

Korbel Honors is our invite-only, premiere event to award faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members for their extraordinary achievements in the field of International Affairs.

This year, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, 66th United States Secretary of State and alumna of the Korbel School, will host our Keynote Conversation.

On behalf of the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, I share our deep condolences on the passing of Anna Sie. An extraordinary woman, Anna was a force in the civic life of Denver for many decades. Anna had a particularly large impact on the Korbel School.  Together with her husband, John J. Sie, and family, Anna’s philanthropy transformed Korbel with the creation of the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy, the Sié Chéou-Kang Chair held by Professor Deborah Avant, and not least, the building of the Anna and John J. Sie International Relations Complex in which we learn and work daily.

For over ten years, the Sié Center has made Korbel a destination for top students and scholars committed to peace and security. The mission of the Sié Center could not be more relevant given the state of international affairs today. More than ever, the world needs leaders skilled in diplomacy and committed to global security, prosperity, and social justice. The Sié Center’s emphasis on interdisciplinarity and engaged scholarship, in particular, make it a hallmark of the Korbel School’s unique contributions to our field.

The lasting legacy of the Sies’ generous investments in the Korbel School will influence the study of security and diplomacy for many years. We are forever grateful for Anna’s friendship, inspiration, and commitment to the future leaders who study here.

Frederick “Fritz” Mayer
Dean and Professor
Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs