Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
Over two immersive days in Sterling, Colorado, community leaders from across the state gathered for the inaugural stop on the Colorado Project’s Rural Renaissance Learning Tour. The Colorado Project, convened by the Korbel School and the Scrivner Institute, is a unique statewide effort to advance shared prosperity and sustainable and inclusive growth in every corner of the state. The Sterling convening offered insights into the opportunities and complexities of life in Northeast Colorado.
With a focus on the 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—participants engaged in on-the-ground conversations with local business owners, farmers, educators, elected officials, and civic leaders. The convening underscored a clear theme: rural communities hold important innovations for Colorado’s future, but they must be included in the conversations on long-term strategies.
Regional Insights with Statewide Impacts
From touring wind turbine sites that are already creating skilled local jobs, to hearing K-12 and higher ed educators outline new career-connected programs, the convening offered a vivid snapshot of both successes and gaps. Participants examined local labor trends, housing affordability, sustainable energy, and economic infrastructure—all through the firsthand perspectives of those that live and lead in the region.
“Rural prosperity is Colorado’s prosperity--our future depends on every county thriving,” said Laurie Jones, Director at the Small Business Development Center in Sterling. Her words became a refrain across the convening, resonating with both first-time visitors and longtime regional partners.
From Listening to Action
The convening was not just a listening tour; it was a platform to build. Sterling’s collaborative spirit and deep-rooted leadership provided a springboard for actionable ideas: from broadband and tech apprenticeships to renewable energy projects and local entrepreneurship support. This work will help shape the statewide playbook for investing in rural prosperity.
Sterling marked a powerful beginning for the Colorado Project. With the next stop in Alamosa scheduled for August, the Colorado Project continues to elevate community-driven insights into long-term strategies for rural success. It is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, connected, and resilient Colorado.
1. You two are the current leaders of the Korbel Policy Society, the student organization for MPP students and others interested in policy. Can you share your experience leading KPS, and describe one thing you are particularly proud of implementing with KPS?
This has been a bit of a rough year in terms of student engagement, but we are proud to continue to offer Korbel Policy Society as a space for MPPs and other policy-interested folk at the University of Denver to socialize outside of class, discuss public policy, and make friends across cohorts. We are especially excited for our spring quarter initiative: featuring MPP alumni on the Korbel CareerCast podcast. While we originally planned an in-person alumni panel, we quickly recognized that busy schedules and limited availability in the spring quarter posed a challenge. To ensure our event remained accessible to all while preserving our valuable connection with alumni, we pivoted to a recorded, virtual format. This shift allowed us to continue sharing alumni insights and experiences in a flexible way, making their stories available to a wider audience of students, anytime.
2. What influenced your decision to pursue an MPP at Korbel?
Olivia: I see public policy as the ideal conduit for translating research-informed policy mechanisms into practical public service. In the classroom, we not only discuss the political process and theoretical elements of successful policy, but real-world applications and complications. I fell in love with policy problems in my undergrad at DU, and remaining here to pursue an MPP was the logical choice to continue learning and growing from Korbel’s broad and diverse knowledge base.
Otiwaa: My decision to pursue a Master of Public Policy at the Korbel School was driven by both my professional experience and a strong desire to effect significant change through policy. My first master's degree was an MBA in International Business, and I worked for a global mining logistics organization. However, I have always appreciated community engagement work, whether non-profit or not. I sought a career that would allow me to combine all of these things. Korbel appealed to me not only for its strong emphasis on international politics and global policy, but also for its interdisciplinary approach, which combines economics, governance, development, and ethical leadership. The chance to learn from practitioners, participate in real-world policy simulations, and interact with a diverse cohort made it the perfect setting for me to hone my talents and broaden my impact.
3. Which class(es) in the program have been the most impactful so far?
Olivia: I’ve really enjoyed the specialization component of the MPP degree, as it allowed me to build upon the base knowledge of the core public policy classes and explore a policy arena that I was particularly interested in. I chose to pursue the Homeland Security certification, introducing me to security-specific policy issues as well as the field I currently work in today, Emergency Management.
Otiwaa: Several classes have been especially impactful during my time at Korbel. Introduction to Public Policy Analysis was foundational—it set the tone for how I approach policy problems critically and systematically. I also really enjoyed the Social Impact and Sustainability Lab, which allowed me to explore practical ESG strategies, and Negotiating Conflicts and Environmental Policy, where I developed tools to navigate complex environmental and stakeholder dynamics
4. What are your career goals, and how do you think the MPP program is preparing you for this career?
Olivia: I’m focused on enhancing my knowledge of current policy problems in the Emergency Management space, particularly surrounding critical infrastructure and wildfire preparedness. Long-term, I hope to address these problems at the state or federal level to help strengthen the nation’s preparedness as natural disasters become increasingly frequent. The MPP program has prepared me to face these challenges with analytical experience and by valuing dissenting policy opinions in the search for the solution.
Otiwaa: My career goal is to lead in ESG and corporate responsibility strategy, helping businesses align their operations with social and environmental impact. The MPP program is equipping me with the analytical, negotiation, and policy design skills I need to drive that change—bridging the gap between business goals and public good.
5. What is one piece of advice you would offer to the Korbel Policy Society moving forward? Why do you think students should join/engage with KPS?
We both could not recommend involvement in student organizations more! Grad school can be difficult and isolating at times, and it is important to surround yourself with people who can motivate you through the challenges and celebrate the successes. Even if it’s not our club, find something at Korbel that allows you to step out of your cohort and learn from/lean on others.
6. What do you like most about living and studying in Denver? Do you have a favorite place or activity in town you want to share with our community?
Olivia: After a lifetime of horrible winters growing up in Cleveland, I have come to love the year-long sunshine of Denver. A random Wednesday in March could be a beautiful 75-degree day, opening opportunities for park days and long runs well before summer. At the moment, runs around Wash Park or afternoon happy hours at Denver Beer Company are getting me through spring quarter.
Otiwaa: What I enjoy most about Denver is how easy it is to connect with nature. Growing up in Ghana and spending nearly seven years studying in Morocco, I’ve always found peace and clarity in the outdoors. Hiking at Red Rocks or around Golden has become one of my favorite ways to unwind and reflect—it’s fun, refreshing, and keeps me grounded as I navigate grad school.
1. When did you attend DU, and what influenced your decision to enroll in the MPP program?
I attended DU from 2019-2023, beginning as an undergraduate student studying public policy and socio-legal studies, and then joining the MPP program through the 4+1 track. I was drawn to DU’s MPP program early on because of the fantastic opportunity to complete my graduate studies in parallel to my undergraduate work, and I loved my experience as a part of the undergraduate public policy program so knew it would be a great fit for me to stay at DU and pursue my MPP at Korbel.
2. What has been your career path since earning your MPP? How did the program help prepare you for what you’re doing now?
Since graduating, I have been a part of an organization called Whiteboard Advisors -- a social impact firm that works across research, policy advocacy, and communications to unlock educational and economic opportunity. I started with Whiteboard Advisors as an intern while finishing my MPP, and transitioned to an Associate role upon graduation before moving up to my current position as a Senior Associate. The practical, real-world skills I learned in the MPP program helped prepare me for my current role by being able to critically analyze existing policies, understand all possible implications, and come up with creative ideas that then inform conversations with state and school district leaders to drive more meaningful outcomes for all students.
3. What class(es) was/were particularly impactful? Do you remember some that changed the way you think about the world and/or helped you to improve your practical skills?
The most impactful class for me was The Policy Lab, because it was the most hands-on, directly applicable representation of developing a creative policy solution and taking the steps needed to make it successful. It was a great bridge between education and practice, and provided a unique opportunity directly engage with lawmakers in a meaningful way before even finishing the program.
4. How would you describe the most valuable aspect of your time in the MPP program, whether academic, professional, or personal?
The most valuable aspect of my time in the MPP program was developing my Capstone project, which focused on improving outcomes for at-risk students in Colorado. Working on this project not only helped me expand my subject matter expertise on an issue that would eventually become a key focus of my career, but also helped to develop my background in conducting in-depth policy research that requires identifying any and all potential implications of a potential programmatic solution. These are skills I use every day in my career, and that help me bring a more critical eye to policy in a way that allows for more creative interpretations of how to utilize policy to support student better student outcomes.
5. What advice would you give to current MPP students?
My advice to current students would be to keep an open mind about the policy areas you want to explore. Take classes outside of your primary interests, because they can provide valuable insights that you may not expect. For example, even though I now work in education policy, I have found that my coursework in health and water policy helped to broaden my thinking and expand my perspective on unique and creative ways to shape and interpret policy solutions.
6. What is a favorite story or memorable moment from your time as a student?
One of the most memorable moments from my time in the MPP program was our cost-benefit analysis class. It was one of the most difficult classes I took throughout the entire program, but also proved to be one of the most useful and rewarding. It definitely became a bonding experience for our cohort -- we all leaned on each other to help figure things out and eventually all get to a place where we could successfully complete a CBA.
1. What inspired you to join the Scrivner Institute and MPP program at Korbel?
When I saw the job posting in December 2023 for a new teaching-line faculty position, I was imme1diately intrigued. I myself have a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree (Harvard Kennedy School, Class of 2019) and have found over the years that the degree’s emphasis on systematic and evidence-based approaches to research, reasoning, and implementation have served me well. Since arriving on campus, I have been energized by the Scrivner Institute’s momentum and am continually impressed by my student and faculty colleagues, who are hard-working, brilliant, possess integrity, and are committed to the public good.
2. What are your research interests and areas of expertise?
I study issues of urban planning; housing, land-use, and transportation policy; state and local politics and policy; and policy implementation. I conduct research on these topics in both international and domestic contexts: my PhD dissertation examined issues of post-apartheid planning for multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy in South Africa, and much of my current work considers local urban policies related to housing and land use in the contemporary Colorado context.
3. What courses do you teach?
This past year, I taught courses in Urban Policy, Ethics in Public Policy, Policy Writing, and Public Policy Analysis. I also taught a “Policy Lab” course on Housing Policy.
4. What is an assignment/activity that you look forward to in your courses?
I have enjoyed developing client-driven courses in partnership with engaged, relevant, professional policy practitioners. Students work in teams and interface with these clients to produce timely products that can inform ongoing policy decisions and rollouts. This year, I have curated active course partnerships with the U.S. Department of State (through its “Diplomacy Lab” initiative), the Colorado State Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and the City and County of Denver’s Affordable Housing Review Team (AHRT) and its Community Planning and Development (CPD) and Housing Stability Teams (HOST). Next year, I’m looking forward to developing an additional partnership for students with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
5. What do you believe is a unique contribution you bring to the MPP program/Scrivner Institute?
I am born and raised in Colorado, and have long been passionate about issues of Colorado politics and policy. I have also spent considerable time on the east coast of the United States and have lived and worked internationally. I believe I bring a policy perspective that is at once locally grounded and in tune with national and global policy conversations. I hope to strengthen the Scrivner Institute’s topical expertise on issues of urban policy, state and local politics and policy, and implementation, and further skills-based courses in writing and public policy analysis. My client-driven courses aim to ground the MPP program and Scrivner Institute in professionally relevant experiential learning.
6. Could you share more about a project or projects you are currently working on?
I am currently working with colleagues across the university on issues of affordable housing in Colorado, with an aim to study precise drivers and causes of Denver’s affordability crisis. This collaborative work has involved engagements with faculty at CU Boulder, CU Denver, and Metro State, among other institutions across the U.S., and involves leveraging a novel policy simulator model to gauge the effect of policy changes on affordable-housing development potential. Envisioned outcomes include academic journal articles, a public-facing policy white paper, and newspaper articles.
7. What is a favorite memory from your time as a faculty member so far?
In March 2025, I convened a symposium event at the end of my Ethics in Public Policy class where students invited individuals whom they considered to be ethical public leaders to campus. At the event, students shared their final philosophical papers and/or public-leader interviews with attendees and bonded over food and drink. It was a tremendous culmination to a quarter of engagements with questions of ethical decision-making in this contemporary moment.
8. What do you like most about living and working in Denver? Do you have a favorite place or activity in town you want to share with our community?
I love living in Denver! My wife and I live right next to Harvard Gulch Park and a favorite activity is simply a daily walk around the park, or perhaps a walk or bike ride into work on the DU campus. If anyone is looking for some incredible ice cream in the area, do check out Right Cream!
9. Any additional fun facts about yourself?
My wife and I are expecting our first baby this June! I am thrilled about the prospect of us setting down roots in Denver and continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the DU, Korbel, and Scrivner Institute communities.
Sabre Morris (M.A. International Security, 2020) first encountered the world of international affairs in a middle school classroom in her hometown of Aurora, Colorado, where she participated in a hands-on experience called the ‘World Affairs Challenge’ Her social studies teacher noticed the spark, and not long after, her mother handed her a clipped article from Essence magazine featuring a Foreign Service Officer stationed in Costa Rica. “This is something you could do,” she said, and Morris believed her.
That early encouragement stayed with her. Throughout high school, she dove into globally focused extracurriculars like speech and debate and Model United Nations, finding energy and purpose in understanding how different countries and cultures interact. But it was at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs where Morris began to grasp the full range of what a global career could look like. “I went into this thinking the only way to do international work was through the Foreign Service,” she said. “Honestly, I give credit to Korbel. I learned there are so many opportunities in the international affairs space, across both the public and private sectors.” While internships with the Department of State helped clarify career opportunities, it was a combination of classroom learning and insightful peer conversations that expanded her view of the field.
At Korbel, Morris encountered a fast-paced learning environment that mirrored the consulting world she would eventually enter. Real-world simulations, group projects, and rapid-fire discussions pushed her to adapt, think quickly, and communicate with clarity. “At first, I didn’t understand why we were doing so many simulations,” she admitted. But in her early days on the job, it became clear just how much those exercises had prepared her for real-world problem solving. “You're using the same muscle in your brain when you're in the simulation, and then you take those skills out into the real world.”
What began in the classroom grew into a successful career with the help of Korbel’s professional network and resources. “I participated in the Korbel in D.C. program, which gave me a tangible sense of international affairs work. I spent six months in Washington D.C. building connections, networking, meeting other alumni, and learned the in-and outs of the cross-sector [public, private, and nonprofit],” she said. “I didn’t know what government consulting was until I met Korbel alums. They described their roles, projects, and impact they made for their clients in the federal government space, and I thought to myself, is this a possible career path for me?” Those conversations helped her see how her international security background could translate to the private sector. After joining Deloitte’s Denver office, she helped recruit DU and Korbel students. After a successful run in Denver, she transitioned to Washington, D.C., where she supports defense and security clients.
While her career has taken her on an exciting journey to a new city, the sense of community she found at Korbel remains constant. Many of her closest friendships were formed during group projects and late-night study sessions, and she continues to stay connected with the Korbel network today. In D.C., she enjoys mentoring current students. “I met a recent grad for coffee in Arlington and was immediately impressed,” she said. “The Korbel community is always supportive, welcoming, and eager to connect.”
Sabre Morris’s journey is an inspiring testament to how following your passions can lead to a meaningful career, even if the path is not always linear. “International affairs will always be here,” she says. “Even if things feel uncertain or delayed, there’s still a need for subject matter experts and people on the ground doing this work.”
Now, Morris is excited to support current students through their time at Korbel and beyond, offering encouragement, perspective, and practical advice as an official alumni ambassador. You can connect with her at [email protected].
Former Secretary of State and Korbel Alumnus Condoleezza Rice’s recent message to the Korbel community was clear: Democracy as we know it hangs in the balance—but there is hope in tomorrow’s leaders. “When you’re in the middle of an avalanche, you can’t stop it; you just have to decide how you’re going to dig out,” the former Secretary of State told the audience at DU’s Korbel Honors 2025 celebration. “We’re in a little bit of an avalanche right now.”
The sentiment hit home at the annual gathering to honor the faculty, staff, and alumni who embody the ideals and values of the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs: education, democracy, and service. The uncertainty of global affairs was not lost on the crowd, especially this year on the 60th anniversary of the school’s founding. “We find ourselves at a momentous point in history,” added Dean of the Korbel School Fritz Mayer. “It is a remarkably challenging time, and there’s been no other moment — certainly in my lifetime — where so much was changing.”
“Being in Denver in the Mountain West has always given us that kind of critical distance.... We’ve been able to adapt and respond... because we’re not in the day-to-day fray of the Washington beltway." - Fritz Mayer, Dean of the Korbel School
However, it was not so different for the founder of the Korbel School, the late international relations professor Josef Korbel. The Czechoslovakian native worked as a European diplomat immediately following World War II (during which he fled to London to escape the Nazi invasion), but immigrated with his family to the United States in 1948 to avoid the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia. With a promising diplomatic future in the rearview, Dr. Korbel redirected his energy toward academia, where it became apparent that few international affairs professors at the time possessed his rare blend of real-life diplomatic experience and intellectual curiosity about the principles of democracy—and the need to uphold it. He parlayed that into the debut of DU’s Graduate School of International Studies in1964 and remained at the university until his death in 1977. In 2008, the school was renamed to honor his legacy.
Korbel alumna and keynote speaker Dr. Rice (PhD ’81) is living proof of Korbel’s legacy. With trademark eloquence, she reflected on her journey from would-be music major at DU to mentee of Josef Korbel; to provost and professor of political science at Stanford University; and to her appointment as the 66th U.S. Secretary of State—the second woman to serve as such after the late Madeleine Albright, Dr. Korbel’s daughter. And her vision for democracy is rooted right here in the teachings of her mentor. “I knew I wanted to be somebody who did a lot of the things that Dr. Korbel had done: diplomacy, the study of foreign cultures and languages…He opened the world of the Soviet Union to me…He always said that mentors are people who see things in you that you don’t even see in yourself.” Dr. Korbel did indeed share his gift of diplomatic acumen with both his daughter and Dr. Rice—something he excelled at in part because of his extensive firsthand experience.
“We sometimes want to put a price tag on education: What will it be worth in what I can earn? It’s not a bad thing to think about. But it’s more about expanding your mind and the possibilities of who you might become.” - Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Korbel School Alumna
Dr. Rice was the last student that Dr. Korbel taught. She recalled a remark he once made in class that democracy is “the only system where human dignity can be fully realized. So he was fundamentally devoted to the democratic enterprise,” she said. “There are now people in the world and even in our own country who aren’t so sure [they share that view].” Now is not the time, she argued, to sit back and wait for those people to come around. Rather, it’s a time to tackle conflicting values head-on.
In fact, 60 years ago when Dr. Korbel founded the school (currently ranked 12th in the world for international relations graduate programs), world forces as we knew them were shifting then as well. The conflict in Vietnam was escalating, passage of the Voting Rights Act spurred the larger Civil Rights Movement forward, and the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union was gaining momentum. “We were a school founded … by a generation who was grappling with the great issues of that time,” said Dean Fritz Mayer. “How to avoid a third world war, how to address international development, how to tackle human rights—these were the salient issues of that moment.”
For Dean Mayer, these are the most important questions faculty and staff tackle together. “How do we prepare our students for the challenges of today?” he asks. “The challenges they’re likely to face in their career?” Engaging with these pivotal issues still remains at the heart of Korbel’s ethos, even when the weight of uncertainty and drastic change is daunting. Because when the avalanche stops, digging out will require savvy tools, sharp strategy, innovation, and grit. And, as each of the 2025 Korbel award recipients pointed out, our government, institutions, NGOs, and businesses will need the kinds of smart, engaged leaders that the Korbel School matriculates to grab shovels when the slide clears.
That’s where Korbel students shine, said Beth Ingalls, (B.A. ’96), Division Chief at the U.S. Department of State and recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. “The Korbel School promotes meaningful action through their programs,” she said. “They’re promoting democracy, human rights, and protection of national security. All of these issues will continue to be extremely important regardless of who is in the White House.”
“One of the things the Korbel School instilled in me is the idea of service.” - Beth Ingalls, Korbel Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Ingalls’ impressive career in foreign service, national security, and counterterrorism grew from her interest in public service, launched at the Korbel School. Building on her love of travel and interest in the global community, she took an international politics course on a whim. It was the catalyst for a profoundly impactful professional track that has taken her from Egypt to Pakistan to Afghanistan and back to Washington, D.C. “One of the things the Korbel School instilled in me is the idea of service,” Ingalls said. “Getting into the international studies degree program opened up opportunities and made me think about where I could work in the government, which brought me to the State Department.”
No matter where Ingalls’ path has taken her, she’s continued to keep her ties to Korbel strong. Connections and community, she says, are at the heart of the school’s culture and the continuing success of its students in our nation’s capital and beyond. In fact, Ingalls is the executive chair of Korbel’s Alumni Council, and plays an instrumental role in hosting students in Washington, D.C. through Korbel’s D.C. Career Connections program. At Korbel, she said, “You’re not just a number. You’re not lost in thousands of students … The school really punches above their weight in terms of having so many alumni here in the State Department and other places in the federal government. That’s something to be proud of.”
Success beyond the degree is due in no small part to educators like Professor Sachin Desai, winner of Korbel’s 2025 Outstanding Teaching Award. Born in Mumbai, India, Professor Desai completed both his M.S. and M.B.A. at DU, and has been teaching at the Korbel School since 2012. In his graduate quantitative methods courses, Professor Desai helps students apply data and statistics to understand and solve problems—even those students hesitant about the subject matter. “More than half of them take a second or third class with me because they end up finding the skill sets very relevant in the real world,” Professor Desai said. “I have changed the curriculum over time to reflect market realities and what is in demand for students.”
“They are already coming in with some passion about something. In the classroom, you’ve got all these diverse perspectives about where they’ve been and what they’ve done. They are already disciplined, diligent, and focused.” - Professor Sachin Desai, Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient
The mutual respect between Professor Desai and his students is a reflection of a strong relationship between an engaged, invested faculty and the driven, curious students who choose a Korbel education. “They are already coming in with some passion about something,” Professor Desai said. “In the classroom, you’ve got all these diverse perspectives about where they’ve been and what they’ve done. They are already disciplined, diligent, and focused. Their minds are ready to receive. It’s easy for us to give what we have to give.”
And how exactly does one inspire the next generation in times of such glaring uncertainty? It’s about taking the long view, expanding possibilities, and encouraging students to be adaptable in order to stay the course. It’s remembering that no one at Korbel is working in isolation to educate tomorrow’s leaders, he said—that it does indeed “take a village.”
The fact that the Korbel School is a community 1,600 miles away from the political buzz of our nation’s capital, and many agree that this distance is advantageous. “Being in Denver in the Mountain West … has always given us that kind of critical distance,” said Dean Mayer. “We like to say we have a bit of a wider aperture, maybe a longer horizon. We often use the phrase, ‘You can see far from here.’ We’ve been able to adapt and respond perhaps more nimbly in part because we’re not in the day-to-day fray of the Washington beltway.” Put another way, that distance gives students the space to make creative and deliberate choices that help channel their passions.
That’s where Rae Ann Bories-Easley comes in as the Senior Director of the Korbel Office of Career Development, and the winner of the 2025 Outstanding Staff Award. Not only does Bories-Easley model what service looks like in her work with so many students, but she also plays an instrumental role in shaping their trajectories through fellowships, internships, networking events, job workshops, and more. Even amidst this troubling slide, she pointed out, Korbel students are continuing to step up because they know what drives them—be it climate policy, gender equity, conflict resolution, or human rights—and they have the advantage of that wide-angle perspective, removed from the noise. “Many students are interested in federal service, specifically,” she said, though she noted that this door is a little sticky right now. “So a lot of students are thinking about a pivot: How do I do good in this world in a different way?”
"What’s really important now is the skill of being the human in the room—being able to build relationships, talk to people, read the room, and engage with stakeholders.” - Rae Ann Bories-Easley, Korbel Staff Excellence Award Recipient
As for what the future holds for the Korbel School and the way it shapes tomorrow’s leaders, there’s no doubt that change is already upon us, Bories-Easley said, with artificial intelligence front and center. AI as a tool is critical moving forward, she pointed out, and already omnipresent, “So what’s really important now is the skill of being the human in the room—being able to build relationships, talk to people, read the room, and engage with stakeholders.”
Perhaps that’s what the Korbel School has done best throughout its history: Provided space for the exploration of new frontiers while simultaneously keeping its students grounded in the human-to-human connection that makes cross-cultural progress successful. Connections, Dr. Rice pointed out, are key to the interdisciplinary nature of the Korbel School’s programs. After all, you can’t worry about problems like sustainability or national security without building a spectrum of economists, political scientists, environmentalists, and psychologists—and then wielding their tools in tandem with each other. “Problems,” she said, “don’t come with neat disciplinary boundaries.”
Our future leaders will need interdisciplinary attention and resiliency—and Korbel is equipping its students to navigate that journey, which won’t be straightforward. “There’s a balance between clear-eyed realism about what is happening,” said Dean Mayer, “a willingness to speak truth as we see it and be critical—coupled with the underlying belief that these problems are caused by humans, and we can therefore address them with the courage, intellect, and will to tackle even the most daunting of problems.”
Dr. Rice agreed, pointing to the change that one person’s decisions can set in motion. Her grandfather, she shared, was the son of a sharecropper and a freed slave, and he figured out how to put himself through college. Now, there’s not a member of the Rice family who isn’t college-educated. “We sometimes want to put a price tag on education: What will it be worth in what I can earn?” she said. “It’s not a bad thing to think about. But it’s more about expanding your mind and the possibilities of who you might become.”
Learn more about the 60th Year Anniversary of the Korbel School below.
Creating a truly inclusive learning environment takes more than good intentions—it takes commitment, creativity, and care. Korbel School Professor Rebecca Galemba embodies these values every day, and to mark this year’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), the University of Denver awarded her the GAAD Award for Accessible & Inclusive Classroom Experiences. This distinction highlights her outstanding efforts to ensure every student feels supported and empowered to succeed.
Prof. Galemba’s approach to accessibility is an everyday extension of what GAAD celebrates in higher education: inclusive and accessible teaching practices. One student remarked, “Prof. Galemba has placed such an emphasis on accessibility and making sure that all of her students can learn in the way that best suits them. Her efforts to make her course accessible really encouraged me to engage with her and her course.” This kind of student feedback underscores the powerful ripple effect of Prof. Galemba’s thoughtfully inclusive classroom.
The University of Denver and the broader Korbel community are proud to recognize Prof. Galemba’s unwavering commitment to her students. Her work not only exemplifies the spirit of GAAD but also raises the bar for what inclusive education can and should be. Congratulations to Prof. Galemba on this well-earned honor!
The Korbel School’s Scrivner Institute of Public Policy and DU’s Center for Immigration Policy Research (CIPR) recently joined forces to present a Scrivner Policy Roundtable focusing on the DU Courtwatch Project. The Scrivner Policy Roundtable offers a chance for the DU and local policy communities to dive deep into pressing local issues. Designed to spark dialogue and build bridges, the roundtables are more than just discussions—they’re a catalyst for connection and action. The Scrivner Institute organizes the series and convenes the policy community in Denver and on campus, while partner organizations present their work or research and facilitate robust group discussions on the topic at hand.
The Scrivner Policy Roundtable is a fruitful example of leveraging synergies between DU entities and the Denver community to spur partnerships and opportunities to collaborate. The discussions that the roundtable facilitates among students, community organizations, faculty, and staff provide a more intimate, organic, and engaging way for students to network with the community, opening up potential projects, internship, or employment opportunities for students interested in local policy.
The latest Roundtable, “(In)Justice in the Immigration Court System,” was led by CIPR faculty, student research assistants, and community partners, including:
Panelists presented on the historical influences and current structure of the U.S. immigration court system, while also sharing personal observations of the Denver immigration court system. Their research focuses on two expedited mechanisms: the Dedicated Docket and the Family Expedited Removal Management Program (FERM). Table and group discussions following the presentation emphasized how academic research can advance social and policy change by bolstering transparency and promoting due process in a widely misunderstood and overburdened immigration system. Dr. Galemba noted that much of Denver’s immigration court proceedings are open to the public, saying “it takes an army to look at the immigration system.” The presenters extrapolated important lessons we can apply to the current moment in American immigration, which is seeing an unprecedented erosion of due process and a delegitimization of the internationally recognized right to claim asylum.
This collaborative Roundtable event, brought to life by the combined efforts of the Scrivner Institute and the CIPR, is the most recent example of the ways Korbel faculty and staff are connecting students with the broader Denver community. “It was informative, fascinating, and inspiring to hear the words of faculty, students, and community partners in conversation with each other about their intersecting sets of knowledge and shared commitment to using that knowledge for the collective good," said Dr. Naazneen Barma, Director of the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Korbel School of International Studies. Korbel student, sophomore Klaire Cherryhomes, shared “I really valued the research, the empirical aspect of the presentation. Research is an essential way to deliver rights. Providing transparency to these incredibly closed-off systems is powerful."
The Scrivner Policy Roundtable exemplifies the Scrivner Institute’s commitment to its mission to equip students to tackle today’s most crucial policy issues with a local to global perspective and an emphasis on practical solutions. The Institute and Korbel School are dedicated to providing students opportunities to participate in essential, timely policy discussions by collaborating across DU and working alongside essential community partners.
Watch the recording of the event here, and to learn more about the Scrivner Policy Roundtables, visit the Scrivner Institute’s website.
This article was written with support from Scrivner Institute student Program Assistant Katia Diamond-Sagias.
Teaching Assistant Professor Dr. Stefan Chavez-Norgaard’s lifelong interest in public policy began at just six years old. As he took Philadelphia’s SEPTA train from his grandparents’ house to Center City, he was struck by the disparate quality of livelihoods visible from his window. “Even as a young kid,” he said, “I was shocked by the inequalities that the city line could mean in terms of land use, tree cover, and house size.”
That early awareness of inequity sparked a lifelong passion for public policy and urban planning, one that eventually brought him to the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, where he is now completing his first year as a faculty member.
“That’s where it all started,” he reflected. “A six-year-old visiting his grandparents with his mom and dad.”
That moment on the train sparked more than curiosity; it ignited a lifelong commitment to understanding how people with different lived experiences exist alongside one another, and how systems can either support or hinder that possibility. “The throughline across all my research is how can people of different backgrounds — racial, ethnic, gender, and class — live together side by side, as opposed to being separated by walls, segregation, and disparity,” Dr. Chavez-Norgaard explained.
That guiding question led him to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he returned many times to study the Born Free Generation: the first cohort to come of age without direct memory of apartheid. “This generation represented a really amazing historical moment — a society of explicit racial hierarchy and oppression giving way to a multiracial democracy,” he said.
Dr. Chavez-Norgaard’s research centers on local democratic governance — bottom-up forms of engagement — and in Johannesburg, he found a powerful case study of a multiracial society striving to transcend its past. “I’ve stayed in touch with many of the original interviewees from my undergraduate thesis. They became interviewees in my PhD dissertation — and now, I would call them friends.”
The insights gained from this work not only shaped his academic journey but also drew him to Colorado, where he was born and raised, and where the intersection of democratic engagement and urban development offered new opportunities to continue his exploration. So, when the opening for a faculty position at the Korbel School popped up, Dr. Chavez-Norgaard was immediately interested. “There’s a sort of pragmatism about democratic problem solving in Colorado,” he said. “And then there’s the nature and beauty of the region as well as dynamism and growth.”
Throughout his first year, Dr. Chavez-Norgaard visited neighborhood associations and community organizations, which led to involvement in projects like the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The effort to bring public transportation to this part of Denver required collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders, creating a dynamic participatory process at the intersection of democratic principles and urban planning. “Who’s the envisioned rider of such a system?” he asked himself. “What about the displacement of existing residents of Colfax? Is BRT along Colfax even the right answer?” Projects like this, and the complex questions they raise, have affirmed that coming to Colorado was the right decision — a place where his research can take root and make a tangible impact.
All Dr. Chavez-Norgaard’s efforts networking across the city culminated in making his debut Public Policy Analysis classes possible – one for undergraduates and another for graduate students. “These aren’t your typical lecture-based courses,” he said. “They’re chances for students to dive into real-world policy work, connect with professionals, and explore how cities like Denver interact globally.” Throughout the quarter, students meet with a lineup of inspiring guest speakers, taking an experiential learning approach.
Some of the guest speakers are former ambassadors, representatives from institutions like the Truman Center, the Pacific Disaster Center, World Denver, and multiple members of the Colorado Consular Corps. Students work directly with the U.S. Department of State and Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) on client-based projects.
Much of this is powered by the Korbel alumni network, which plays a big role in opening doors. Former students now working in these agencies are eager to give back, mentoring current students, and bringing their professional world into the classroom.
Dr. Chavez-Norgaard’s first year at Korbel has been defined by connection to his colleagues, students, and the broader Denver community. By grounding his teaching in hands-on experiences and his research in questions that matter across borders and backgrounds, he’s created a learning environment that is as intellectually rigorous as it is personally meaningful.
“I’ve felt welcomed and supported by the Korbel faculty from the very beginning, and I’m hoping to grow alongside faculty and staff colleagues at Korbel, whom I hope I can think of as lifelong friends,” he shared. That spirit of collaboration and purpose is shaping not just his own path, but the journeys of the next generation of public policy leaders — students learning to navigate complexity with clarity, empathy, and a drive to make a difference.
Over the past two years, the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy and Korbel School have proudly partnered with the Aspen Institute to offer a Denver Dialogues panel at the Aspen Strategy Group’s annual Aspen Security Forum (ASF), the premier national security and foreign policy conference in the United States. This past July, the Scrivner Institute and Korbel School, in collaboration with the Aspen Strategy Group, convened a special edition panel at ASF entitled “The End of Soft Power?”, exploring the state of soft power in the contemporary global context.
This summer, the Aspen Institute generously extended four complementary passes to Korbel students to join Korbel Dean Fritz Mayer and Scrivner Institute Director Naazneen Barma at the Forum. After applying to receive one of the passes, Korbel students Omar Aittakalla, Micah DenBraber, Norair Hevorkian, and Hans Schaler were selected to attend the 15th annual Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, CO. The students made the most of the wonderful opportunity to engage with experts in international security and diplomacy, learn about the most pressing global issues from domestic and global leaders, and to network with policymakers, diplomats, and scholars.
Student attendee Omar Aittakalla, who is in the International Development graduate program, reflected on his experience: “Attending the Aspen Security Forum has been one of the most enriching experiences of my summer. The opportunity to engage with leaders who have shaped, are shaping, and will shape the future of global security was truly unparalleled. I had the privilege to converse with a diverse array of experts, including seasoned policymakers, influential thought leaders, and rising stars in the field…Topics ranged from the strategic implications of space and cybersecurity to the geopolitical dynamics of great power competition. These discussions not only deepened my understanding of the difficulties we confront on a global scale but also instilled in me a sense of optimism…"
"As I reflect on my time at the Aspen Security Forum, I am left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for the collaborative efforts required to navigate the complexities our world is facing and will continue to face in the future.”
Micah DenBraber, another student attendee, said: “Attending the 2024 Aspen Security Forum was truly life changing. As an undergraduate international affairs major at Korbel, it was exhilarating to engage in conversations with top policy and business professionals in the national security space. A highlight of the forum was attending the Google AI security breakfast, where the new multi-stakeholder standards initiative, the Coalition for Safe AI (COSAI), was announced. This initiative brings together AI developers, industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and civil society organizations to promote the safe and responsible development, deployment, and governance of AI technologies. One of the most memorable moments for me was approaching a panelist during the AI security dialogue, where my initial nerves gave way to forming a valuable connection with someone who offered to support my BA thesis. As I enter my final undergraduate year, I’m excited to leverage the insights and connections gained at ASF to pursue opportunities in the global governance of artificial intelligence. I’m incredibly grateful to the Scrivner Institute and the Korbel School for facilitating this unmatched exposure to the nation’s leading national security practitioners and granting students such transformative opportunities.”
The Scrivner Institute and Korbel School are proud to partner with the Aspen Strategy Group in offering a transformative experience for our students and connecting a new generation of foreign policy leaders to ASG. We extend our thanks to the Aspen Strategy Group for their generous invitation for Korbel students to attend the Aspen Security Forum this summer and look forward to this mutually beneficial partnership in the years to come.
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