October Staff Employee of the Month

The CU Anschutz October Staff Employee of the Month is Tessa Carlson, program director of the BOND Mentoring and Engagement Program in the Office of Access and Engagement. 

Read Tessa's nominating statement:

Tessa Carlson has a way of stepping up wherever she's needed, often taking on work that extends well beyond her day-to-day responsibilities. Throughout her years at CU Anschutz, she's taken on a variety of roles, consistently bringing thoughtfulness, dedication and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.

Much of Tessa's work focuses on creating opportunities and building connections, both on campus and in the surrounding community. She helps young people explore educational and career pathways, connects community partners with campus resources and expertise, and works to make opportunities more accessible. Her commitment to this work spans years, and she continues to find ways to bring people together, strengthen partnerships and remove barriers.

One example of her impact is her leadership of the BOND Mentoring Program, which creates opportunities for CU Anschutz staff and faculty to connect, learn from one another and grow professionally. Now in its third cohort, BOND has welcomed its largest group yet. Tessa has played an important role in building that momentum and creating a space where colleagues from different roles and departments can share experiences, support one another and develop meaningful relationships.

What makes Tessa especially valued by those who work with her is how consistently she shows up for others. Whether she's helping a colleague navigate a challenge, connecting people who could benefit from working together or stepping in to support a new initiative, she brings the same care, reliability and willingness to help. As roles and priorities have shifted over the years, she's remained someone others can count on.

Tessa's contributions reach well beyond any single project or program. Through her work, she's helping create a campus where people feel connected, opportunities are more accessible and relationships with our surrounding communities continue to grow.

Learn more about CU Anschutz Staff Council's Employee of the Month program and submit a nomination here.