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Did you know CU Anschutz has a Retired Faculty Association?
The CU Anschutz Retired Faculty Association (RFA) officially relaunched in September 2025, and hosted their second event, a spring luncheon, on May 29, bringing together retired and retiring faculty members who want to stay connected to the university community after retirement.
The RFA provides retirement resources and support while creating opportunities for continued engagement through educational programs, volunteer service, mentoring, lectures and social events.
Originally established in 2007, the RFA became inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year and a half, a group of passionate faculty and campus leaders worked to reestablish the association as a dedicated CU Anschutz organization.
About the RFA
The Retired Faculty Association’s mission is to foster the interests and well-being of retired faculty members of CU Anschutz, support social and educational opportunities, maintain active ties with the university, encourage volunteerism, mentorship/supporting junior faculty, and advocate for issues of concern to retired faculty and for faculty looking to retire.
For more information, contact the CU Anschutz RFA: retiredfaculty@cuanschutz.edu.
Launching the CU Anschutz RFA
Professor Emerita Maureen Leehey, MD, was a driving force behind the relaunch, charged by the Faculty Assembly with reimagining and reinvigorating the organization. Working alongside campus leaders and volunteers, Leehey helped develop the RFA's mission, bylaws and website, and helped oversee elections for its inaugural leadership team.
“Relaunching the RFA is essential. Our retired faculty have been the foundation of this campus’s growth, evolution and success, and we will continue to contribute by sharing our expertise and experience in support of its clinical, educational and research missions. We can also play a meaningful role in fundraising and outreach. In return, we benefit from a continued sense of purpose and community, and we look forward to developing our programs while engaging with RFAs across the CU campuses,” said Leehey.
Leehey partnered closely with Jodi Waterhouse, MHA, director of strategic partnerships and programs for the CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging, whose office supported the relaunch effort.
“It’s been a privilege to help reestablish this group,” said Waterhouse. “Since I joined CU Anschutz seven years ago, one of my goals has been to re-stand up an RFA. One of the many purposes is to reconnect retirees back to campus, and that comes in many different types of opportunities.”
Shaping the Future
About 40 retired and soon-to-retire faculty attended the spring luncheon, where they heard remarks from long-serving former School of Medicine Dean and Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs Richard D. Krugman, MD, on the early history and evolution of the CU Anschutz campus.
Attendees then broke into small-group discussions focused on academic and mentoring opportunities, volunteer engagement and special interests, and making the most of their retirement years.
"What we really want to do with this meeting is hear from you what you want the RFA to do and be ‒ what you want out of it," Leehey told attendees.
The groups discussed improving the retirement process, keeping connected with campus through service and reengaging with CU Anschutz colleagues through social events.
Feedback from the discussions will help shape the association's future programming and priorities.
RFA Leadership
This spring, more than 60 retired faculty members from across CU Anschutz schools and colleges elected the association's inaugural executive committee:
- Chair: Barbara Helfrich, MSc
- Chair-Elect: Robert Schwartz, MD
- Secretary: Cordelia "Corry" Robinson Rosenberg, PhD, RN
- Treasurer: Elaine Spector-Christensen, PhD
"We want to make the RFA an excellent resource for current and future retirees both through their time with the university and during the transition into retirement," Helfrich said. "A lot of people haven't had a plan in place, and it can be difficult to transition from a career where you're always in the spotlight. We can help with that and provide opportunities. There's a really good role that retired faculty can play with the university."
Check out photos from the spring luncheon!
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