Rising Together

Happy fall, ColoradoSPH community. Thank you to everyone who joined our recent State of the School address. We had record-breaking attendance — a clear sign of how deeply our community cares about the health and future of our school. I’m writing to share a summary of where we stand and where we’re going. The good news is simple: we have never been stronger.

That statement might surprise some, given the challenges we’ve faced and the uncertainties ahead. Yet it’s true. Our foundation is solid. Our people are exceptional. And our mission — to improve health for all — has never been more urgent or more relevant.

This is a time for public health: a time when our knowledge, skills, and values matter more than ever.

Our Financial Strength

Research remains our primary source of revenue, generating nearly $56 million on the CU Anschutz campus and another $20 million at CSU. We also bring in about $9.5 million in tuition annually. These funds power our research, support our faculty and staff, and most importantly, enable us to educate public health scientists and leaders. We face real financial headwinds, from changes in federal funding to national shifts in higher education. To stay ahead, we’ve identified five strategic priorities to guide us over the next few years:

1. Grow tuition revenue through relevant, market-driven curricula that meet today’s workforce needs.
2. Strengthen our research enterprise and lean into our proven areas of excellence.
3. Deepen our community engagement and expand partnerships with the private sector.
4. Champion public health for all through equitable, inclusive initiatives.
5. Invest in our people — because the strength of our school begins with those who power it.

Preparing the Next Generation

We are educating students who will confront the most pressing health challenges of our time. That requires relevant, flexible programs and strong professional preparation. Before the pandemic, enrollment had declined. During COVID, numbers rebounded, but since then we’ve seen another drop. This year, however, we’re seeing positive movement: an increase in new degree-seeking students, particularly in our MS, PhD, and DrPH programs. Enrollment remains lower than in 2019, and this year, we lost 44 international students who were unable to come to the U.S., but holding steady represents real progress in a challenging environment.

Our faculty and department leaders are taking bold steps to strengthen and modernize our curriculum. We’re retiring low-enrolling courses and creating new offerings that meet the needs of today’s students and employers — from artificial intelligence in public health to data analytics, policy innovation, and leadership development. We are also moving toward a centralized core curriculum to create a stronger cohort experience. Our goal is for every student to graduate with both practical experience and leadership skills that translate to success in any sector — public, private, and nonprofit.

Research that Shapes the World

Our research is world-class and continues to grow even amid headwinds. We experienced the termination of eight federal grants this year, totaling over $4 million, which led to 26 job terminations, largely due to the elimination of SNAP-Ed funding under House Bill 1.

Yet our community responded with determination and creativity. In just the first quarter of this fiscal year, faculty secured more than $25 million in new grants — evidence of the excellence and resilience that define our school.

Connecting to Community and Building New Partnerships

Through collaboration and trust, we turn research into action. ColoradoSPH has always been grounded in community — but we are now extending that commitment by deepening partnerships with the private sector. Industry should look to our students for internships, practicums, and full-time roles. And we, in turn, must ensure they are ready to step confidently into those opportunities. By partnering across sectors, we can strengthen the public health workforce and accelerate innovation in real time.

Health for All: Expanding Opportunity

Our value of service is central to everything we do. Too often, community organizations cannot afford to pay student interns, limiting both student access and community capacity. To address this gap, we are piloting Health for All, a program that offers paid practicums in areas of greatest need. We will evaluate its success this year and explore ways to expand it. I believe there are strong philanthropic opportunities to support this work, helping students gain experience while advancing equity and impact across Colorado and beyond.

Global Reach, Local Strength

Public health is global by nature, and ColoradoSPH continues to extend its reach across borders. Under the leadership of Dr. Lizzy Brickley, our new director of the Center for Global Health, we are building on strong foundations to expand the Center’s scope and influence.

In Guatemala, our Trifinio Clinic stands as an example of how science and compassion intersect. It’s a place where our students learn alongside local health leaders and where our research directly improves lives. As the Center continues to grow, so will these opportunities — giving more students the chance to engage in transformative global work.

Investing in Our People

Our final priority is investing in our people. We are investing in leadership training, mentorship, and team building. We are also recruiting exceptional new leaders, including Dr. Brickley and Dr. David Conti, our new Chair of Biostatistics and Informatics from the University of Southern California. These hires strengthen our school, foster collaboration, and broaden our reach.

Philanthropy and Growth

Fiscal year 2025 was our strongest yet, with $4.1 million in philanthropic support. Fiscal year 2026 is already off to a record pace, with $3.3 million committed to date. For the first time, ColoradoSPH was included in a campus-wide gift from The Anschutz Foundation — a $6 million investment in mental health services, part of a $50 million initiative to launch the CU Anschutz Campus Mental Health Collaborative.

We also established a new Endowed Chair in Public Health Innovation. Through a generous matching donation from Dr. Richard Hoffman, we raised more than $100,000, with more than half coming from first-time donors to our school — a remarkable testament to growing engagement.

We continue to invest in our students, awarding approximately $1.4 million in scholarships, awards, and other tuition support this year, including nearly $500,000 from philanthropic funds.

Rising Together

I’ve painted a picture of growth, optimism, and impact — and it’s all true. But I also recognize the challenges ahead. Public health is being tested as never before. The facts tell us: we are growing, we are adapting, and we are investing in our future. When challenges arise, the way we respond defines us. We will:

• Stay calm under pressure — resist panic or speculation.
• Focus on facts — act on data, not assumptions.
• Break down complexity — solve one problem at a time.
• Collaborate — because no one leads alone.

Public health reminds us that every challenge is an opportunity to adapt. Whether it’s a new threat, a policy shift, or an unexpected barrier, there is always another move. Let’s rise together — calm, clear, and collaborative — confident that no matter what comes next, we will rise.