Alumni Profile

Nonstop to the Olympics

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:06:39 +0000

Nonstop to the Olympics Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 16:06

Julia MacLean

For Matan Coll (Mgmt’25), early success in sports media came from saying “yes” to every opportunity. He turned a passion for photography and skiing into hands-on experience with CU Athletics and, ultimately, a role with NBC Sports at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. In May, he joined the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team full-time as a production coordinator. From building social media audiences in �ֲ��ý to working behind the scenes with NBC Sports’ communications team, Coll’s career reflects the fast-paced, relationship-driven nature of the sports industry.

What aspect of sports media do you like best?

The thing I love about sports is actually what a lot of people hate about it — the pace is nonstop. I don’t think I would be super happy working a traditional 9-to-5, because I would get to 5 and be like, ‘Okay, now what do I do?’ I’ve always been someone who loves to let my work become an extension of who I am as a person; the pace of live sports necessitates that.

What were some of the roles you held at CU �ֲ��ý?

I credit all the career success I’ve had to the internships I had with CU Athletics. During my freshman and sophomore years, I worked capturing photos and social content for CU’s varsity sports. As a junior, I worked with CU Athletics’ marketing and fan experience team. I took over @cubuffskiing and grew the account from 3,000 to 11,000 followers. After Coach Prime arrived, everyone relevant in sports was coming to �ֲ��ý. It was a networking gold mine.

How was your experience at the Olympics?

The Olympics are such a special thing. There’s really nothing to compare it to. More happens in a single day than would normally happen over the course of a week. For those 16 days, the world is watching. You show up as an intern on day one, and within an hour, they start treating you like a full-time employee for the entire stretch.

What was your role at the Olympics?

I worked as a runner with NBC Sports’ communications team, acting as a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and stepping in wherever I was needed. I helped coordinate talent interview access for external media, monitored live broadcasts and online chatter around NBC’s coverage, and even snuck in a few photo projects along the way. My mindset the whole time was simple: make myself as useful as possible — that’s something that’s carried through everything I’ve done.

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Photo courtesy of Matan Coll

Matan Coll turned a passion for photography and skiing into hands-on experience with CU Athletics and a role with NBC Sports at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

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William Drumm Follows Opportunity

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:05:15 +0000

William Drumm Follows Opportunity Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 16:05

Sara Muderick

Denver-based photographer and filmmaker William Drumm’s (EBio, Jour’08) lifelong fascination with the ocean has carried him from remote underwater expeditions to Hollywood studio shoots. In 2024, he shot the aquatic album art for singer Billie Eilish’s third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft.

What piqued your interest first, photography or wildlife?

I’ve always been obsessed with animals. I lived in Australia as a kid, and we were always at the beach in Melbourne. I fell in love with the ocean at an early age. My aﬃnity for photography came later. At CU, I took Kevin Moloney’s (Advert’87; PhDTechMedSoc’15) introductory photojournalism course, and his passion for the field was contagious. CU provided access to high-quality equipment I could check out at any time, expanding my knowledge and skill level.

Are there moments that remind you why this work matters?

Photographing tadpoles in British Columbia really stuck with me. Freshwater ecosystems are disappearing, and wetlands — critical for biodiversity and water resources — are increasingly being polluted or developed for human use. We were camped next to a lake with tens of thousands of tadpoles that were just full of life. Moments like that remind you how special these ecosystems are.

How have you spanned your work into so many areas?

It’s hard to make a living as a photographer, so I followed the opportunities. Early on, I had more success with video, so that’s what I pursued. Working with a few scuba diving brands doing videography, I eventually began doing photography for them as well, but quickly noticed a gap in how they were using their content. I saw that as an opportunity to move into marketing, helping brands create and use visual media more effectively. That combination of skills became a turning point in my career.

How did shooting Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft come together?

Her team found my images of people swimming with humpback whales, and it matched their vision for the album cover. Billie and her team wanted photos that felt like the abyss, so I naturally assumed we’d be shooting out in the open ocean. Instead, they told me, ‘We’ve rented a film studio in Hollywood with a pool, and we’re going to shoot it there.’ That experience was definitely a pinnacle moment.

What’s the shot that got away?

In the Azores, we were diving for whales and photographing every day, but the conditions were extremely challenging for both diving and shooting. We did hundreds of dives. We even had a 100-foot-long blue whale right beside us at one point, but when we went underwater, we saw nothing but a vast wall of green. Over the entire 20-something-day trip, we came away with almost no usable images. Despite finding all the animals we were hoping for, nature had other plans.

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Photo courtesy of William Drumm

Denver-based photographer and filmmaker William Drumm’s lifelong fascination with the ocean has carried him from remote underwater expeditions to Hollywood studio shoots.

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Protecting, Preserving and Restoring Nature’s Systems

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:04:19 +0000

Protecting, Preserving and Restoring Nature’s Systems Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 16:04

Marty Coffin Evans

Fifty-five years ago, Mike McCoy (A&S’64) served as a veterinarian in Imperial Beach, California, while also volunteering with his wife, Patricia, to work to protect the Tijuana River Estuary in southern California from development. Their years as dedicated coastal conservationists resulted in the naming of the McCoy Trail around the estuary in their honor.

How did growing up in �ֲ��ý influence your desire to protect marshes and wetlands?

The City of �ֲ��ý hired my dad to put a water pipeline connection from the �ֲ��ý Reservoir to �ֲ��ý through a wildlife-vibrant marsh, killing or displacing birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. As a 6-year-old, I told him, ‘The route should be changed!’ It wasn’t. Watching this destructive process had a lifelong influence on my passion to then protect the Tijuana Estuary.

Why was preserving the estuary important?

Coastal wetlands connect riparian corridors to the marine ecosystem globally. Over 90% of California’s coastal wetlands have been destroyed. The ecosystem services they provide are numerous for humans and wildlife. We have come to realize that it is critically important to protect and restore these systems.

Who were the players in preserving this estuary?

From 1970 to 1980, through negotiations with agencies, elected officials and the public, Patricia and I worked to protect the Tijuana Estuary from development and privatization. With the Undersecretary of Interior’s advice, we worked with Congress and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Tijuana Estuary became protected in perpetuity when it was designated the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge in 1980. Other designations followed from 1982 to 2010, including its inclusion in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve system, its designation as a Ramsar wetland of international importance and its status as part of a State Marine Conservation Area.

What’s your next challenge?

We must come together and resolve our differences to protect the planet, other species and ourselves by solving the big issues impacting all of us. I am looking forward to continuing to be a part of this process.

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Photo by Hayne Palmour IV

Fifty-five years ago, Mike McCoy volunteered with his wife, Patricia, to work to protect the Tijuana River Estuary in southern California from development.

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A New Way to Grocery Shop in Colorado

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:25:59 +0000

A New Way to Grocery Shop in Colorado Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 13:25

Julia MacLean

Rachel Irons, left, and her business partner, Verity Noble, on Shark Tank in March 2026.

In a strip mall near �ֲ��ý’s 30th and Walnut Streets, it’s common to spot shoppers ferrying totes filled with glass jars to and from Nude Foods Market. The jars, brimming with locally sourced produce, pantry staples and pre-made meals, are a major part of the zero-waste market’s mission. In an effort to help eliminate single-use packaging and elevate sustainable sourcing, shoppers can either bring their own containers or rent them from the store and return when empty.

At the center of Nude Foods’ ethos is co-founder Rachel Irons (EBio, EnvSt’15), an entrepreneur whose path from CU student to local entrepreneur reflects her curiosity and sense of urgency when it comes to environmental sustainability.

The idea first took shape far from Colorado, while Irons was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. On the trail, she began thinking about how diﬃcult it is for everyday consumers to make environmentally responsible choices.

“I had been vegetarian since I was 15, so I was trying to think about how companies and consumers could source and use meat sustainably,” she said. “There are a lot of solutions out there to our environmental problems and how that relates to our food system, but they can be really hard to find. They’re spread out everywhere.”

Irons’ time at CU played a critical role in shaping this perspective. As a double major in ecology and evolutionary biology and environmental studies, she was exposed to both the scale of environmental challenges and the potential for actionable solutions. A marine biology-focused study abroad program in the Caribbean introduced her to the idea that communities can help manage invasive species by incorporating them into the local diet, a concept that later became central to Nude Foods’ offerings.

When Irons and her business partner, Verity Noble, co-launched Nude Foods in 2020, along with Matt Arnold and Jimmy Uvodich, it focused solely on the delivery of pre-filled jars during the COVID-19 pandemic. The �ֲ��ý store opened in 2021 and continued to offer goods in prefilled jars, rather than following a traditional bulk food model.

“It’s a lot more accessible,” Irons said. “Customers can shop just like they’re at any other store. The only difference is they bring back the containers when they’re done, and then we wash them and refill them.”

This model allowed Nude Foods to expand its offerings, ranging from pantry staples like nuts and pasta to a weekly fresh meal menu that features dishes such as pad thai and Buddha bowls. Today, about 20% of the store’s products are made onsite by a full-time chef who prepares the meals and other items, like sauces or juices.

Among the most talked-about items is one that reflects Irons’ original inspiration: wild boar. Because wild boar is an invasive species, featuring it in their food offerings aligns with the store’s sustainability mission, while also offering customers something unique.

“We do a lot with it — burritos, jerky, sausages,” Irons said. “People love it. Finding feasible solutions that are easy and actually make sense is exciting.”

For longtime customer Bob Bernier, who saw the “zero-waste” sign when the market was under construction, Nude Foods has become a staple in his life.

“I was there the week it opened. I had to learn more,” said Bernier, who shops at the store multiple times a week.

Beyond the products, he credits Irons’ hands-on approach for building trust with customers.

“I don’t have to worry about where the food comes from, or the quality,” he said. “Rachel goes to the farms herself to see how they grow their vegetables and treat their animals.”

The connection also extends beyond transactions. “When I’m in there, I feel like a part of a community,” Bernier said. “We all chat about stuff — it’s a very friendly group of people.”

As Nude Foods continues to grow — the company opened a Denver location in 2024 and appeared on an episode of Shark Tank this spring — Irons is focused on scaling the model without compromising its values. Her vision includes a centralized production facility that could support multiple storefronts across Colorado and, eventually, beyond.

“We’re really trying to create a new food system that’s based on health and sustainability and regenerating the environment,” she said. “We’re trying to make it the norm.”

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Photos courtesy of Rachel Irons

Through sustainable grocery market Nude Foods, Rachel Irons is reimagining how Coloradans shop, eat and reduce waste.

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Q&A with Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:32:47 +0000

Q&A with Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:32

Julia MacLean

Cory Sandhagen defeated Marlon Vera in bantamweight on UFC fight night in San Antonio in March 2023.

One of the most powerful strikers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Cory Sandhagen (Psych’14) forged his status as a world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) contender through years of discipline and self-discovery. The work has paid off with big recognition — including serving as a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience.

At CU �ֲ��ý, were you already MMA training?

As a student, I wasn’t a professional, but I was competing as often as I could. I wasn’t doing as much MMA at the time, but a lot of jiu-jitsu tournaments and stuff like that. I trained at a few gyms — Easton Training Center in �ֲ��ý, Grudge in Wheat Ridge and High Altitude in Aurora. I was bouncing around all the time; my college experience was just planning classes around when I could train.

When did you know you wanted to do MMA professionally?

I was a big sports kid growing up. When I was in high school, I wanted to play basketball in college, but I wasn’t big enough or good enough to play at a school that I wanted to go to. I started doing martial arts because I saw it on TV and thought it was a cool-looking sport. It consumed my life not long after. I poured all of my former basketball energy into fighting.

People don’t realize it, but Colorado has always been a giant hub for MMA. When I was first getting into it, I realized all these professionals were training right down the street from me. I think that’s a big piece of why I’ve gone as far as I have.

What does a typical day look like for you?

It’s usually two practices a day, three when we’re lifting. So six days a week, I can have a practice at 9 a.m., a practice around noon and then a lift around 4 or 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are a little slower because we don’t push as hard towards the end of the week. Our bodies are pretty banged up by then. But it’s fun. I wake up, hang out with my friends and train all day.

In October, you fought in UFC 320, one of the biggest events on the circuit. What was that like?

It was pretty much as big a fight as it gets for me. I think losing in fighting is a lot more devastating than a lot of other sports, because you don’t get to play again next week. There’s a downswing after you lose, especially when it’s a big opportunity like that one, but you take some time off, start feeling normal again and then get right back to it. I’m grateful I got the opportunity to challenge myself against the best guy, and I did fairly well.

You’re well-known for your fighting style. What’s the strategy behind it?

Success in this sport requires creativity. You have to be able to think outside the box. My early style, I feel, was very creative. There’s a lot of, “Oh, I like this here, I don’t like this here.” At this point in my career, now that I’m past a lot of those learning steps, it’s way more militant. Now I know that if I do all of these certain things at the right time, then I’ll get the outcome that I want.

What are your goals for the future?

I’m 33, and I don’t really want to fight too far past 36 or 37, so I think I’ve got around six to eight more fights left in me before I call it quits. I have a lot of plans, though. I’m starting my own gym here in Centennial. It’ll be a normal martial arts gym where you come in, sign up and take classes. I’m going to teach the classes in the beginning to get it going, and of course, we’re going to have a fight team that I can hopefully train with.

What are your hobbies outside of fighting?

I’ve been doing a lot of creative things in my free time. Right now, I'm getting a couple of comic books that I wrote illustrated. They’re not superhero-type comic books — more like graphic novels about cosmic, existential things. Think Black Mirror, but an animated version for adults.

Who has influenced you in your life?

Most of my coaches growing up were all inspiring guys. I looked up to a lot of them. I’ve had some really good ones. I also look up to my parents, too. The only reason I am half of what I am is because they were good too.

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Photos courtesy Cory Sandhagen

As one of the most powerful strikers in the UFC, Sandhagen, forged his status as a world-class MMA contender through years of discipline and self-discovery.

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Jaxon Statzell Designs Skateparks Around the World

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:31:48 +0000

Jaxon Statzell Designs Skateparks Around the World Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:31

Sara Muderick

Jaxon Statzell (Arch’09) has designed world-class skateparks across the globe, including for the Paris and Tokyo Olympic Games, as well as the X Games. His work blends architectural training, artistic and sculptural design and his own experience as a skater to create spaces that cultivate creativity and community. With nearly two decades of professional experience, Statzell is now bringing this work to his hometown — Evergreen, Colorado.

What was your relationship with skateboarding growing up?

Admittedly, I got into skateboarding in middle school for the image and was pretty much a poser in the clothes and shoes, but I quickly became obsessed with learning to skate. In high school, my basketball coach gave me an ultimatum: give up skateboarding or keep playing. I chose skateboarding. After that, I’d shovel and towel-dry the driveway just so I could skate in the winter. My dad would drive me and my friends all over the state to different skateparks. Once I got my driver’s license, I even drove to Arizona to explore more parks.

What kind of skateboarding community existed at CU when you were a student?

There was a great community of skateboarders at CU. Satellite Boardshop in �ֲ��ý, which is still there today, was a great hub to meet other skaters. I would skate all around campus, but doing tricks was off-limits.

Was skatepark design always an interest of yours?

I went through school focused on traditional architecture, but skatepark design was in the back of my mind. Skateboarding was always my passion, but I never imagined it could become my profession.

What does it mean to take things full circle and return to Evergreen?

It means so much, and it’s honestly so much fun. Earlier in my career, I would’ve been stressed and insecure about designing for my hometown. Now, I feel prepared and overwhelmed with gratitude. More than anything, I am trying to soak it all in and enjoy the process.

What are some of the most important lessons skateboarding has taught you?

Skateboarding requires so much failure before ever learning even the most basic tricks. A kickflip takes hundreds, if not thousands, of attempts before ever landing even one. It taught me a lot of perseverance and grit. I also love that it’s simultaneously an individual artistic expression and a social activity — winning doesn’t require anyone else to lose.

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Photo courtesy Jaxon Statzell

Statzell's work blends architectural training, artistic and sculptural design and his own experience as a skater.

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Patricia LaMoe: A CU Centenarian

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:30:50 +0000

Patricia LaMoe: A CU Centenarian Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:30

Christie Sounart

In January 2026, Patricia Knudsen LaMoe (HomeEcon’48) turned 100. After more than a month’s worth of birthday celebrations — including a cruise from Nuremberg to Vienna — she sat down with the Coloradan to talk about life at CU in the 1940s, which began with a solo train ride from her home in Des Moines, Iowa, to Colorado.

How did you decide to attend CU?

On my AM radio in my room in Iowa, I used to listen to a late night radio show that came from Denver, the Mile High City. They were playing music records. But it never occurred to me that I would go to Denver. During the war, you didn’t think outside of your house. If the local store wasn’t out of bread when you went, you were lucky.

But about a year after graduating high school, our family friends were moving to Denver, and their daughter was enrolling at CU. They asked me to apply and said I could be her roommate, even though I’d already been taking classes at Drake University eight blocks from my house. I sat down at my typewriter and asked for more information about the university and for admission. I was accepted.

Where did you live and eat?

When I came out here, the Navy V-12 college training program was in full swing, which meant those involved took up all of the men’s and women’s dorm rooms. So some freshmen women were housed in fraternity houses. There were no men for the fraternities because of the war. I was in what they called the International House at the corner of 11th and College. I was in a room with four other girls. We had a community bathroom and did our own laundry in a basement washtub. I lived there for three years. I ate on The Hill most of the time. The Sink was there as the Sunken Gardens in 1945. There was another restaurant across the street on the corner that I ate at for special occasions. They served cheeseburgers and grilled cheese and soup and salad.

I also remember my first meal after I was dropped off by my roommate’s family when we took the train to �ֲ��ý. We went to a drugstore and had Twinkies.

What did you learn as a home economics major?

One year, we studied budgets. We had to make a budget for what would happen after you graduated — how to buy food, pay for utilities and buy clothes. Another requirement in home ec was that you had to study economics. They were talking about the cartels in Germany before the end of the war, even.

When we were just coming off the war, we were learning about and transitioning to a new life. People could now stop making Jeeps and tanks and switch to cars and refrigerators as ours were all wearing out.

In foods classes, we made the refreshments for alumni at Homecoming. We served athletes, too. I remember working with so much fresh food. We also studied architecture and learned about Romans and how they took warm baths. We identified three types of Greek columns. But I jokingly say my dad spent $4,000 to teach me how to fry an egg.

What did you do after you graduated?

My parent’s first trip to �ֲ��ý was to see me graduate on Flag Day, June 14, 1948. I then worked in an appliance store as a new graduate in Colorado Springs. Freezers were a new appliance at the time. I was hired to teach people how to put food into a freezer and how to take it out and how to fix the freezer. The first frozen foods that people could buy commercially were orange juice and coffee stored in containers.

What other memories do you have of CU?

There was an influx of men who came to campus over my time there. The campus doubled in three years with the vets who were coming back. They lived in the Quonset village [Vetsville] just off main campus.

Tuition was $33 a quarter, but an extra $33 a quarter for me because I was from out of state. You could buy used books.

I remember studying a lot. When you leave home, you don’t have your parents telling you what to do and how to do it. I had the freedom to do what I wanted to do. I learned to become a responsible adult.

Now that you are 100, what life advice do you offer?

Be curious, and stay curious about small things. For younger people, investigate your history of your family. Learn where they came from and what they did. Take advantage of opportunities, even if it’s going for a walk in a new area.

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Photos courtesy Patricia LaMoe

LaMoe describes life at CU in the 1940s, which began with a solo train ride to Colorado from her home in Des Moines, Iowa.

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A Season of Buffs Giving at CU �ֲ��ý

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:26:39 +0000

A Season of Buffs Giving at CU �ֲ��ý Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:26

April Driver

Darla Thompson (Soc’92) is eager to support her alma mater. As a Forever Buffs Advisory Board member and Homecoming volunteer, she has long enjoyed participating in university happenings. After moving back to Colorado in 2021, she started volunteering to read student scholarship applications and became inspired to contribute even more.

Last March, during CU �ֲ��ý’s annual giving day, Buffs All In, she donated to the university, citing her belief in the power of collective generosity.

“When so many people come together, even small gifts add up to something meaningful,” she said.

Thompson chose to contribute to scholarship funds to help make a CU �ֲ��ý education more accessible to students.

The Buffs All In campaign runs throughout the month of March, allowing for the creation of a network of CU donors who can see their collective giving in real time, further emphasizing the value of their gifts.

In past years, Buffs have chosen to amplify their giving through challenge gifts, which unlock additional funds when the challenge reaches a milestone, such as a donor quota or collective giving threshold.

Scott (Econ’79) and Linda Flanders offer a $25,000 challenge each year for the College of Arts and Sciences. “Liberal arts schools are often underfunded compared to business and technology degrees,” he said. “My CU education positioned me for success in business and helped me relate to many different people over a long and varied career.”

The Flanders were inspired after attending an event where a donor matched all gifts received during the dinner, prompting them to give unexpectedly. Now, they create their own challenge during Buffs All In to support the college that shaped Scott’s future.

His advice to Buffs?

“Give what you can. It’ll make you feel good.”

This March, join thousands of Buffs making a difference. Every gift — big or small — supports student success and the programs that can make a real difference. Be all in.

Make a gift or learn more

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Photos courtesy CU �ֲ��ý Advancement Marketing and Communications

Buffs All In unlocks potential at the university.

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A Look at Robert Redford's Bat, Ball and Glove from the movie The Natural

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:21:50 +0000

A Look at Robert Redford's Bat, Ball and Glove from the movie The Natural Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:21

Throughout the 1984 film The Natural (1984), Robert Redford’s character, Roy Hobbs, wrestles with the consequences of his past. In a pivotal scene, Glenn Close’s character, Iris Gaines, tells him: “I believe we have two lives. The life we learn with and the life we live with after that.” It’s a line about redemption — and one that echoes Redford’s own early life path.

Redford (A&S ex’58, HonDoc Hum’87) attended CU �ֲ��ý from fall 1954 to spring 1956, joining Kappa Sigma and working as a janitor at The Sink. He left to study art in Europe before enrolling in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He then launched a career that spanned nearly 80 film roles, beginning with War Hunt in 1962. By the time The Natural premiered, he was a household name.

Redford gave the bat, ball and glove from the film to Chancellor James Corbridge, who donated them to the CU Heritage Center in 1992.

Redford died in September 2025 at age 89, but his legacy in �ֲ��ý will continue — the Sundance Film Festival, which he founded, moves to the city in January 2027.

Bat, Ball and Glove Facts:

Glove was custom-made for Redford, who was left-handed.
All three items were used by Redford in the film.
Glove and bat feature 1930s styling.

Film Facts:

The Natural was nominated for four Academy Awards.
Film loosely based on a true story about Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus
Robert Redford modeled his character after a player he greatly admired, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox
Robert Redford was 47 years old when the movie premiered

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Photo courtesy Mona Lambrecht, CU Heritage Museum

Redford gave the items to Chancellor James Corbridge, who donated them to the CU Heritage Center in 1992.

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CU Alum Takes An Affordable Approach to Indoor Farming

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:20:19 +0000

CU Alum Takes An Affordable Approach to Indoor Farming Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:20

Marc Zarefsky

Maximilian Knight (EnvEngr’17) was in sixth grade when he saw a documentary that changed his outlook on the world around him.

The Cove, which won the Academy Award for best documentary feature in 2010, featured an in-depth look at a small town in Japan known for capturing and selling dolphins to aquariums around the world. The film featured graphic footage and raised critical questions about dolphin hunting practices.

Knight was transfixed.

“It was a pretty tough subject, but through that film, I became more aware of things going on in the world,” Knight said. “The whole community of people trying to do good in the world and trying to make the world a better place — that really inspired me and continues to.”

Knight took that inspiration and found his own way to improve the world. As founder and CEO of �ֲ��ý-based Rooted Robotics, Knight’s mission is to provide affordable automation systems to indoor farms of all sizes.

The company, founded in 2019, offers game-changing technology to small and mid-size controlled-environment growers who can’t afford industrial-sized — and industrial-priced — services.

“If we look to 50 or 100 years from now, if climate change does get significantly worse, as is largely expected, we need to be able to feed ourselves,” Knight said. “We need to be able to do that at scale without having millions or billions of people starve because we can’t grow as much food in the same ways that we used to.”

Enter controlled-environment agriculture, a term Knight explained refers to incorporating a more technology-focused approach to farming. In these environments, which often exist as vertical farms or greenhouses, growers can control everything from temperature and sunlight to humidity and nutrients, along with countless factors in between.

This flexibility allows growers to customize what they grow and when they grow it in a way traditional farmers cannot.

Rooted Robotics offers products that help farmers with seeding, harvesting and cleaning. Each system is designed with simplicity, reliability and sustainability in mind. Everything the company sells is also made to be upgradable with customized add-ons, allowing the machines to grow with the farms they support.

Knight’s own expertise in the field dates back to his time in CU �ֲ��ý’s College of Engineering & Applied Science, where he learned many of the technical skills he routinely applies to his work. But perhaps the biggest takeaway from his time at CU was, as he describes it, learning how to learn.

“I studied environmental engineering, which is not really what I do today,” Knight said. “Even though I’m not doing water treatment engineering or sanitation engineering, I learned how to teach myself new skills.”

Christian Maljian (left), Sebastian Vazquez-Carson (middle) and Maximilian Knight (right)

Knight also met Rooted Robotics’ chief technology officer at the school. He and Sebastian Vazquez-Carson (Phys’17) were friends as undergraduates, and the two reconnected in 2022 when Vazquez joined the company to help with a robotic system.

When Knight considered undergraduate programs, he was drawn to the community he found at CU. Today, with his company still housed in �ֲ��ý, he has kept close ties to the school. Christian Maljian (Engr’19) is co-founder and head of mechanical engineering. Of Rooted Robotics’ seven part-time employees, six are students from the College of Engineering & Applied Science or the Leeds School of Business.

Rooted Robotics also hosts summer interns from CU �ֲ��ý. In addition, the company partnered with the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering this year to sponsor a capstone project. The senior students involved with the project are helping Rooted Robotics develop a variation of the company’s seeding machine.

Knight’s hope is that, through the partnership and the innovation he’s brought to the company since its founding, Rooted Robotics can continue to be an inspiration and valuable resource for indoor growers.

“A beautiful vision that could exist in 50 to 100 years would be that we’re growing most of our agriculture in these controlled environments,” Knight said. “Because of that, nature will be able to reclaim a lot of the farmland that blankets the Earth. That can also help with reversing climate change at scale. That’s part of the future that we want to create.”

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Photos courtesy Maximilian Knight

Maximilian Knight’s company Rooted Robotics takes an affordable approach to indoor farming.

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