Q&A

Biking the World

Keeley Haynes — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:29:25 +0000

Biking the World Keeley Haynes Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:29

Tom Needy

In April 2025, Carolyn Mason (AeroEngr’16) placed second in Arkansas’ infamous Doom cycling race. Nestled deep in the Ozarks, she donned a CU tank top on the race’s makeshift podium. Mason cycled over 402 miles and climbed over 44,000 feet amongst flooding, torrential rain and overall gruesome conditions to earn the accolade.

This is not a rare feat for Mason. Outside of the race, she switches between working a “real job” as a software engineer and living out of her van to ride her bike extremely long distances.

When the Coloradan tracked her down to delve into her enduring love for cycling, she was living in a tent in Colombia on her way to Argentina — of course, on her bike.

What were you like growing up?

I grew up in Coppell, Texas — near Dallas — where I lived for 18 years. I played softball and was an umpire. In high school, I participated in an internship with NASA. At the time, I was really into art and really enjoyed our robotics team — I just liked making stuff.

Mason during the 2025 Doom race.

How did you end up at CU?

My family loves the mountains, and we used to spend time hiking and skiing in Colorado. I knew I wanted to study engineering and that CU had a great aerospace program, so it seemed like a good fit with the program and outdoor opportunities.

How did you get into cycling and these long races?

My roommate at CU had a road bike and someone I worked with had a mountain bike, so we all started going on rides together.

After college, Aiden Goldi (EPOBio’16) and Eli Zabielski (Math’14) motivated me to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). That really changed my perspective. It was the first time I went out and took a big solo trip. I really enjoyed pushing myself and seeing how far I could go while hiking all day, not showering, eating crap food and being out in nature.

Then, I got my first job on the East Coast where there was a big cycling community. The next thing I knew, I was touring and racing my bikes as often as I could. My first bikepacking race was in Boise, Idaho, with an awesome group called the Women’s Bikepacking Initiative. It was with 40 other women, and I absolutely loved it.

What was the Doom race like?

Before Doom, I had recently returned from bike touring in Asia. But I picked up my van in Texas and then headed to Arkansas for the race.

One of the best moments of the race was when other cyclists and I found ourselves muddy and cold. We all decided to collapse inside a post office with our bicycles for 45 minutes of sleep. One of the worst moments of the race was during the second night. It was crazy cold, and I kept taking off my shoes for river crossings then saddling up to ride — only to find another crossing! During the final night, I started to hallucinate. I wasn’t sure if I would keep riding or take a few hours of sleep. Luckily, I ran into some other cyclists and we all motivated each other to finish.

Mason after the 2025 Doom cycling race, where she placed second.

Would you do it again?

Yes, why not? It was an awesome race. The high from racing and being out there with others doing something absolutely ridiculous is great.

You are riding your bike from Alaska to Argentina and are currently in Colombia. How did that come about?

Ten years ago, after hiking the PCT, I read about someone who cycled around the world. I decided that whenever the time was right, that is what I wanted to do. So now, I am in South America.

When you return from South America, what’s next for you?

I really enjoyed my last job working for a startup software company. I think moving forward, especially getting to travel so much and seeing how different things work around the world, I’d like to move into a more environmental or conservation-friendly space, while still working in software. A perfect balance would be doing something meaningful while still riding my bike.

If you went back to CU this fall to spend the day, what would be your agenda?

I would ride up Flagstaff, eat at the C4C and meet up for happy hour with some past coworkers from the Laboratory for Atmospheric Space Physics — a perfect day.

Photos courtesy of Mixed Soil Media and Kai Caddy

In April 2025, Carolyn Mason placed second in Arkansas’ infamous Doom cycling race.

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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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CU Professor Shanti Simon Views Music As Connection

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:10:55 +0000

CU Professor Shanti Simon Views Music As Connection Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 13:10

Christie Sounart

Last year, professor Shanti Simon joined CU �ֲ��ý’s College of Music from the University of Oklahoma as director of bands, where she oversees the band program, leads the wind conducting program and teaches undergraduate conducting. Previously, she served as flight commander and associate conductor with the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. Her leadership at CU is guided by music’s power to bring people together, an insight she credits to her global travels.

How did you decide to pursue conducting as a career?

Becoming a conductor was a natural outgrowth of my love for music, which started in elementary school and extended into high school, where I had a positive experience in the band program. When I was a sophomore, I realized music was something I could pursue as a career.

I did my undergraduate degree at Florida’s Stetson University in music education and trumpet performance, taught in Florida public schools for four years, and then decided to get my master’s and doctorate degrees in conducting at the University of Minnesota. At 30 years old, when I was coming out of my doctorate, I applied to the Air Force and won a job. I was a professional conductor for my seven years on active duty.

You’ve traveled the world with the U.S. Air Force Band. What performance is among the most memorable for you?

The Air Force gave me an opportunity to do what I love as a profession and serve my country at the same time. My first performance was memorable because it was my first assignment in Washington, D.C. It was in 2011 for the National Tree Lighting at the White House with the Airmen of Note, one of the best jazz ensembles in the world. As a young trumpet player, I grew up listening to them on cassette tapes. And then, here I was, conducting this group for the president of the United States and the first family at the White House.

But what I think are the most memorable performances I did with the Air Force are the full honors funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. There are bands of all services out there 365 days a year honoring our fallen heroes. Allowing families a space to feel emotions during a fragile time of their lives is really meaningful. I’ll always remember the professionalism and care that was put into those funerals, and what it felt like to be honoring something much bigger than me or the bands.

When deployed to the Middle East, what were your main duties?

I was deployed in 2016 for six months. My job was leading a band for the Air Force Central Command, and I worked closely with the public affairs officer to determine where the band could be most helpful to meet the Air Force commander’s priorities. We were stationed in Qatar and went to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Egypt.

Before I left, I wondered about the purpose of military bands in the region. It didn’t take long for me to understand. The mission was twofold: first, to support the troops and bring a taste of home to the forward operating bases, and, second, to build relationships with our host nations and allies in the region. Every day, music was able to open doors to conversations and connections between people.

Can you give examples of this?

We would often learn the songs in the native languages of the countries that we were in. We would collaborate with other musicians, sometimes play on radio programs. We were not just representing the Air Force — we were representing the United States in these missions.

When we were at school performances, we knew these interactions with kids could have a long-term impact on how they view the United States. Once, the band was setting up in a cafeteria surrounded by windows. The kids just were coming to the windows and looking in. They could not wait to get in. Then they had a wonderful experience singing along, and at the end, the kids came up and hugged the musicians, hugged someone in an American uniform. I looked at those interactions as a chipping away at the negative narrative and replacing it with a positive experience that really only music can do.

Another time, we went to a NATO base in Kabul, Afghanistan, to perform for the troops. One day, we were instructed to go to the Afghan side of the base. In order to do this, we had to get armored up and travel in an armored vehicle from one side of the base to the other. We set up in a hangar to create an atmosphere where the NATO and Afghan troops could share time together. When we first started the concert, the troops kept to different sides and didn’t talk to each other. But by the end of the hour, people had gone to the other side and were having conversations. We gave them a chance to get to know each other as people through music.

Was there something about CU �ֲ��ý that inspired you and your family to move to Colorado?

The College of Music has a mission to develop its students as universal musicians. This resonated with me because, after my professional experience with the Air Force bands, I saw a disconnect between what I learned in my studies and what I ended up doing with the Air Force. Now, I want to try to bridge that gap so that we’re preparing our students the best we can for the professional jobs that exist beyond CU.

What else should we know about your work here?

I’m thinking about crafting seamless concert experiences through innovative audience engagement. I want people to come to the concert hall and have something happen in the space that makes them want to come back. I’ve been exploring all kinds of things, from video to lighting to memorized performances where we take away chairs and stands.

What do you do when you’re not conducting?

I have a wonderful husband, Jebodiah, who supports my career and everything I do, and two young kids. A lot of my time and joy is spending time with my family. I still serve in the Oklahoma Air National Guard as a public affairs officer. I also love hiking. I’m really excited that this will be my first full summer in this area.

What else should we know about you?

I love music, I love people and I love the connection that music brings for people. I’ve really found my place here at CU, and I plan to spend the rest of my career building on the legacy of this incredible program.

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Photo by Casey A. Cass

Last year, Shanti Simon joined CU �ֲ��ý’s College of Music as director of bands, where she oversees the band program, leads the wind conducting program and teaches undergraduate conducting.

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Q&A with NROTC Student Coltrane Dilley

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:57:27 +0000

Q&A with NROTC Student Coltrane Dilley Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:57

Christie Sounart

Coltrane Dilley (Psych’26) balances NROTC, class and a vibrant social life — all while making time for running, friends and unlimited wings.

A Day as a Buff

“My mornings usually begin with a strength workout or ROTC training, followed by lectures and seminars. Afternoons are typically reserved for running, as I make it a personal goal to compete in several races each year. This spring, my training regimen was geared toward the Paris Marathon, which I ran this April. Evenings are dedicated to friends, campus events or personal downtime.”

Favorite CU Tradition

“I love the newly incorporated ‘Push-Up Squad’ at CU football games, where ROTC volunteers from all branches perform push-ups after each team score, matching the team’s total points at that moment.”

CU’s Influence

“Being surrounded by people from so many different backgrounds, each with their own stories and perspectives, has pushed me to broaden my worldview and approach leadership with more empathy and nuance.”

Campus Life

“Being a student at CU today means constantly being surrounded by people who care about issues, about each other and about doing something that matters. There’s this quiet drive across campus that’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention — but once you catch it, it pulls you in. It’s not always loud or flashy, but it is real and extremely authentic.”

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Photo courtesy Coltrane Dilley

Quick Facts:

Studying: Psychology
Expected Graduation: May 2026
From: Redondo Beach, California
Serves as Staff Sergeant in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)
Can be found studying at the fifth-floor lounge in the UMC
Doesn’t miss Wednesday unlimited wings at Roadhouse �ֲ��ý Depot

Coltrane Dilley competes in several running races a year.

Coltrane Dilley balances NROTC duties, marathon training and a rich campus life.

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Coltrane Dilley (Psych’26), pictured far right

How to Embrace AI

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:53:59 +0000

How to Embrace AI Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:53

Christie Sounart

CU law professor Harry Surden worked as a software engineer for five years before deciding to fuse his interests in tech and law. He attended Stanford Law School, where he helped create a groundbreaking interdisciplinary research center, the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics (CodeX), where he remains involved today. He joined CU �ֲ��ý in 2008, and his research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and law.

What spurred your interest in technology and law?

As an undergraduate, I wondered about this interplay between society, computer science and law. I was working as a software engineer and kept interacting with the legal sector, noticing ways in which aspects of law were becoming standardized — and to some extent automated.

What brought you to CU �ֲ��ý?

Colorado Law has a leading technology policy center, the Silicon Flatirons Center, led by well-known academics doing groundbreaking research — at the time Phil Weiser and Paul Ohm — and I was attracted to the idea of working with them. I was also very interested in moving to �ֲ��ý, which I had heard a great deal about. It turned out to be an absolutely terrific place to live.

What are your thoughts on the impact of large language models (LLMs)?

LLMs are absolutely revolutionary. I have studied artificial intelligence for about 20 years. For 17 of those years, I was somewhat disappointed. I observed that AI of the era prior to 2022 was good in very specific, narrow circumstances, but was far from the AI systems that most people conceived of when they conjured up the notion that machines could think and reason. With the advent of ChatGPT and LLMs since 2023, we are much closer to that vision of AI.

Today’s AI systems can understand and process ordinary language. Now, these AI systems are still simulation machines, and are not ‘thinking’ or conscious. They reproduce variants of complicated patterns that they have previously seen in billions of pages of written text and video. Nonetheless, they are extremely useful systems able to engage in fairly complex and advanced problem solving and analysis.

How often are you using ChatGPT?

I use ChatGPT (as well as Claude and Gemini) nearly every day. Part of the reason is due to my academic research, which aims to benchmark the legal reasoning and analysis abilities that AI models have for legal scenarios.

At this point, most of the frontier-leading AI models can engage in reasonably accurate legal reasoning for basic legal scenarios. But there are a couple of caveats. First, they make mistakes. They sometimes ‘hallucinate,’ inventing case names or occasionally misdescribing the holding of legal cases, so professionals have to be careful in completely relying on these systems. The second limitation is that such AI systems are still not great at complex and nuanced legal scenarios that rely upon the intuition, tacit knowledge and experience of attorneys.

How can LLMs be used to benefit the general public?

These models are not perfect, so we have to learn and practice their strengths and account for their weaknesses. I think of answers from ChatGPT as kind of background information that is likely reliable 90% of the time, but I still want to double check. I often cross-check answers across two or three different models in an attempt to triangulate on common knowledge.

How do you keep up with the AI industry?

I follow the academic research that is produced and uploaded to the academic article archive site for Cornell University’s arxiv.org. I also read the content of researchers on social media and watch the recordings of academic lectures or conferences on YouTube. However, primarily, I continually use the AI systems and test their strengths and weaknesses over time.

What should people know about the ways AI can intersect with the law?

AI can be very useful for access to justice. In the U.S., people who are involved in civil (non-criminal) cases, such as family law, landlord tenant law, wage disputes and immigration, have no right to counsel. An estimated 80% of Americans who have a civil matter cannot afford an attorney or do not have access to attorneys. AI may be able to help bridge that gap and provide people with a better option for legal advice and information.

How should law schools prepare students for the ethical dilemmas that AI may present in practice?

Law schools should be cautiously studying and, to some extent, embracing AI. I try to inculcate in my students principles of good AI usage in learning.

In education, there are two ways that AI can be used: to substitute for learning or to complement and enhance learning. Students who use AI should always reflect upon what any use of AI is doing. They should avoid uses where the AI is doing the work for them. However, AI can be a terrific learning enhancement. Imagine you read about a legal case for class, and you have some core confusion and unanswered questions. Here, you’d have the opportunity to use AI to connect the dots, enhancing your comprehension.

Do you believe current regulations are adequate to manage the risks posed by AI systems in society?

I think we should be cautious in regulating AI too early. AI has both benefits and risks, and we should avoid disproportionately attempting to predict future problems that have not yet arisen and may not arise. In my opinion, the best approach is to engage in continual information gathering and monitoring.

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa

CU law professor Harry Surden discusses the ways AI can be used in daily life.

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Student Spotlight: From Color Guard to Singing the "Alma Mater"

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:16:11 +0000

Student Spotlight: From Color Guard to Singing the "Alma Mater" Anna Tolette Mon, 03/10/2025 - 14:16

Lauren Elbert (Mktg’27) loves the traditions of student life — from color guard to singing the alma mater.

A Day as a Buff

“As a resident advisor, it’s super convenient to go to class next door in the Koelbel building. After class, I usually head to my barista job. It is the best part of my day, because I get to make coffee and talk to people who come in from around �ֲ��ý. Then, I normally hit up The Rec to run or take a cycle class. After that, I go to color guard practice and usually have meetings for the Leeds Scholars Program, Herd Leadership Council or a residence hall staff meeting, depending on the day. Later, I head back to my room, get some homework done, read a bit and go to bed. It’s a busy life, but it’s a good one!”

Favorite CU Tradition

“The Golden Buffaloes Marching Band is steeped in tradition and spirit for the campus. After each game, we sing the alma mater together, regardless of the turnout or how tired we are.”

CU’s Influence

“CU �ֲ��ý has shown me how creativity and business can intersect. The collaborative projects in my classes and my involvement in the Leeds Scholars Program have helped me develop a vision for combining marketing, technology and sustainability. I’m inspired to pursue a career focused on impactful storytelling and responsible innovation.”

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Photo courtesy Lauren Elbert

Quick Facts

Studying marketing, with a minor in creative technology and design.

Expected Graduation May 2027

From Franktown, Colorado

Works at Drogo’s Coffee Bar

Color guard in the Golden Buffaloes Marching Band

Resident advisor in Kittredge Central

Buff Lauren Elbert shares her favorite CU �ֲ��ý traditions.

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From College Roommates to National Business Co-Founders

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:55:22 +0000

From College Roommates to National Business Co-Founders Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:55

Eddy Connors, middle left, and Luke Siegert, far left, started Goodie Bag in 2023.

Sophia McKeown

In 2023, Eddy Connors (Bus’21) and Luke Siegert (FilmSt’22) went from college roommates and fraternity brothers to startup co-founders when they launched Goodie Bag, a marketplace for surplus food. The app aims to reduce food waste by offering “perfectly good unsold food” from local businesses at a significant discount. Since its inception, Goodie Bag has expanded nationally to over 200 partnering shops, including OZO Coffee, Charleston Bagels and Blend Juice Bar. Connors, who serves as CEO, talks about the company here.

Eddy Connors, middle left, and Luke Siegert, far left, started Goodie Bag in 2023.

You came up with Goodie Bag during a CU entrepreneurship course. How did it come about?

From the get-go, we wanted to muster up an idea that would both make positive social change and generate profit. There was an opportunity to prevent good food from going to waste by connecting it to people at lower prices. That business idea ended up winning the “Startup Summer” pitch competition.

How did you and Luke go from college roommates to business partners?

As roommates, we would always talk about different business ideas, different industries that needed to be shaken up. We both knew there was so much opportunity to create better outcomes for people and our planet, and that excited us.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in scaling the business?

In the beginning, our biggest challenge was figuring out the technology of our app since Luke and I were not engineers ourselves. We also faced some team challenges that required difficult conversations early and often as we took the company from a school project to a full-time business. Team is everything.

With over 200 partner shops and 45,000 meals saved from going to waste, what are your next big goals for Goodie Bag?

Our greatest goal is to ensure no good food goes to waste. That’s the vision that guides us. As for what’s next, we want to increase our presence in existing markets by partnering with more shops in cities like Denver, �ֲ��ý and Fort Collins.

Reflecting on your journey from CU student to CEO, what advice would you give current students interested in launching their own businesses?

Do it! In all seriousness though, just remember that inaction is always the wrong answer. Know that you’re going to have failures along the way, but as long as you’re able to learn and adapt, it’ll be a worthwhile experience.

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Photo courtesy Goodie Bag

Eddy Connors and Luke Siegert transformed their college project into Goodie Bag, a successful startup that connects local businesses with consumers to reduce food waste.

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Authentic Storytelling in Higher Education

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:49:51 +0000

Authentic Storytelling in Higher Education Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:49

Kelsey Yandura

A principal at TVP Communications, a boutique public relations agency specializing in higher education (higher ed), Teresa Valerio Parrot (Comm, EPOBio’97; MPubAd’03) is known as the agency’s “president whisperer” for her ability to help senior administrators translate their expertise into sharable insights (think: blogs, podcasts and other media formats). Valerio Parrot also co-hosts the Trusted Voices podcast and is the founding co-editor and a contributor to the blog “Call to Action.”

What are some of the biggest issues higher ed is facing?

Higher education is critiqued for being too elite, expensive and out of touch — but these criticisms boil down to an education being too far separated from someone else’s current experience, reality or memory. When I talk to people about their own experiences of college, I almost exclusively hear stories about how a degree positively changed someone’s life.

If you could communicate one thing to institutions, what would it be?

I would encourage institutions to own their excellence and stop trying to be like everyone else. Each institution has its own sparkle, and they often lose what makes them unique when they try to be like everyone else. Mimicry is where institutions go to die.

You’ve been called a ‘higher ed truth teller.’ What does that mean?

It is easy for leaders to surround themselves with those who tell them what they want to hear. I tell presidents and boards what the moment requires and what it demands from a leadership response — which means telling the truth. It’s never the easy route, but it’s the appreciated approach.

Why does higher ed matter today?

Higher education provides opportunities. Degrees and institutions make a difference in graduates’ lives, create economic impact in their communities and directly benefit society through research.

How did your time studying and working at CU shape your career?

I majored in just about everything CU had to offer before settling on communications and public relations, and I’m so thankful this is where I landed. This field has allowed me to travel the world, specialize in higher education and launch my own business. Through the university, I have been fortunate enough to learn from and have access to phenomenal leaders, mentors and communicators who invested in me as a professional and human being. I’m forever grateful to CU and the Presidents Leadership Class for seeing my potential and investing in me as a professional.

Sko Buffs!

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Photo courtesy TVP Communications

Teresa Valerio Parrot, a principal at TVP Communications, helps higher education leaders communicate their unique stories and expertise.

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Spring 2025

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Q&A

Biking the World

What were you like growing up?

How did you end up at CU?

How did you get into cycling and these long races?

What was the Doom race like?

Would you do it again?

You are riding your bike from Alaska to Argentina and are currently in Colombia. How did that come about?

When you return from South America, what’s next for you?

If you went back to CU this fall to spend the day, what would be your agenda?

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Nonstop to the Olympics

What aspect of sports media do you like best?

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

How was your experience at the Olympics?

What was your role at the Olympics?

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William Drumm Follows Opportunity

What piqued your interest first, photography or wildlife?

Are there moments that remind you why this work matters?

How have you spanned your work into so many areas?

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

What’s the shot that got away?

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Protecting, Preserving and Restoring Nature’s Systems

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

Why was preserving the estuary important?

Who were the players in preserving this estuary?

What’s your next challenge?

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CU Professor Shanti Simon Views Music As Connection

How did you decide to pursue conducting as a career?

You’ve traveled the world with the U.S. Air Force Band. What performance is among the most memorable for you?

When deployed to the Middle East, what were your main duties?

Can you give examples of this?

Was there something about CU �ֲ���ý that inspired you and your family to move to Colorado?

What else should we know about your work here?

What do you do when you’re not conducting?

What else should we know about you?

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Q&A with NROTC Student Coltrane Dilley

A Day as a Buff

Favorite CU Tradition

CU’s Influence

Campus Life

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How to Embrace AI

What spurred your interest in technology and law?

What brought you to CU �ֲ���ý?

What are your thoughts on the impact of large language models (LLMs)?

How often are you using ChatGPT?

How can LLMs be used to benefit the general public?

How do you keep up with the AI industry?

What should people know about the ways AI can intersect with the law?

How should law schools prepare students for the ethical dilemmas that AI may present in practice?

Do you believe current regulations are adequate to manage the risks posed by AI systems in society?

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Student Spotlight: From Color Guard to Singing the "Alma Mater"

A Day as a Buff

Favorite CU Tradition

CU’s Influence

Quick Facts

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From College Roommates to National Business Co-Founders

You came up with Goodie Bag during a CU entrepreneurship course. How did it come about?

How did you and Luke go from college roommates to business partners?

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in scaling the business?

With over 200 partner shops and 45,000 meals saved from going to waste, what are your next big goals for Goodie Bag?

Reflecting on your journey from CU student to CEO, what advice would you give current students interested in launching their own businesses?

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Authentic Storytelling in Higher Education

What are some of the biggest issues higher ed is facing?

If you could communicate one thing to institutions, what would it be?

You’ve been called a ‘higher ed truth teller.’ What does that mean?

Why does higher ed matter today?

How did your time studying and working at CU shape your career?

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

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

Was there something about CU �ֲ��ý that inspired you and your family to move to Colorado?

What brought you to CU �ֲ��ý?