After a successful debut last year, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s second annual Community Collab Summit will be back in the fall semester, and organizers want to hear your ideas for conference topics.
The event will take place Sept. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Tivoli Turnhalle.
The Community Collab Summit is not your typical academic or professional-development conference. Instead, it’s a unique space created by MSU Denver employees for MSU Denver employees. It’s a vibrant gathering designed to foster connection, spark courageous conversations and build a stronger, more collaborative campus culture, said Kelly Evans, associate professor of Human Performance and Sport. Evans, a former Presidential Faculty Fellow, played a key role in creating the summit last year.
“The feedback from the 2024 event was clear: The summit filled a critical need for meaningful connection and collaboration at MSU Denver, and it’s quickly becoming a new fall tradition that launches the academic year with renewed purpose and unity,” she said.
Why you should attend
Last year’s inaugural summit brought together more than 200 faculty and staff members, chairs, deans and senior leaders for a half-day of engaging discussions and genuine relationship-building. Attendees said they appreciated the opportunity to:
- Engage in authentic conversations about campus challenges and opportunities.
- Participate in Community Circle discussions that sparked reflection and action.
- Connect with colleagues across departments and disciplines.
- Talk directly with senior leaders in an open and constructive format.
Registration is open to all MSU Denver employees (excluding student employees) and offers flexible options to attend the full event or specific segments, such as networking sessions, Community Circle discussions or just the lunch and keynote. Capacity is limited to 300 participants, and registration will close once that limit is reached.
Help shape the 2025 summit: submit your ideas!
As planning for the 2025 summit begins, all MSU Denver employees are invited to help shape the agenda. Topic submissions are being accepted for Community Circle discussions. This is a valuable opportunity to highlight pressing departmental concerns, suggest campuswide conversations or share collaborative projects that reflect the community’s shared values and goals.
We encourage submissions from faculty, staff and administrators at all levels. All ideas will be reviewed by a planning committee of MSU Denver colleagues, and selected topics will guide the development of sessions and speakers for the summit.
Community Collab Summit program and keynote speaker
This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Elizabeth Kleinfeld, Ph.D., professor of English and director of the Writing Center at MSU Denver. With her unique perspective as both a faculty member and an administrator, Kleinfeld brings deep expertise in inclusive education, accessibility and community-building. The full program for the event can be accessed here.
General Comments, Questions and Ideas
General feedback and suggestions can be submitted here. Comments will be reviewed by the event committee and actioned appropriately.
