Grab a cup of coffee and join President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., for a new quarterly video series to build shared understanding and spark meaningful engagement among the MSU Denver community.
Common Grounds will feature casual conversations between President Davidson and University leaders, offering candid insights into MSU Denver’s strategic priorities, decision-making processes and the broader higher education landscape.
The goal: to strengthen employee connection to the University and its leaders while sharing context around key decisions and what they mean for the University’s future. Each episode will spotlight themes tied to the University’s strategic plan, blending big-picture perspectives with practical updates.
Every Roadrunner will have an opportunity to participate — Davidson and her guests will take questions from employees and discuss them during each episode.
First episode: Budget priorities with Jim Carpenter
The inaugural episode will debut in October, featuring Jim Carpenter, vice president for Administration and Finance and chief financial officer. He and Davidson will discuss:
- MSU Denver’s budget priorities and process
- The University’s financial position
- Campus growth and capital projects
- State and federal budget environments
Your voice matters
Employees are invited to shape the conversation by submitting questions in advance. Davidson and her guests will answer selected questions during the episode, and others will be addressed in episode recaps that will appear in the Early Bird.
Why it matters
The 2025 Employee Engagement Survey revealed that many employees want clearer, more transparent communication from senior leadership. Common Grounds is designed to address those concerns, creating space for openness, connection and shared understanding of the University’s direction.
