President’s Cabinet deliberates social media, conflict-of-interest policies

The President’s Cabinet at Metropolitan State University of Denver on Thursday weighed two key policy proposals, discussed strategic plan progress and heard an update on rising health insurance costs.

But before digging into business of the day, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., opened the monthly gathering of senior leaders by emphasizing smart budgeting amid a challenging state funding outlook. She also highlighted how Roadrunners are giving back.

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President's Cabinet Meeting – October 23, 2025 (https://vimeo.com/1129999589)

President's Cabinet Meeting – Oct. 23, 2025

Key Cabinet updates included:

Strategic progress: The Completion Working Group’s outreach to undeclared orientation students helped double the percentage of students declaring a major — from 33% to 66%. It was one of several successes advancing MSU Denver’s 2030 strategic plan goals.

Policy previews: The President’s Cabinet considered a first read of new conflict of interest and commitment policies and updated social media policies, and discussed policy scopes and best practices.

Employee benefits: Leaders heard an overview of rising health insurance costs and details about the upcoming open enrollment period.

Kudos to these outstanding Roadrunner Shoutout winners:
- Jess Retrum, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Social Work, was recognized for transparent leadership and shared-governance advocacy.
- Brandi Rideout, executive director of Alumni Engagement, was honored for growing alumni engagement by 5,000 annually and leading her team to exceed goals by 120%.
- Kristin West, specialist project manager in Student Engagement and Well-being, was celebrated for exceptional organization and compassion supporting students with complex needs.
- Sam Gero, student data assistant in University Advancement, was commended for leading a data cleanup project that reduced duplicate records by 15% and boosted alumni engagement by 10%.