Key takeaways:
- President Janine Davidson, Provost Matt Makley and Chief Financial Officer Jim Carpenter welcomed employees to the fall semester after a breakfast and swag giveaway.
- Davidson honored faculty, staff and legislators with awards and one $10,000 prize.
- Scroll down to see a photo gallery and options to grab a T-shirt.
MSU Denver kicked off the academic year Tuesday by celebrating the people behind the University’s progress and challenging employees to build on that momentum this fall.
At the annual Welcome Back event, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., recognized 26 faculty members for earning tenure and promotion, along with 70 staff members for promotions, during the past academic year.
Davidson also presented Roadrunner Legislative Champion Awards to state Rep. Rick Taggart and Sen. Judy Amabile for supporting higher education, affordability and opportunity.
MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., addresses faculty, staff and student employees during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. The annual event welcomes the University community back for the fall semester and highlights the state of the University and the academic year ahead. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Roadrunner Champion Awards went to Emily Ragan, Ph.D., and Adrienne Martinez for advocacy that helped secure state Open Educational Resources funding and elevate MSU Denver’s voice in statewide higher education planning.
Lucas Koike received a $10,000 prize along with the President’s Flywheel Challenge award after identifying and helping correct a Banner software process that protected approximately $1 million in institutional scholarship funding over two years.
President Janine Davidson and Provost Matt Makley smile for a photo with student Madina Amiri during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Emily Ragan, Ph.D. (left) and Adrienne Martinez stand on stage while receiving Roadrunner Champion Awards during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Employees pick up MSU Denver-branded shirts commemorating the "Built for This" campaign during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Vice President and CFO Jim Carpenter addresses the audience, while President Janine Davidson looks on during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
College of Business employees listen during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
President Janine Davidson presents Roadrunner Legislative Champion Awards to state Sen. Judy Amabile and state Rep. Rick Taggart during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Hundreds of employees attend the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
President Janine Davidson presents the President's Flywheel Challenge prize to Lucas Koike during the President’s Welcome Back event at the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus on Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alyson McClaran
What Roadrunners should carry forward
Davidson said MSU Denver’s “flywheel” is working because investments in people, recruitment, partnerships and student success reinforce one another — and employees at every level can keep it moving by identifying and removing barriers.
In a conversation with Davidson, Jim Carpenter, vice president for Administration and Finance and chief financial officer — who spent the summer as acting president while Davidson was away on a short sabbatical — highlighted major work ahead, including the construction of Summit House student housing and the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute Tower. His T-shirt — the same one given to hundreds of attendees — commemorated this year’s “Built for This” campaign in celebration of major projects on the horizon and day-to-day progress on campus.
If you would like to have a shirt but were not able to attend the Welcome Back event, there are two ways to get one:
1. Limited quantities are available (XL-5XL) at the front desk of JSSB 430 noon-4 p.m. today and 8-11 a.m. Tuesday while supply lasts.
2. A virtual pop-up store will be open until Sept. 25. All sizes (XS-5XL) are available. Delivery to campus is expected in early October.
Carpenter also touted the efforts of the team adopting Workday Student as the University’s student information software. On the subject of artificial intelligence, he encouraged thoughtful experimentation in support of the University’s mission while preserving human judgment and providing clear classroom expectations for students.
Interested in the Flywheel Challenge?
Look for friction you can remove this semester. Employees whose solutions produce verified savings can submit them to the President’s Flywheel Challenge. The next application deadline is Oct. 30.
