Pioneer Leadership Faculty and Staff

Linda Olson, Ph.D., PLP Director

Linda began teaching for the University of Denver in the Department of Human Communication. Her area of communication research has focused on group and team communication, collaboration, leadership development and ethics.  Linda's current research is focused on assessment of leadership learning and the leadership development process of undergraduate students.  Linda brings a vibrant interest in international and intercultural issues to the classroom and program.  She has led and trained groups involved in international service learning throughout the world. In addition, Linda is active in local leadership in her own community as a city commissioner of the Englewood City Council.



Paul Kosempel, Ph.D., PLP Assistant Director

Paul's professional experience includes over ten years in institutions of higher education in various capacities including career development, leadership development, operations, and event management. Prior to joining the Pioneer Leadership Program in 2007, Paul created a thriving program of alumni involvement as Director of Alumni Career Information at DU.   His doctoral studies focused on communication dynamics in mentoring relationships. Additionally, he is pursuing research that examines the role mentoring plays in leadership. Paul has taught previously in both the Pioneer Leadership Program and the Daniels College of Business.  In addition to getting involved in his neighborhood association and his church, Paul enjoys coaching his kids in various sports.

Brynn Vassos-Moffett, MBA, PLP Program Coordinator

Prior to joining the PLP team, Brynn worked as a Management Consultant, focusing primarily on Communication Planning and Change Management projects for corporate clients. After five years in the corporate environment, Brynn decided to follow her heart and make a career change. With a long-time passion for leadership development and civic engagement, this change led her back to DU. 

Brynn is an alumnus of PLP ('01), she has her BS in Marketing, and her MBA in Integrated Communications, from Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver ('05).

Pioneer Leadership Program Faculty Affiliates

Cathy Grieve, Ph.D.
PhD, University of Denver (1979)
MA, University of Denver (1972)
BA, Mount St. Joseph-on-the-Ohio

Selected Accomplishments:

• National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 2003 Silver Circle Inductee
• Excellence in Education Award, University of Denver Disability Services, 2002
• Seton Tradition Award, Archdiocese of Denver, 2000
• University of Denver Distinguished Teaching Award, Sept. 2000
• DU Master Teacher Award, 1993
• Hospice of Peace Award, 1992
• University of Denver Pioneer Award, 1991
• Teaching Award, DU Learning Effectiveness Program
  

Interests:
Public relations, crisis communications, event planning, communication and gender, non-profit communication

Roscoe Hill, Ph.D.
Roscoe Hill is a member of the Philosophy Department faculty.  He came to DU in 1973, and has spent the time here going back and forth between teaching and administration.  Most recently, from 1990 to 1998, he was Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at DU. In the 1970's and early 1980's he was the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  In the early 1980's he was the founding dean of The New College (now named University College).

He once taught and researched in the areas of ethics and philosophy of law.  Then he moved on to the philosophy of religion.  Through it all, he has loved teaching the moral writings of Plato, Aristotle, and other ancient Greek thinkers.  His interest in the Pioneer Leadership Program traces to three things: he has held many leadership positions and enjoys thinking/reading about leadership issues; he believes leaders need to be acquainted with the literature of philosophy; and he thinks PLP students are terrific.
He has also raced sailboats for many years, typically with a crew of four.  In such settings, the lessons about teamwork are numerous.  He has two grown children and six grandchildren.  He enjoys hiking and sailing in the summer, snow shoeing and skiing in the winter.

Pioneer Leadership Program, Community Adjunct Affiliate

Jamie Van Leeuwen, Ph.D.
Jamie has a Masters degree in International Public Health and a Masters degree in Sociology from Tulane University.  He completed his PhD in Public Policy at the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver with an emphasis on affordable housing and homelessness.  In 2006, Jamie was appointed by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to work as the Project Manager for Denver's Road Home, the city's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.  He was also appointed to Chair the Drug Strategy Commission and oversee the Office of Drug Strategy.  Prior to this role, Jamie directed fundraising, legislative work and research as the Director of Development & Public Affairs at Urban Peak, a Colorado non-profit agency serving over 3,000 homeless and at-risk youth each year.  With extensive experience researching and working with street youth in New Orleans and Denver, Jamie chaired the Denver Outreach Forum and participated on the Mayor's Safety Task Force and the Mayor's Drug Strategy Task Force.