DU Forward: From Vision to Action
DU Forward reflects the University of Denver’s commitment to shared vision and collective action. It was created through a thoughtful and inclusive process that brought together voices from every corner of campus: students, faculty, staff, and leadership. Together, these community members began to chart a course for DU’s next chapter of excellence, innovation, and distinction.
Building on a decade of progress
DU Forward builds on the foundation established through IMPACT 2025, the University’s prior ten-year strategic plan. That plan guided DU through a period of extraordinary progress: advancing student success, earning R1 research status, strengthening diversity and belonging, and launching the 4D Experience as a way to identify and advance DU’s impactful holistic education.
With DU Forward, the University is creating a bridge between past accomplishments and future aspirations. This five-year strategic framework organizes priorities, aligns resources, and sets a clear direction through 2030.
Community Engagement and Ideas
A shared vision built together. The process behind DU Forward was designed to be collaborative, transparent, and inclusive. In 2024, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and then-Provost Mary Clark led a series of listening sessions across campus to understand DU’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the future.
Campus Listening Sessions: Conversations with students, faculty, and staff clarified DU’s core promises and future vision.
Shared Leadership Input: Academic leaders identified opportunities for alignment.
Communitywide Feedback: Surveys and meetings invited perspectives from more than 40 academic and nonacademic units.
Idea Generation: Colleges, schools, and interdisciplinary teams developed proposals to move DU Forward, together.
This process produced more than 50 proposals and over $14 million in strategic investment ideas, all reviewed through a community-driven lens of innovation and impact.
A Start: DU Forward Steering Committee
To ensure diverse perspectives and strong representation, DU established a 25-member steering committee composed of faculty, staff, deans, senior administrators, and both graduate and undergraduate students.
Members represented every area of DU, from academic units to student affairs, reflecting the University’s “One DU” philosophy. Their work focused on refining strategies, evaluating proposals, and identifying the most promising initiatives for early investment.
The committee’s recommendations with updates from Chancellor Haefner and Provost Loboa now serve as the backbone of the DU Forward framework, ensuring that the University’s strategic priorities remain both visionary and achievable.
Steering Committee Members
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Chairs
- Anne DePrince
- Brad Bohlander
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Faculty
- Joshua Ross
- John Sebesta
- Anne DePrince
- Joe Walsh
- Carl Raschke
- Nic Ormes
- Starla Sieveke-Pearson
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Deans
- Michelle Sabick
- Naomi Boyd
- Torrey Wilson
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Senior Admin
- Brad Bohlander
- Julia Richman
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Staff
- Maggie Heyduk
- Isabel Salvatore
- Paul Riola
- Kristy Firebaugh
- Amanda Young Stewart
- Leslie Cramblet Alvarez
- Jeremy Wu
- Anthony Molieri
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Students
- Micah DenBraber
- Tyler Miller
- Rosepetal Van de Graaf
- Shivani Naraharishetty
Designed by the DU Community
DU Forward began with a series of campus-wide conversations in 2024, led by Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and then-Provost Mary Clark. Through listening sessions, surveys, workshops, committees, and college and school-initiated efforts, students, faculty, and staff identified the priorities that matter most. A 25-member steering committee, representing every part of the University, shaped recommendations for strategies and early investments. Chancellor Haefner and new Provost Elizabeth Loboa made selections for DU Forward projects to receive first year funding.
DU Forward Timeline
January 2025
Finalized shared governance structure
February 2025
Launched campus engagement
Winter and Spring 2025
Developed campus engagement framework
Summer 2025
Revised and finalized
Fall 2025
Published 19 funded projects
Winter 2026
Work commences on 19 funded projects
Spring 2026
First reports shared with the DU community
