Stephanie O’Malley Named AVC for Government and Community Relations

Dear DU community members, 

I am delighted to share that the University of Denver has appointed StephanieO’Malley (JD '89) as our new associate vice chancellor for government and community relations (AVCGCR), effective March 2.

Stephanie comes to us from Denver’s Office of the Mayor, where she has served as senior executive officer for equity policy and operations in the administration of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock since 2018. Prior to that, she served Mayor Hancock’s administration as executive director of the Department of Safety for five years as well as deputy chief of staff for two. Stephanie has held roles in Denver as an elected official, serving as county clerk and recorder from 2007-2011. In addition, she worked for three years in the administration of former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. 

In addition to her impressive experience, Stephanie is a proud University of Denver alumna, holding a juris doctorate from the Sturm College of Law. She received her bachelor’s of business administration from Howard University. She is the recipient of many awards, including a 2016 Women Making a Difference Award from Denver Nuggets Basketball and a 2009 Lawyer of the Year award from Law Week Colorado. 

The associate vice chancellor for government and community relations builds upon and reimagines the role left vacant when David Greenberg retired in November 2019. Included in our institution’s mission is a commitment to building partnerships — locally, nationally and globally — to contribute to a sustainable common good. In this position, Stephanie will serve this mission by focusing on deepening DU’s relationship with the city of Denver and the broader region and state. She will maintain and develop relationships with communities and stakeholders, including government entities, elected and appointed officials, local civic leaders and community groups, other academic and research institutions, and non-profits.

"I am extremely excited to become an integral part of the DU community,” Stephanie says. “As an alumna and someone who understands the importance of engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders, I look forward to fully supporting the University of Denver in its quest to further build partnerships."

As our AVCGCR, Stephanie will prioritize diversity and exhibit an awareness of and sensitivity to inclusive community-building, coordinating and partnering on a range of political and policy issues with the ultimate goal of strengthening and serving our institution. Stephanie will provide strategic counsel and advice to me and other members of senior leadership. She will also advise administrators and faculty members on strategies to facilitate dialogue and partnership with public-sector leaders.

Stephanie’s deep knowledge of and relationships within the Denver region will no doubt prove an asset to DU as we continue to position ourselves as “Denver’s University.” Her experience in developing and implementing strategy, community building, advocacy and outreach, and expertly managing a wide and diverse set of partners and constituents will be invaluable. The position remains in the chancellor’s office, reporting to Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Nancy Nicely.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the members of the search committee in recognition of their excellent work:

• Nancy Nicely (search committee chair), Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
• Susan Daggett, Associate Professor of the Practice of Law, Sturm College of Law 
• JB Holston, Dean of the Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science 
• Joelle Martinez, Executive Director of the Latino Leadership Institute 
• Linda Olson, Executive Director of the Pioneer Leadership Program 
• Heidi Perlman, AVC of Career & Professional Development, Advancement 
• James Rosner, AVC of Facilities Planning & Management 
• Robert Willis, AVC and Deputy Athletic Director of Community Engagement, Athletics & Recreation

Stephanie is the mother of two adult children, Patrick II, and Steven. Please join me in warmly welcoming Stephanie and her family to the DU community.

Sincerely, 

Jeremy Haefner 
Chancellor