Winter 2020 Around the Oval a Publication for Members of the Colorado State University Alumni Association
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WINTER 2020 AROUND THE OVAL A PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION A Champion for Change PAGE 2 INSIDE AROUND THE OVAL 02 Mary Ontiveros 22 Career Services WINTER 2020 A Champion for Change Finding Success EDITOR Alisha Zellner Career Services 10 24 Ben Fogelberg (B.A., ’94; M.A., ’98) On the Road to Progress Move Your Career Forward 16 Paul Chambers 27 Class of 2020 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS A Man of Courage and Wisdom Reviving a Tradition Angie Dixon (B.A., ’94) Jerick Flores (B.A., ’10) 20 Diversity Symposium 28 Welcome! Matthew S. Helmer Celebrating 20 Years New Life Members Ann Gill (M.A., ’76) Tony Phifer GRAPHIC DESIGN Erin Foster Hello, Rams! Christy Schuster (B.F.A., ’18) 02 COPY EDITOR We welcomed more than 8,500 spring and fall Class of 2020 graduates into our Betty Grace Mickey alumni family this year under circumstances that I can’t resist describing with one of the year’s most overused words: unprecedented. And though many of the traditional PHOTOGRAPHY commencement experiences were deferred or reimagined, the essential foundation of CSU Photography that experience remained the same, thanks to you. STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Rams around the world, including many Alumni Association members, personally Kristi Bohlender reached out to the Class of 2020 with words of wisdom, helping hands, and other Associate Vice President (B.S., ’93; M.B.A., ’95) kinds of much-needed assistance that made all of our newest alumni feel appreciated, affi rmed in their accomplishment, and optimistic about their futures, despite the Haley Katz Director of Membership and Giving challenges of our time. I’m convinced that the way we welcomed the Class of 2020 exemplifi es Ram values in Around the Oval is published twice action; values grounded in the University’s land-grant mission and ongoing commitment a year by the CSU Alumni Association 10 to inclusion and respect for the dignity of all people. This issue’s feature stories as a benefi t of membership. highlight alumni who uphold our community’s highest and best standards of equity and opportunity, including CSU Vice President for Diversity Mary Ontiveros, who retires this Colorado State University 7114 Campus Delivery year after 45 years of service. As always, if you have a story to share with fellow alumni, Fort Collins, CO 80523-7114 16 we’d love to hear about it! (800) 286-2586 Stay stalwart, be healthy, and Go Rams! (970) 491-6533 [email protected] alumni.colostate.edu Ram proud, © 2020 by Colorado State University All rights reserved An equal-access and equal-opportunity University Kristi Bohlender, B.S., ’93; M.B.A., ’95, and Life Member ON THE COVER: CSU Vice President for Diversity Mary Ontiveros Join us on Facebook, 20 YOU make an impact Instagram, and Twitter. Your membership makes it possible for us to strengthen the lifelong connection of Search “CSU alumni and Colorado State University through meaningful and engaging opportunities. Alumni Association” Thank you! to download today! CSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERS LIKE YOU MAKE THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE AROUND THE OVAL | WINTER 2020 1 MARY ONTIVEROS A CHAMPION FOR CHANGE Progress always needs a champion, and it found one in Mary Ontiveros By Matthew S. Helmer Photos by Joe Mendoza, CSU Photography ese are just a few of the words used by colleagues to describe Colorado State University’s rst vice president for diversity and two-time alumna, Mary Ontiveros. In the more than half a century since rst arriving in Fort Collins as a freshman, Mary O. – as she is aectionately known across campus and around the state – has had a transformative eect on the lives of thousands of students, faculty, and sta, and played an integral role in shaping CSU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. For Ontiveros, the commitment is personal, one that was nurtured in her upbringing. 2 AROUND THE OVAL | WINTER 2020 AROUND THE OVAL | WINTER 2020 3 “My father was an activist, and he taught us very early that if you see something is wrong, you need to speak up, you need to make a difference. He instilled in us the importance of saying something and doing something.” MARY ONTIVEROS “My father was an activist, and he taught us very early that if you see something is wrong, you need to speak up, you need to make a di erence,” Ontiveros said. “He instilled in us the importance of saying something and doing something.” Originally from Pueblo, Colorado, Ontiveros graduated high school with honors and was the rst in her family to go to college. Despite landing on academic probation during her rst year, Ontiveros chose to stay at CSU and said the decision ultimately changed the lives of her entire family. Nine others in her immediate family have since attended CSU, and Fort Collins Mary Ontiveros and Vice President for Student A airs has become their familial home. Blanche Hughes give a historical perspective during “I thought, I have got to do whatever CSUnite at Lory Student Center, March 29, 2018. it takes to stay,” Ontiveros said. “So, I did, and staying here made all the di erence in early on that she could have an impact on the world.” systems, policies, and people at CSU in That decision eventually changed ways that moved the institution toward CSU, as well. After graduation, Ontiveros greater inclusivity. enrolled in graduate school and began “I found that, right from the beginning working in CSU’s Office of Admissions. – from my very rst interaction as a She discovered that years of part- student – I needed to explain and talk time jobs and active co-curricular about who I was,” Ontiveros said, recalling involvement as a student had prepared the story of someone knocking on her door her to speak knowledgeably about the the day she moved into her residence hall campus experience. She also realized to ask, “Are you a Mexican?” 4 AROUND THE OVAL | WINTER 2020 Mary Ontiveros with the Principles of Community display in the Lory Student Center. PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY The Principles of Community support the Colorado State University mission and vision of access, research, teaching, service, and engagement. A collaborative and vibrant community is a foundation for learning, critical inquiry, and discovery. Therefore, each member of the CSU community has a responsibility to uphold these principles when engaging with one another and acting on behalf of the University. We create and nurture inclusive environments and welcome, INCLUSION value, and a rm all members of our community, including their various identities, skills, ideas, talents, and contributions. “Talking about my Mexican American identity became We are accountable for our actions and will act ethically and part of what I needed to do to help inform and educate INTEGRITY honestly in all our interactions. others,” Ontiveros added. “Back then, there were not a lot of resources available. People didn’t have answers. People would look at us and wonder. People would ask questions; I wanted to answer their questions.” We honor the inherent dignity of all people within an environment Ontiveros incorporated this mission into a RESPECT where we are committed to freedom of expression, critical distinguished career spanning ve decades at CSU, discourse, and the advancement of knowledge. inspiring countless colleagues and students with an unwavering dedication to the struggle for equity. “Mary’s commitment is to not just the ‘idea’ of equity, Mary Ontiveros, center, is presented with the President’s Council on Culture Award for Notable Contributions to the Culture of We are responsible, individually and collectively, to give of our time, but the felt realities and consequences of inequity,” said Colorado State University, on behalf of the Principles of Community Paul ayer, who retired in 2016 following a 40-year career development team, by Blanche Hughes, left, and Sue James, right, SERVICE talents, and resources to promote the well-being of each other and at the Celebrate! Colorado State Awards ceremony, May 9, 2019. the development of our local, regional, and global communities. that included working alongside Ontiveros as associate vice president for student success. “She wrestled every day, in every position she held, with ways to advance equity for access, Ontiveros relied on the contributions of numerous every person and every group. Equity for Mary was always volunteer committees to advance the University’s We have the right to be treated and the responsibility to treat very personal, even as she pursued it strategically.” commitment to diversity and inclusion while building SOCIAL others with fairness and equity, the duty to challenge prejudice, Having spent years spearheading initiatives to increase the infrastructure for the VPD o ce. With the VPD’s JUSTICE and to uphold the laws, policies, and procedures that promote student enrollment among underrepresented populations, guidance, these e orts led CSU to implement a campuswide justice in all respects. fostering a commitment to diversity among her sta and assessment tool to gauge and improve the working climate peers, and leading Universitywide e orts to create a more for employees, create a bias incident assessment team, and inclusive campus, Ontiveros was asked by then-President adopt more inclusive employment policies. Tony Frank to become CSU’s vice president for diversity Perhaps the most well-known aspect of these in 2010. Originally cast as a hal ime role in addition to initiatives was the creation of CSU’s Principles of her work as associate vice president of enrollment and Community, a collection of ve value statements that 6 AROUND THE OVAL | WINTER 2020 AROUND THE OVAL | WINTER 2020 7 THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY There’s Something “Having graduated from Colorado Diversity Task Force established to research, 2009 About Mary debate, and advise leadership on the best structure to ensure that diversity is central State has allowed me to place things to CSU’s operations and planning.