Connor Mokrzycki

The University of Denver’s Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science will launch a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in fall 2026. The new major, part of the DU Forward initiative, draws on the Ritchie School’s existing graduate program and is designed to prepare students for research, pre-health pathways, and careers in a range of fields.“This exciting new degree program embodies the University of Denver’s commitment to offering leading-class education that is focused on outcomes,” says Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth G. Loboa. “DU is home to faculty experts who are passionate about preparing our students to become leaders in emerging and vital fields. I look forward to seeing how our graduates from this new program advance biomedical engineering, achieve their career goals, and assume leadership roles in emerging and established fields.”The interdisciplinary program, which brings together faculty from the Mechanical Engineering and the Electrical and Comput

The University of Denver is excited to welcome the eighth cohort of Public Impact Fellows, a program run by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs in partnership with the Division of University Relations.The Public Impact Fellows (PIF) program is designed to help faculty share their groundbreaking research beyond the classroom and the lab. Fellows learn how to tell the story of their work—and maximize its impact—through media interviews, opinion pieces, social media, and engaging with policymakers. Over the course of the yearlong program, participants meet regularly and have opportunities to connect with journalists, community leaders, and University leadership.Meet the 2025-2026 Public Impact FellowsDaniel Baack, professor in the Daniels College of BusinessBaack studies how consumers process information and how culture shapes marketing and advertising. He also explores creativity in advertising and the role of diversity and inclusion in business. Currently director of DU’s Executive PhD program,

Whether you're sleeping under the stars or tucked into a cabin in the woods, camping in Colorado is full of possibilities—it’s whatever you want it to be. The Centennial State offers outdoor experiences for every comfort level, from scenic campgrounds to remote wilderness. If you’ve never been camping in Colorado, here are a few tips to get you started.Camping in ColoradoIf you're looking for a simple way to ease into it, car camping is a great place to start. Most established campgrounds allow you to drive right up to your site, and they often come with restrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits. If you’re more adventurous, consider exploring national forest or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land—some sites are accessible by car, while others are hike-in only.  DU’s Alpine Club offers regular hiking adventures and is a great way to meet others and learn the ropes. And if you're hesitant to sleep outdoors, the University’s  John C. Kennedy Mountain Campus offers a cabin-based experience complete

With finals looming and commencement just around the corner, have you had a chance to plan what to do when your parents come to town?If not, don’t panic. Instead of the usual Thursday night run to Crimson and Gold Tavern or Fat Shack, give your parents something a little more special to remember. Trust me—they’ll thank you later.Here’s a list of fun, parent-approved activities to keep them entertained while you wrap up the quarter. Whether your family loves sports, art, live music, or great food, this guide has something for everyone. 1. Show off DU’s gorgeous campusGive your parents a personal tour of campus. Show them your dorm or off-campus house—just try to clean it up a bit first. Wander by beautiful, lesser-known spots like the rose window at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, the gear-shaped window at the Ritchie School of Engineering, or the peaceful garden outside the Daniel L. Ritchie Center. When it’s time to refuel, grab a bite at Fourth Story or host a casual get-together to

When Sam Noonan (BS ’20, PSM ’21) decided in his third year at DU that he wanted to pursue medical school, he worried his math major and leadership minor might hold him back. But a conversation with his advisor changed his perspective.“I was kind of flustered, thinking, ‘I’m not a bio major, I’m not a chem major.’ But she told me I didn’t actually need that, that people get in to med school with business degrees, art degrees—I just had to have the basic requirements for the applications,” he says. Now in his third year at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Noonan says DU’s Pre-Health Education and Advising program helped him build his pathway to med school.Flexibility to support every pathFlexibility is at the heart of the University of Denver’s Pre-Health Education and Advising program. Whether students arrive on campus set on a certain career or discover their passion for health care later on, the program offers personalized guidance, resources, and the option to ma

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and workplaces at an unprecedented pace, the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science is launching a new Master of Science in Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Designed for working professionals and career-changers alike, the part- and full-time program offers the flexibility, depth, and personalization needed to thrive in an evolving digital economy. “There’s no time like the present,” says Chris GauthierDickey, associate professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science. “We’re at the beginning of a wave, and gaining these skills now gives someone a real leg up in the future of applications and business.” The new program equips students with the practical tools and foundational knowledge to lead in data-driven and AI-powered fields. Prospective students can still apply for the fall—the final international application deadline and the first priority application deadline are May 5. Sean Connin, teaching professor

Egg prices in Colorado and around the country remain stubbornly high as a severe bird flu outbreak and ongoing inflation continue to drive up costs. With millions of egg-laying hens lost to the virus and production expenses rising, consumers are still facing steep prices at the grocery store, with no immediate relief in sight.Since January 2022, the H5N1 strain of avian influenza has spread rapidly across the U.S., first detected in wild birds and later infecting commercial poultry, mammals, and even a poultry worker in Colorado. Throughout 2022, cases appeared in foxes, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, otters, mink, and seals. By 2024, the virus had reached dairy cattle in Texas and Colorado and, by July, it was found in Colorado hens. In Colorado, the virus has affected over three million birds, including four egg-laying operations and nine backyard flocks, as well as 11 domestic cats that tested positive. The outbreak has also led to 10 human cases, forcing workers to use extensive personal protective equipment

Dogs have proven themselves to be man’s best friend, but when they are used in service to patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they are also an effective, low-cost intervention for reducing symptoms and increasing quality of life. But little is known about how the body—both human and canine—reacts to and changes in response to this human-animal interaction. That’s why researchers at DU’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) are studying the molecular and physiological changes that occur when veterans and service dogs bond. Supported by a grant from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, the study explores what happens physically when veterans with service dogs experience post-traumatic growth (PTG)—positive psychological changes that can happen as a result of struggling or dealing with trauma. The researchers are also measuring the effectiveness of service dogs in treating PTSD and increasing PTG, offering insights that could reveal new drug targets and treatments.“I

Your Guide to Live Music in Denver

A much-loved tradition since 1961, Winter Carnival promises students a perfect mid-quarter blend of cold-weather campus events and mountain fun at Winter Park.The weeklong event has endured as a hallmark of DU community spirit, with only three interruptions in its decades-long history: a snow shortage in 1981, extreme road conditions in 2020 and a pandemic in 2021. This year’s Carnival, set for Feb. 3-9, is shaping up to be better than ever, with the most robust lineup in years.“This is the most events we’ve had planned for a Winter Carnival since 2020,” says Sydney Gutierrez, president of the DU Programming Board (DUPB), the student organization that puts on the event. “We’re trying to bring it back to what it was like pre-COVID.”To make the Carnival more accessible, DUPB offers scholarships to cover costs for bus transportation, lift tickets and tubing passes, ensuring every student has the chance to participate. Applications for financial assistance can be submitted through Feb. 3.The weeksl