Fully invested: President Amy Parsons outlines top priorities at Fall Address
story by Jeff Dodge
video by Ron Bend
published Oct. 4, 2023
Following her investiture as the 16th president of Colorado State University, Amy Parsons described her top priorities for the institution in her first Fall Address on Oct. 4.
The investiture ceremony for Parsons, who has been serving as president since Feb. 1, opened with a formal processional down the historic Oval as the CSU Marching Band played. Distinguished CSU faculty, members of the Board of Governors and CSU leaders in academic regalia gathered on stage at the front of the Administration Building.
The event began with presentation of the colors and a performance of the National Anthem by master’s student Kristy Shuck and the CSU Marching Band. Faculty Council Chair Melinda Smith served as mace bearer, and there were remarks from Associated Students of Colorado State University President Nick DeSalvo, CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank and Board of Governors Chair Armando Valdez, who read a congratulatory message from Gov. Jared Polis before the investiture ceremony.
After Valdez declared Parsons CSU’s 16th president, she was presented with the presidential medallion and mace.
Fall Address
During the Fall Address that followed, Parsons reflected on her time as a CSU student and the impact that a faculty mentor, Professor Emeritus Bob Lawrence of political science, had on her.
Parsons also recalled doing an internship at CSU in 1997 and witnessing the devastation caused by the Spring Creek Flood, the event that launched the annual Fall Address and University Picnic.
She listed several recent university highlights and accomplishments, including welcoming the most diverse incoming class in history, receiving accolades for sustainability, seeing the veterinary medicine program rise to number two in the country, and breaking another record for sponsored research spending. But she also called on the CSU community to not be satisfied with the status quo, and to boldly move forward in leading a renaissance of the land-grant mission.
President Parsons’ institutional priorities
- Student success.
- World-class academic and research programs.
- Institutional competitiveness.
- Outreach and impact around the state and world.
- Strengthening our democracy.
Parsons outlined five major priorities: student success; world-class academic and research programs; institutional competitiveness; outreach and impact around the state and world; and strengthening our democracy.
Colorado State University celebrated Amy Parsons’ investiture as the 16th president of CSU, where she described her top priorities for the institution. Photos by John Eisele/CSU Photography
‘You are welcome here’
“In a time when we often hear people questioning the value of a higher education degree, we must answer that with the well-documented proof of the extraordinary value of a CSU degree,” Parsons said regarding student success. “Whether arriving as first year students, as transfer students, as lifelong learners, our message must be the same across all segments of our university. And that is, ‘You are welcome here, you belong here, we want you here, you will be supported here, and you will succeed here.’”
Academic and research excellence
On the topic of academic and research excellence, Parsons said objectives include boosting CSU’s research portfolio and technology transfer, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening CSU’s global footprint, actively engaging with alumni worldwide, innovating around industry partnerships and curricula, and fueling emerging capabilities for advancing clean energy, including cutting-edge laser research.
“Of course, this all hinges on our ability to recruit and retain top talent,” Parsons said. “We must strive to be the first choice not just for students, but also for faculty, graduate assistants, staff and researchers, in all positions.”
Institutional competitiveness
She cited key recruitment and retention factors such as competitive compensation, pay equity, top benefits packages, professional development, investment in infrastructure and community, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“It means continual improvement of our systems, transparency in our processes and our budgets, and strengthening our shared governance: Faculty Council, Administrative Professional Council, Classified Personnel Council and ASCSU,” Parsons said. “It means excellence in advancement, philanthropy, stewardship and alumni relations. And in every aspect of what we do, we should seek to set the standard here and in all corners of the state, and our rural communities.”
Regarding outreach, extension and engagement, she cited the Board of Governors’ investment in the Rural Initiative, which has resulted in expanded resources and investments in youth, Colorado’s agricultural and food economy, and healthy communities.
Strengthening our democracy
The final priority, strengthening our democracy, harkens back to CSU’s original land-grant mission, “the great experiment of the democratization of higher education across all of our communities,” she said. Parsons also described the University’s activities around the current Thematic Year of Democracy and Civic Engagement.
“Democracy needs champions in this moment,” she said, “and it is our collective responsibility to be – and to produce – engaged, prepared citizens who are ready to work with one another, ready to vote, ready to run for office, and ready to engage in all facets of civil society.”
The event concluded with performances of the Alma Mater by the CSU Concert Choir and the CSU Fight Song by the Marching Band, followed by the University Picnic on the Oval.
Congratulatory message from Gov. Jared Polis
Dear President Parsons and the Colorado State University community:
While I am not able to join you in person for this historic occasion, I am pleased to send my best wishes and congratulations as you celebrate the investiture of Colorado State’s 16th president. The future is bright for Colorado State, and I look forward to working with Amy for years to come.
For 153 years, Colorado State has served the people of Colorado as the state’s land-grant university, with an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and access. President Parsons, we are proud to entrust you with the leadership of this great Colorado institution and have full confidence you will stand among its finest and most dedicated presidents.
On behalf of the people of Colorado, whom we are all honored to serve, congratulations and best wishes!
– Gov. Jared Polis