2022-2023 Detailed Fellowship Descriptions


Current Call for Fellows

Employee Health and Well-being, Human Resources

The Office of Human Resources seeks a Fellow to promote health and well-being initiatives to support the university workforce. This role will partner with the Human Resources Benefits and Communication teams to design and project-manage a year-long campaign focused on the increased awareness and education of financial, mental/emotional, social, and physical well-being health initiatives to empower the Ram workforce.

The Fellow’s work will include:

  • coordinating of programming with the university-wide HEALTH thematic year (2022-2023);
  • driving education and event planning;
  • designing and conducting surveys to establish baselines, participation levels and outcomes;
  • leading focus groups and hosting educational webinars;
  • partnering on the rollout of You@CSU for employees;
  • enhancing website and materials to optimize participation in well-being initiatives;
  • generating measurably increased participation in supplemental retirement and wellness programs, along with increased awareness of offerings and understanding of plans.

This Fellow should be experienced in the theory of well-being and possess a demonstrated ability to apply the principles of financial wellness programs and mental/emotional, social, and physical well-being to enhance employee engagement in their overall well-being.  Prior experience with creating a methodical communication and education rollout of financial and health wellness strategies is preferred.  Prior experience in large scale complex project management and the ability to establish metrics and measure outcomes is preferred.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow will include transforming employee well-being by deploying a sustainable phased in financial wellness program and hosting mental/emotional health training programs utilizing a proven method of education that actively engages employees in their overall well-being.  This Fellow’s work will directly address Courageous Strategic Transformation strategies 1.2.D and 1.2.E, as described in the Operational Framework. 

Performance Management, Human Resources

The Office of Human Resources seeks a Fellow to support the design and implementation planning for growth and performance strategies.  This role will partner closely with the Talent Development, Human Resources Performance Management Program, university leadership, and campus HR partners to create a full-cycle, competency-based performance management model to support the university community.

The Fellow’s work will include:

  • creating a model that fosters ongoing performance conversations, creates a shared language supporting achievement, accountability and highlights success and opportunities for growth.
  • formalizing a goal-setting protocol;
  • establishing a uniform rating matrix;
  • creating tools, training, and guidance and a change management approach that support a calibrated model that focuses on growth and performance-based culture.

This Fellow should be passionate about organizational improvement and individual employee development with the demonstrated ability to collaborate across a large organization. Prior experience with project management, program design and familiarity with human capital initiatives preferred.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow will include researching performance management best practices, collaborating performance management concepts with stakeholders, participating in final program design, developing and delivering learning opportunities, and creating an implementation plan that includes robust change management.  This Fellow’s work will directly address Courageous Strategic Transformation strategies 1.2.A, 1.2.D, and 1.5.A as described in the Operational Framework. 

Strategic Planning Implementation and Culture Change, Office of the President

This Fellow will work in the Office of the President, implementing the Courageous Strategic Transformation. The Fellow will also work on initiatives and strategies to help achieve University goals related to cultural change and improvement. The Fellow will work directly with the Vice President for Strategy and Assistant Vice President for Strategy. The office dynamic is fast-paced, high energy and fun. This role includes planning, strategy, implementation, and everything in between!

This Fellow’s work will include:

  • working with University leaders on the Courageous Strategic Transformation on four strategic imperatives outlined in the plan;
  • planning and implementation of culture change planning and initiatives;
  • actively engaging with university stakeholders via focus groups, one-on-one conversations, surveys, and other formats to better understand the needs of faculty and researchers;
  • sharing what is learned from stakeholders with the Leadership Team to promote improvements that will help us better meet stakeholders’ needs and have best practices with service delivery;
  • promoting initiatives and educating the campus community.

This Fellow should be a self-starter who is a highly organized, detail-oriented, excellent communicator with innovative ideas and a willingness to collaborate across campus.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow would include managing a high-level, complex project; communicating with a variety of different audiences; consensus building, bringing a variety of ideas into a cogent, implementation process.  This Fellow’s work will directly address Courageous Strategic Transformation implementation in a variety of ways and touch on a number of strategies  described in the OperationalFramework. 

NSF ADVANCE @ CSU, Office of the Provost

The Fellow will work in the Office of the Provost, reporting to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, on ADVANCE@CSU. The Fellow will work directly with the ADVANCE team to plan and implement new initiatives that align with Courageous Strategic Transformation, Student Success, and Academic Master Planning, and will help all CSU faculty thrive and succeed.

This Fellow’s work will include:

  • developing a mixed-methods approach for understanding faculty attrition and retention;
  • adapting interview protocols and creating data analysis protocols to support concurrent mixed methods research;
  • helping to incorporate COACHE exit interview processes with existing processes;
  • supporting other ADVANCE@CSU activities such as evaluation of faculty workloads, the new advocates and allies program, and the existing FIIE;
  • enhancing communication from the Office of the Provost on faculty issues working with the Associate Vice Provost of Communication.

This Fellow should be well-versed in faculty activities, FIIE, mixed-methods research procedures, and performance and evaluation procedures.  Additionally, the Fellow should be a highly organized, excellent communicator with innovative ideas and a willingness to collaborate across campus. Ideally, the Fellow will begin work in Summer 2022 or sooner.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow will include developing a deep understanding of faculty issues and how to promote faculty success, communicating with a variety of different audiences; consensus building, bringing a variety of ideas into a cogent, executable plan.  This Fellow’s work will directly address Courageous Strategic Transformation strategies 1.2.A, 1.2.F, 1.3.A, and 1.3.D, as described in the Operational Framework. 

Climate Change Project Analysis, Office of the Vice President for Research

CSU’s research and teaching in atmospheric sciences, climate change, and sustainability are among its most high-impact and internationally recognized efforts. The Presidential Fellow will work on two aspects of these CSU strengths.

  • First, the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) is arguably the most important set of research projects undertaken at CSU, often accounting for 28-33% of CSU’s research expenditures annually. Many of the projects undertaken by CEMML are specific to land management, climate, compliance with environmental laws, and sustainability. CEMML’s relevance to Courageous Strategic Transformation is therefore manifold: Health, Research, and Sustainability.
  • Second, there are numerous efforts at CSU targeting climate change teaching, research, and engagement, but they are not centrally harmonized or coordinated. The Presidential Fellow would comprehensively review centers, institutes, and discrete efforts in the climate change space to maximize our investments and impact.

This Fellow’s work will include:

  • A comprehensive review of current CEMML projects in collaboration with Sam Halabi at OVPR and Tony Chapa, Director of CEMML, to analyze those projects that may serve as sources of additional research, engagement, and teaching consistent with Courageous Strategic Transformation goals.
  • Review would include approximately 100 agreements with various federal and state government sponsors.

This Fellow should be a highly organized, excellent communicator with an interest in current challenges in scientific, technical, and medical communications and skills related to community engagement.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow will include working effectively within a team of leaders to leverage a variety of strengths and skills; envisioning, implementing, managing and iteratively assessing the impact of high-level, complex projects; communicating effectively with a variety of different audiences and build ‘blueprints’ to train others to do the same; building consensus and engaging stakeholders in implementing a pragmatic, executable plan.  This Fellow’s work will directly address Courageous Strategic Transformation strategies 3.1.B, 3.1.C, and 3.3.A as described in the Operational Framework. 

Scientific and Medical Communication, Office of the Vice President of Research

This Fellow will work with the Chief Medical Research Officer in the Office of the Vice President of Research to plan and implement scientific and medical communication initiatives that promote better community understanding of how scientific endeavors are translated into practical applications that make people’s lives better. The Fellow will also work with campus stakeholders on building a communication framework related to future Grand Challenge efforts launched at CSU, with the goal of increasing partnerships with industry, academia, government funding agencies and other entities to address regional, national, and international unmet needs.

This Fellow’s work will include:

  • exploring best practices and principles in the effective communication of scientific, technical, and medical knowledge to diverse audiences including general public and K-12 students;
  • developing a Grand Challenge communications framework, including blueprints for communication with community, industry, other scientists, and government funding agencies;
  • exploring effective methods of inspiring student leaders to participate in and advance scientific communication, including creation of positive interactions between the community, CSU, and K-12 students to foster better understanding of research as an engine driving solutions and improving lives;
  • improving communication outreach to connect the community and K-12 students with CSU through lectures, events, etc.;
  • promoting initiatives highlighting positive CSU scientific contributions;
  • engaging the wider community to have a more specific and personal understanding of how those contributions positively affect their daily lives.

This Fellow should be a highly organized, excellent communicator with an interest in current challenges in scientific, technical, and medical communications and skills related to community engagement.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow will include working effectively within a team of leaders to leverage a variety of strengths and skills; envisioning, implementing, managing and iteratively assessing the impact of high-level, complex projects; communicating effectively with a variety of different audiences and building ‘blueprints’ to train others to do the same; building consensus and engaging stakeholders in implementing a pragmatic, executable plan. This Fellow’s work will directly address Courageous Strategic Transformation strategies 3.1.B, 3.1.C,  4.1.A, and 4.1.C as described in the Operational Framework.


Selected January 2022

Professional and Leadership Development, Office of the President

This Fellow will work in the Office of the President, planning and implementing signature initiatives of the President and the President’s Office that are both consistent with CSU’s Courageous Strategic Transformation and reflective of the President’s vision for the university. The Fellow will work directly with the Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the President’s Office.

This Fellow’s work will include:

  • Leadership Pipeline Development, including building out infrastructure for the Leadership Fellows Program itself and refining on the program for future years as well as creating more and better pathways for the university to connect future leaders with external fellowship opportunities (e.g. HERS Institute, ACE Fellowships).
  • Student Leadership Development, including working to maximize the positive experience and skills learned by students who participate in various specific programs with the President’s name attached, hosted by units across the university.
  • Launching and creating framework for a new Presidential Lecture Series intended to serve the entire CSU and local community.
  • Developing the initial framework for the university’s nascent Thematic Year, a natural outgrowth of the current Rams Read program intended to highlight and reflect the university’s Courageous Strategic Transformation priorities.
  • Promoting initiatives and educating the campus community.

This Fellow should be a highly organized, excellent communicator with innovative ideas and a willingness to collaborate across campus.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow would include: managing several high-level, complex projects; communicating with a variety of different audiences; consensus building, bringing a variety of ideas into a cogent, executable plan.

Attaining Hispanic-Serving Institution Status, Inclusive Excellence

Colorado State University is on track to become a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2033.  As scholar Gina Ann Garcia notes, it takes intentional effort to become a Hispanic serving institution and not simply a Hispanic enrolling institution.  The Leadership Fellow will develop an intentional and scholarship informed proposal and detailed project plan to guide the work of a CSU HSI task force.

The Fellow’s work will include:

  • Benchmarking with other land grant universities which are emerging HSIs or HSIs
  • Creating a literature review of successful practices, policies, and initiatives for HSIs
  • An assessment of current Colorado State University practices, policies, and initiatives for scaling as related to becoming an HIS
  • Identify current faculty engaging in scholarship related to HSI status

This Fellow should have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; be a highly organized, excellent communicator with innovative ideas and a willingness to collaborate throughout the institution

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow would include: benchmarking; the utilization of scholarship to inform investment and decision making; advising for data informed and values driven strategic advancement; communicating with a variety of different audiences; and bringing a variety of ideas into a cogent, executable plan.

Institutional Accreditation, Office of the Provost

The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, providing assurance to our constituents that course credits and degrees earned at CSU meet the highest of standards. We received 10-years of reaccreditation in 2014, and our next reaccreditation will be in 2024. The Office of the Provost is seeking a Fellow to help lead the preparation for the 2024 site visit, involving campus-wide engagement in our self-study documentation, due in 2023, and preparations for the site visit. The Fellow will work directly with the Provost and Executive Vice President, and in partnership with the Vice President for Institutional Research, to ensure a successful reaccreditation process.

This Fellow’s work will include:

  • Helping to lead executive leadership team in the reaccreditation process; secure high-level representation campus-wide, from all major areas (academics, student success and learning; fiscal responsibility; research, student affairs, faculty and campus governance, etc.) to engage broad representation of the University campus in the work;
  • Leading the writing process/team to pull together needed components and create final report;
  • Helping develop agenda, schedule, and process for the accreditation visit.

This Fellow must have strong written and oral communication skills; an appreciation for and experience and knowledge of the accreditation process; professional experience with student success and student learning; strong organizational skills; an ability to see the big picture and synthesize information into a cohesive narrative; and proven skill in collaboration with a wide range of people.

Leadership skill goals and outcomes for this Fellow would include: experience working on a high-level university initiative; experience communicating with and bringing together university constituents; experience developing complex university-wide plans through collaboration and consensus building.