Welcome to the CU Denver Change Makers Alumni website
This newly designed space helps you connect across cohorts with other like-minded individuals who have also completed the fellowship program. We hope you’ll visit regularly to stay informed about future events, learn more about your fellow alumni and stay connected with the Change Makers community.
Explore the site
This site offers a range of features aimed at building connection and community. These include:
- Events: Stay informed about upcoming events
- Forum: Engage with other Change Makers alumni through general dialogue or topic-driven exchanges
- Directory: Access information and profiles about your fellow Change Makers alumni
- Volunteer: Volunteer with fellow alumni to strengthen connections and help others continue their Change Makers journey
These features will appear as Tabs at the top of the screen after you’ve registered as a site user. To do this, scroll down to the “How to Get Started” section below.
Stay up to date
You’ll also notice posts on the home page to the right of this welcome section. These will be updated regularly to include alumni profiles, inspirational quotes, links to timely resources and updates on the Change Makers program. We encourage you to check back often to stay in the loop.
Note: This is a private site for CU Denver Change Makers alumni. Access to the directory, forum, and other features is available only to registered alumni users
How to get started
To access and use all the site’s features, you’ll need to first register and log in.
- Register by clicking on the “Login” button in the top right. On the Login page, click “Register” and create a username and password for logging into the site.
- Build your profile: After logging in, you’ll be taken to a user page where you can add a photo and provide a little information about yourself by clicking on the gear button.
- Access your account: Once complete, you’ll see your name and photo appear at the top right
- Return home: To get back to the home page, click on “CU Denver Change Makers Alumni” at the top.
And if you’re looking for information about the Change Makers program itself, visit https://www.ucdenver.edu/change-makers
ALUMNI UPDATES
Stories, resources and news from the Change Makers community
- Getting to know Wendy Wadas
This is an ongoing series of Change Makers alumni profiles — a chance to get to know one another a little better through stories, reflections and glimpses into life after the program. We’re looking for more alumni to feature, so if you’re willing to be profiled in a future post, please reach out to our site editor, Lisa Schlichtman, at lschlichtman@gmail.com.
Q. What are your hobbies and interests?
A. Gravel and mountain biking, pickleball, kayaking and hiking.
Q. What’s something meaningful you’re currently working on or are involved in (professionally or personally)?
A. Being a mentor for the Professional Mentor Program at CU Boulder; being a professional mentor for CSCMP (an organization for supply chain and procurement professionals); being a grandma to five (soon to be seven) grandchildren.
Q. What is something about you that would surprise people?
A. I started cycling and kayaking in my 60s and love it.
Q. What about Change Makers had a lasting effect on you?
A. Many aspects of the program had a lasting effect, but here are a couple of that stand out:
• Live life with curiosity.
• Don’t limit yourself; try new new things every day.
• Utilizing the many resources that were offered to us during the program.
• Gained new friends and colleagues that last long after the program has ended. • Invested in a restaurant, entertainment, pickleball venue in Denver. Moodswing just opened in January. - Another NOCO event planned
NOCO Change Makers alumni and friends are invited to a social gathering from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 at East & Co., 2100 Central Ave. in Boulder. The informal event will offer conversation, connection, ideas and fun. It’s open to all alumni but is geared toward those living in the northern Colorado and Boulder area.
Questions? Reach out to: Wendy Wadas, 312-350-3128 or wadaswendy@gmail.com; Jeanette Marquess, 303-956-8025 or jsmarquess430@gmail.com; Michelle Johnston, 970-445-2102 or johnston.michelle@gmail.com; or Jennifer Smoot, 920-246-6530 or jsmoot90@gmail.com.
- ‘North of Denver’ event was a success
The “North of Denver’”Change Makers alumni gathering was held June 30 at the Rayback Collective in Boulder with 14 in attendance and representation from every cohort. Alumni who attended came from Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Longmont, Fort Collins, Superior and Wheat Ridge.
When asked “What intrigued you most about coming tonight?”, the most common answer was, “We didn’t have to drive to Denver.” The event sparked lively discussions that lasted well beyond the advertised ending time. Those who attended agreed they wanted to keep in touch and offered suggestions on how to stay connected.
The event was hosted by Change Makers alumni Wendy Wadas, Cohort 4, and Jeanette Marquess, Cohort 2.