Equity Task Force

About the Task Force

The Equity Task Force was formed in October 2020 as a result of Chancellor Marks' Equity Listening Sessions in order to address longer-term issues requiring significant analysis and further work. Chaired by Antwan Jefferson, Associate Clinical Professor, School of Education and Human Development and John Ronquillo, Assistant Professor, School of Public Affairs, the task force worked for six months to delve into the core of our challenges, including structural barriers to hiring and promoting underrepresented faculty and staff. It brought together faculty, staff and students to explore a host of issues and to develop recommendations and investment priorities to ensure that all members of the university community have the opportunity to experience what CU Denver has to offer equitably, building on past efforts and focusing on structural and environmental barriers to success of students, faculty, and staff.  

In April 2021, the task force delivered its recommendations, and Chancellor Marks announced her full support of its recommended funding commitments ($1 million from the CU Foundation) to invest in this work. She also announced an additional $2 million from the CU System and $1 million from CU Denver for further support of equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts at CU Denver. The total $4 million investment in new resources over three years is intended to move the campus toward its 2030 goal of being an exemplar equity serving institution.