Leadership Fellows Program

The Leadership Fellows Program is a professional development opportunity designed to help participants strengthen their leadership skills, enhance their understanding of higher education, and gain experience that will benefit them in their current and future positions. Each Fellow works closely with a senior mentor (e.g. Vice President) during the academic year to complete a time-intensive project in a specific area of focus. The Fellows also meet regularly as a cohort to share the successes and challenges of their experiences, learn from one another, and offer feedback to the program coordinators. The Leadership Fellows Program launched in Summer 2021 with eight Fellows placed in six leadership offices; a 2022 cohort recently added thirteen Fellows in five leadership offices.


2022-2023 Leadership Fellows

Fellows and Mentors

  • Emily Ambrose, Assistant Director for Training & Development, Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement, Lory Student Center; Project: Performance Management; Mentor: Robyn Fergus
  • Timothy R. Amidon, Associate Professor, Department of English, Colorado State University; Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health; Project: Scientific and Medical Communications; Mentor: Alan Rudolph
  • Sarah Badding, Operations and Academics Administrator, Nancy Richardson Design Center; Project: Strategic Planning and Culture Change; Mentor: Jenelle Beavers
  • BreeAnn Brandhagen, Senior Research Development Associate, Research Acceleration Office, Office of the Vice President for Research; Project: Strategic Planning and Culture Change; Mentor: Jenelle Beavers
  • Lucia Delgado, Director of College Access, The Access Center; Project: Attaining Hispanic-Serving Institution Status; Mentor: Shannon Archibeque-Engle
  • Marissa Dienstag, Associate Director, Engagement, University Advancement; Project: Professional and Leadership Development; Mentor: Benjamin Withers
  • Meara Faw, Associate Professor, Communication Studies; Project: NSF ADVANCE @ CSU and Faculty Success; Mentor: Susan James
  • Jennifer Martin, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences; Project: Strategic Planning and Culture Change; Mentor: Jenelle Beavers
  • Susan Matthews, Deputy Director, Colorado State Forest Service, Warner College of Natural Resources; Project: Institutional Accreditation; Mentor: Jan Nerger
  • John McGuire, Associate Professor, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance; Project: Employee Health & Well-being; Mentor: Robyn Fergus
  • Kelly McKenna, Associate Professor, School of Education – Adult Education and Training Program; Project: Performance Management; Mentor: Robyn Fergus
  • Heather Reimer, Associate Director, Departments of Central Receiving; Project: Professional and Leadership Development; Mentor: Jenelle Beavers
  • Courtney Schultz, Associate Professor, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Warner College of Natural Resources; Project: Climate Change Project Analysis; Mentor: Alan Rudolph

Fellows’ Bios

Emily Ambrose

Emily Ambrose
Assistant Director for Training & Development, Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement, Lory Student Center

Timothy Amidon

Timothy R. Amidon
Associate Professor, Department of English, Colorado State University; Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health

Sarah Badding

Sarah Badding
Operations and Academics Administrator, Nancy Richardson Design Center

Breeann Brandhagen

BreeAnn Brandhagen
Senior Research Development Associate, Research Acceleration Office, Office of the Vice President for Research

Lucia Delagado

Lucia Delgado
Director of College Access, The Access Center

Marissa Dienstag

Marissa Dienstag
Associate Director, Engagement, University Advancement

Meara Faw

Meara Faw
Associate Professor, Communication Studies

Jennifer Martin

Jennifer Martin
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences

Susan Matthews

Susan Matthews
Deputy Director, Colorado State Forest Service, Warner College of Natural Resources

John Mcguire

John McGuire
Associate Professor, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

Kelly McKenna

Kelly McKenna
Associate Professor, School of Education – Adult Education and Training Program

Heather Reimer

Heather Reimer
Associate Director, Departments of Central Receiving

Courtney Schultz

Courtney Schultz
Department: Associate Professor, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Warner College of Natural Resources


Emily Ambrose

Assistant Director for Training & Development, Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement, Lory Student Center

Pronouns: she/hers
Project: Performance Management
Mentor: Robyn Fergus

Bio: Emily Ambrose, M.S. (she/hers), has dedicated over 15 years of her professional career and personal life to leadership development, training, facilitation, diversity, inclusion, and equity work. With a passion for making the sometimes taboo topics accessible and relatable to all, Emily has worked closely with non-profits, companies, and presented at conferences on how to shift work culture and infuse diversity, equity, and inclusion into the workplace. Currently and for over 14 years, Emily has been working for the Lory Student Center and the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement, as well as teaching for the President’s Leadership Program and the Key Plus program. She also serves as a facilitator for the Division for Inclusive Excellence. She also found home in the Grand Canyon working as a guide for Arizona Raft Adventures during the summer. Emily has a BA degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder in Communication and LGBT Studies and an MS from Colorado State University – Fort Collins in Higher Education Administration. Emily enjoys paddleboarding, audiobooks, her four furbabies and partner, and her extensive community in Fort Collins and beyond.


Timothy R. Amidon

Associate Professor, Department of English, Colorado State University; Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health

Pronouns: he, him, his
Project: Scientific and Medical Communications 
Mentor: Alan Rudolph 

Bio: im Amidon is an associate professor of digital rhetoric in the English Department and the Colorado School of Public Health at CSU. His research, which explores the relationships between technologies, design, literacies, and risk, has appeared in venues such as Communication Design Quarterly, Journal of Business and Technical Communication, and Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy. He also serves as the program director for the M.A. in Writing, Rhetoric, and Social Change and the B.A. English concentration in Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses that focus on digital rhetorics, scientific and technical communication, writing as a technology, and multiliteracies. He earned a dual B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island, a M.A. in English from Purdue University Fort Wayne, and a Ph.D. in English with a Specialization in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Rhode Island. Beyond campus, he serves in national and international organizations in his field, serves as a co-editor of a peer-refereed journal that publishes born-digital scholarship, and volunteers in the local community. He also enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his wife Erin, son Cole, and their two dogs.  


Sarah Badding

Operations and Academics Administrator, Nancy Richardson Design Center

Pronouns: she/hers
Project: Strategic Planning and Culture Change
Mentor: Jenelle Beavers

Bio: Sarah Badding serves as the Operations and Academics Administrator for the Nancy Richardson Design Center (RDC), in the College of Health and Human Sciences. She promotes design thinking and interdisciplinary collaborations among the CSU community to change the way we understand, create, partner, and solve problems the world faces today. Leading the RDC in both design thinking programing and operations, Sarah teaches and oversees design center workshops, classes, certificates, and executive education programming. She also manages the center’s planning and organizing of financial, human, and inventory resources. Sarah earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Design and Organizational Development from CSU. Outside work, she loves spending time with her husband and son playing in the backyard, at the park, or traveling the outdoors.


BreeAnn Brandhagen

Senior Research Development Associate, Research Acceleration Office, Office of the Vice President for Research

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Project: Strategic Planning and Culture Change
Mentor: Jenelle Beavers

Bio: BreeAnn is an experienced Program Manager and Research Development Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She has over eight years of experience in academic research development and program management across two land grant institutions. Currently with the Research Acceleration Office she serves the entire research enterprise of CSU, with a focus on faculty career development, interdisciplinary team facilitation, and the development of globally impactful research initiatives.


Lucia Delgado

Director of College Access, The Access Center

Pronouns: she, her, ella
Project:  Attaining Hispanic-Serving Institution Status
Mentor: Shannon Archibeque-Engle

Bio: In my role as the Director of College Access at Colorado State University, I believe and advocate for Educational Equity and Equality for first-generation and limited-income individuals. I value the richness of each person and am honored to serve as a mentor to students at various levels of their educational journey. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in Journalism and Political Science and a Master of Science degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) from CSU. I am currently in my Ph.D program at CSU studying Organizational Learning, Performance and Change, and look forward to creating systemic change through the work as the Hispanic Serving Institutions Fellows for CSU.


Marissa Dienstag

Associate Director, Engagement, University Advancement

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: Professional and Leadership Development
Mentor: Benjamin Withers

Bio: With over a decade of being a part of higher education institutions, Marissa Dienstag has experience working in both the Student Affairs and University Advancement departments. She currently serves at the Associate Director for University Events and Ceremonies. In addition, Marissa is the adviser to the Colorado State University Presidential Ambassadors and is able to showcase her passion for student development while highlighting the positive impact of private giving through student engagement. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. Outside of work she loves spending time with her partner, and enjoys theatre, kayaking, traveling and the outdoors.


Meara Faw

Associate Professor, Communication Studies

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: NSF ADVANCE @ CSU and Faculty Success
Mentor: Susan James  

Bio: Meara Faw is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies whose research and teaching focus on how communication in close relationships affects our health and well-being. She is a mixed-methods researcher with extensive expertise in social support, conflict management, and caregiving communication, and she serves as an affiliate faculty member and area lead for the Health Communication concentration in the School of Public Health. Since joining CSU in 2017, Meara has received several awards for her research, teaching, and service, including being named the 2021-2022 Provost Award for Faculty Excellence Teaching Scholar. Outside of work, Meara enjoys reading, hiking, listening to podcasts, and traveling with her husband and golden retrievers. 


Jennifer Martin

Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: Strategic Planning and Culture Change
Mentor: Jenelle Beavers  

Bio: Dr. Jennifer Martin is an Associate Professor in Meat Safety and Quality. She is originally from Central Texas and received her M.S. (2010) and Ph.D. (2014) from Texas Tech University before joining the Colorado State University faculty in the Spring of 2015. Jennifer has an active research program focusing on the quality and safety of meat and related products. Martin’s program specifically seeks to explore opportunities and the development of solutions with and for industry stakeholders.  In addition to research, Jennifer works closely with the stakeholders in the meat and livestock sectors across Colorado and nation. Jennifer also serves as the co-leader for the Upskilling Initiative, a workforce development and innovative educational program within the College of Agricultural Sciences which seeks to provide novel career pathways for the agri-food industries. She also plays an active role in on campus programs, including the Provost’s Council for Engagement, Faculty Council, and numerous Department and University committees. 


Susan Matthews

Deputy Director, Colorado State Forest Service, Warner College of Natural Resources

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: Institutional Accreditation
Mentor: Jan Nerger

Bio: Susan Matthews is the Deputy Director of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) a department within the Warner College of Natural Resources at CSU.  She joined the CSFS in 2014 and has overseen agency programs and staff in several Associate Director positions before becoming Deputy Director.  Matthews joined CSU after working for the USDA Forest Service for over 30 years in leadership positions in Idaho, Montana, California, North Carolina and Florida.  Her six years of service on the Society of American Foresters Committee on Accreditation, most recently as Committee Chair, provided valuable insight into program accreditation.  Susan and her husband enjoy exploring new destinations, visiting their adult children, and spending time outdoors.


John McGuire

Associate Professor, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

Pronouns: he, him
Project: Employee Health & Well-being
Mentor: Robyn Fergus

Bio: Dr. John McGuire has a vast array of performance and teaching experiences. He has performed with many orchestras around the world, most notably the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Opera, the Fort Worth Symphony, the New World Symphony in Miami, FL, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  John has also toured internationally with the acclaimed Fortress Brass Quintet, of which he is a founding member.

As a soloist he was awarded the title “Yamaha Young Artist,” has been a finalist in the American Horn Competition and has appeared as a guest artist at many workshops, festivals and schools across the world. With several world-premiere performances to his credit, John is a passionate proponent for the creation of new solo horn literature as well as a sought-after contemporary music performer. His 2020 album “Lines At Dusk” can be found on the Novello Records label.

John currently serves as Associate Professor of Horn at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado. His major professors were Charles “Skip” Snead, William Capps and Dale Clevenger.


Kelly McKenna

Associate Professor, School of Education – Adult Education and Training Program

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: Performance Management
Mentor: Robyn Fergus

Bio: Dr. Kelly McKenna is an associate professor in the Adult Education and Training Graduate Program in the School of Education. She completed her Ph.D. in Educational Technology and earned a master’s degree in Education and Human Resource Studies with a specialization in Adult Education and Training. Dr. McKenna is a Global Teaching Scholar, whose teaching experience includes face-to-face, hybrid, and online instruction. Her research interests lie in the field of adult and higher education, with research objectives aimed to support adult learners in their educational and occupational endeavors by creating optimal learning environments and facilitating successful student experiences. She focuses on distance education with attention to technology enhanced teaching and learning and online learning communities.


Heather Reimer

Associate Director, Departments of Central Receiving

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: Professional and Leadership Development
Mentor: Jenelle Beavers

Bio: Heather Reimer is the Associate Director at the Departments of Central Receiving. For the past five years, Heather has led a staff of 25 colleagues, who through their stewardship and commitment to excellence deliver reliable and diverse solutions to CSU in logistics and operational programs.  With over 20 years’ experience in corporate, non-profit, and higher education management, her greatest joy is developing people. Heather believes it is imperative to engage with colleagues where their unique qualities and talents are highlighted, enabling them to reach their most fulfilling professional aspirations.  In 2019, Heather received the AP Star Award for her commitment and work in alternative transportation, including managing The Spoke, an on-campus educational bike shop. Heather enjoys living on her urban farm with her husband, Nathan, where they have two dogs, a cat, and many flocked friends. You also might find her hiking, biking, or enjoying their tiny home near Pike National Forest.

2022-2023 Detailed Fellowship Descriptions 


Courtney Schultz

Associate Professor, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Warner College of Natural Resources

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Project: Climate Change Project Analysis
Mentor: Alan Rudolph

Bio: Courtney Schultz is an associate professor of forest and natural resource policy in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. She studies fire management, collaborative forest restoration, and climate adaptation on US forestlands. Her research group, the Public Lands Policy Group, is dedicated to applied research on federal policy changes affecting public lands. She has written articles on forest and fire management for Science and The Conversation and testified before Congress on forest management and climate change. She directs the CSU Climate Adaptation Partnership, an interdisciplinary group of researchers and center leaders working to develop innovative research and support scientist-policymaker communication about the challenges of living with climate change in arid regions like the US West. In her free time, Courtney loves to cook, garden, and spend time outside. She is an avid naturalist and loves hiking, stargazing, birding, and landscape painting. Every few years, she visits East Africa, where she runs a small non-profit that supports low-income, rural kids in attending high school and college.


2021-2022 Leadership Fellows

Fellows and Mentors

  • Erika Benti, Transportation Professional, Parking and Transportation Services; Project: Internal Communications; Mentor: Yolanda Bevill
  • Allison Cantwell, Associate Director of Research, Institute for Research in Social Sciences; Project: Strategic Transformation and Planning; Mentor: Alan Rudolph
  • Sonali Diddi, Associate Professor of Design and Merchandising; Core Affiliate Faculty Member, School of Global Environmental Sustainability; Project: Community Development; Mentor: Blake Naughton
  • Andrea Duffy, Assistant Vice Provost, Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President; Project: Strategic Planning; Mentor: Jenelle Beavers
  • Emma Eckley, Developer, Student Information Systems Team, Information Systems Department; Project: IT Strategic Planning; Mentor: Brandon Bernier
  • Amber Krummel, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences; Project: Strategic Transformation and Planning; Mentor: Alan Rudolph
  • Scott Shrake, Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Office of the President; Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship, College of Business; Project: Strategic Planning; Mentor: Jenelle Beavers
  • Elizabeth Sink, Master Teaching Instructor, Communication Studies Department, College of Liberal Arts; Project: Basic Needs & Food Insecurity; Mentor: Blanche Hughes

Fellows’ Bios

Erika Benti

Erika Benti
Transportation Professional, Parking and Transportation Services

Allison Cantwell

Allison Cantwell
Associate Director of Research, Institute for Research in Social Sciences

Sonali Diddi
Associate Professor, Department of Design and Merchandising; Core Affiliate Faculty Member, School of Global Environmental Sustainability

Andrea Duffy

Andrea Duffy
Assistant Vice Provost, Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President

 

emma Eckley

Emma Eckley
Developer, Student Information Systems Team, Information Systems Department

Amber Krummel

Amber Krummel
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, and CSU Monfort Professor

Scott Shrake

Scott Shrake
Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Office of the President; Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship, College of Business

Elizabeth Sink

Elizabeth Sink
Master Teaching Instructor, Communication Studies Department, College of Liberal Arts


Erika Benti

Transportation Professional, Parking and Transportation Services

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Project: Internal Communications
Mentor: Yolanda Bevill

Bio: Erika Benti is an active transportation professional with CSU Parking and Transportation Services. For the past four years she has worked connecting students to sustainable transportation options and working with an amazing team to develop innovative safety, education and encouragement programs at CSU, including the President’s Vision Zero Task Force, Rams Ride Right and CSU Moves. A proud CSU graduate (’07), Erika has 11 years of experience in the field of transportation demand management in Portland, Denver, Los Angeles and now Fort Collins. She currently serves as president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Association for Commuter Transportation. She loves spending time outdoors with husband Matt and two-year-old son, Charlie.


Allison Cantwell

Associate Director of Research, Institute for Research in Social Sciences

Project: Strategic Transformation and Planning
Mentor: Alan Rudolph

Bio: Allison M. Cantwell is associate director of research for the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRISS) and faculty affiliate in the Department of Sociology at CSU. She joined IRISS in 2019 and has collaborated with a number of faculty, staff, graduate students, and community partners to design and implement data collection and analysis for actionable recommendations. Cantwell joined CSU after seven years at the University of California where she most recently served as Assistant Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research at UC, Riverside. Her career in higher education has focused on leveraging data to tell stories in support of strategic decision-making, program improvement, and student success.


Sonali Diddi

Associate Professor, Department of Design and Merchandising; Core Affiliate Faculty Member, School of Global Environmental Sustainability

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Project: Community Development
Mentor: Blake Naughton

Bio: Sonali Diddi is an associate professor in the Department of Design and Merchandising and core faculty in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Her research focuses on sustainable clothing production and consumption. Her research-based, interdisciplinary, and systems thinking-informed approach to sustainability-related issues in the textiles and apparel industry recognizes its ever-changing dimensions in an increasingly diverse and challenged society and global economy. Sonali seeks ways to engage with the local community to gain a sense of the broader relevance of her research. She was an expert consultant for BBC Radio (UK), New York Academy of Sciences and invited international speaker for numerous events. Outside work, Sonali enjoys cooking and sharing it with family and friends.


Andrea Duffy

Assistant Vice Provost

Project: Strategic Planning
Mentor: Jenelle Beavers

Bio: Andrea Duffy joined the CSU faculty in Fall 2010 and served as director of International Studies from 2013-2021, when she accepted a Fellowship in the Office of the President working on the university’s Courageous Strategic Transformation. She is currently assistant vice provost in the Office of the Provost, focused on key initiatives including the Academic Master Plan and the Student Success Initiative. 

Andrea holds a B.A. in Modern European History from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from Georgetown University with specializations in European, Middle Eastern, Ottoman, and environmental histories. She has studied nearly a dozen languages, has lived in France and Turkey, and has visited more than 30 countries across five continents. She has a thirst for knowledge, curiosity about the wider world, and passion for international experiences and intercultural interaction. She continues to learn and to travel whenever she can. In her spare time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and ultra-running.


Emma Eckley

Developer, Student Information Systems Team, Information Systems Department

Project: IT Strategic Planning
Mentor: Brandon Bernier

Bio: Emma Eckley is a developer on the Student Information Systems team within the Division of IT. Since 2019, she has supported the Joint Banner Project to integrate student systems and IT-supported business processes between CSU-Fort Collins and CSU-Pueblo. Emma earned her bachelor’s in wildlife biology and master’s in computer information systems from CSU. She began her career in Geographic Information Systems, before transitioning to her current role. Emma is an avid backpacker of the Gore Range and spends many weekends exploring its alpine lakes with her husband. She is learning to hunt and is excited to support her protein diet from sources provided by the land. Emma also enjoys experimenting with plant-based recipes.


Amber Krummel

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, and CSU Monfort Professor

Project: Strategic Transformation and Planning
Mentor: Alan Rudolph

Bio: Amber Krummel is an associate professor of chemistry and associate chair of operations in the Chemistry Department. Her research focuses on interrogating chemical structures and dynamics in complex environments, using nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy and imaging techniques, applying ultrafast laser development, nonlinear spectroscopy and microscopy to address questions in biology and materials science. Krummel is a Monfort Professor whose work has been recognized nationally, including the Sloan Research Fellowship, NSF CAREER Award, and DOE Early Career Award. She teaches courses spanning introductory chemistry to upper-level graduate courses in physical chemistry and spectroscopy. Outside work, she serves on national and international executive committees in her field and maintains industrial partnerships within the energy industry.


Scott Shrake

Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Office of the President; Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship, College of Business

Pronouns: He, Him, His
Project:
Strategic Planning
Mentor: Jenelle Beavers

Bio: Scott Shrake serves as executive director of CSU’s Institute for Entrepreneurship in the College of Business promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, business development, and commercialization for students, faculty, and community members across Northern Colorado. He also oversees the College of Business executive education program, helping create cutting-edge programing in areas where CSU is world class. In the classroom, he serves as an affiliate faculty member for the Richardson Design Center, teaching introductory and capstone courses in Design Thinking.  Scott earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability and Green Design Group.  Outside work, Scott enjoys biking the Colorado mountains or spending time outdoors with his wife and their dogs.


Elizabeth Sink

Master Teaching Instructor, Communication Studies Department, College of Liberal Arts

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Project:
Basic Needs & Food Insecurity
Mentor: Blanche Hughes

Bio: Elizabeth Sink is a master teaching faculty in Communication Studies with a passion for facilitating healthy engagement across diverse identities. She has taught at CSU since 2004. Elizabeth’s teaching practice strives to promote investigation of one’s own cultural identity, to develop communication-based competencies, and to advance students’ motivation for effective positive involvement in communities. Her scholarship and curriculum-development advances inclusive communication and practical engagement between people who orient differently around religious and non-religious beliefs. Elizabeth and family also enjoy backpacking and camping. She is a dog-person who enjoys deep breaths, traveling, rock painting, water sports, microwavable slippers (for her forever-cold toes), bluegrass music and acapella singing at the Colorado Renaissance Festival.