Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars

Collage of selected Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars

Top row (left to right): Professors Waleed Abdalati, Brian Argrow, Annie Booth, Emmanuel David & Yumi Roth, Mimi Engel.
Bottom row (left to right): Professors Alena Grabowski, Sarah Matsumoto, Mehak Sawhney, Sammy Ramsey, Phoebe Young.

In celebration of ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s 150th anniversary, the Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars recognition program spotlights some of the university’s most inspiring voices—faculty members whose research and creative work transform lives and serve the public good. This prestigious program elevates faculty whose scholarship benefits communities, informs policy, advances innovation, and addresses society’s most pressing challenges. Through two high-profile public events and compelling storytelling taking place in Fall 2026, the Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars program amplifies ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s identity as a comprehensive public research university in service to Colorado, the nation, and the world.
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Upcoming Events

Celebrate ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s 150th anniversary with us at the Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars events—an inspiring evening of short, story-driven presentations by faculty across the university whose research and creative work advance the public good. Join usÌýAugust 27 in Denver orÌýNovember 19 in Boulder to experience bold ideas and their real-world impact firsthand.

Denver Event – August 27, 2026
Location: Denver, Colorado
Time: TBA
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This Denver event will connect ̽»¨ÊÓƵ scholarship with regional leaders, alumni, partners, and the broader Front Range community. Through concise, dynamic presentations, our faculty scholars will demonstrate how their work addresses challenges facing Colorado and beyond—from public policy to culture, sustainability, climate and technological innovations. Featuring the following Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars:Ìý
  • Waleed Abdalati (CIRES/Geography)
  • Brian Argrow (Aerospace Engineering Sciences)
  • Emmanuel David & Yumi Roth (Women & Gender Studies and Art & Art History)
  • Sarah Matsumoto (Law)
  • Phoebe Young (History)
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Time: TBA
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The Boulder event will serve as a capstone celebration during the university’s sesquicentennial year. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are invited to experience how ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s research and creative work makes a meaningful difference locally and globally. Featuring the following Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars:Ìý
  • Annie Booth (Music)
  • Mimi Engel (Education)
  • Alena Grabowski (Integrative Physiology)
  • Sammy Ramsey (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology/BioFrontiers Institute)
  • Mehak Sawhney (Media Studies)

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Stay Connected

  • Additional details including event locations and registration information will be shared as they become available.
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  • For updates on the Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars program and ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s 150th anniversary events, please check back regularly or contact FacultyAffairs@Colorado.EDU.

News & Updates

Meet the Scholars

The Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars were selected through a competitive, campuswide nomination process designed to reflect the breadth, excellence, and public impact of ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s faculty. A committee convened by the Office of Faculty Affairs and drawn from the university’s 150th Anniversary Project Team reviewed all nominations together to form two cohorts—one for the August 2026 Denver event and one for the November 2026 Boulder event—ensuring a diverse mix of disciplines, perspectives, and public impact domains.

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Executive Director of CIRES
& Professor, Geography

Presentation:Ìý
Rapid Changes in Polar Ice:Ìý
The Power of Perspective

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Brian Argrow
Distinguished Professor & Glenn Murphy Endowed Chair, Aerospace Engineering Sciences

Presentation:
Understanding Tornadogenesis:
Probing Supercells with Uncrewed
Aircraft Systems

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Annie Booth
Assistant Professor, Music

Presentation:Ìý
Access, Belonging, and All That Jazz

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Emmanuel David & Yumi Roth
Associate Professor, Women & Gender Studies
Professor & Chair, Art & Art History

Presentation:Ìý
The Filipino Rough Riders and the Transpacific Wild West:ÌýDiscovering A Hidden Chapter in American History

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Mimi Engel
Associate Professor, Education

Presentation:
The Kindergarten Paradox:Ìý
Why "Rigor" is Failing Our Kids

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Alena Grabowski
Associate Professor, Integrative Physiology

Presentation:Ìý
Pushing the Boundaries of Human Performance:Ìý
Research on Athleticism in Combination with Lower Limb Mechanical Devices

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Sarah Matsumoto
Associate Professor, Law

Presentation:Ìý
Waters, Wetlands, and Western Leadership:Ìý
How Colorado’s Protections of Streams and Wetlands Can Serve As A Model for the Nation

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Mehak Sawhney
Assistant Professor, Media Studies

Presentation:Ìý
How Listening to the OceanÌý
Changed the Planet

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Samuel Ramsey
Assistant Professor & Marvin H. Caruthers Endowed Chair for Early-Career Faculty, BioFrontiers Institute/Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Presentation:Ìý
Food by Design:ÌýHow Innovative Insects Inspire A New Approach to Feeding the Planet

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Phoebe Young
Professor & Chair, History

Presentation:Ìý
The Outdoors as Remedy?
History and the Hopes for a Nature Cure

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