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Zoë D’Agostino

Zoë D'Agostino headshot.

Role: LIFE Biology Program Coordinator, College of Natural Sciences, CSU

How are you connected to CSU Spur?

I am the program coordinator and instructor for LIFE biology courses that take place at CSU Spur.

When did you get involved with Spur and why is it important to you?

I “officially” joined the Spur family in December 2022. Spur’s mission has always resonated with me, and I love the push for inclusivity and accessibility of higher education. Spurring creativity, curiosity, and innovation is an awesome motto; one that I work to emulate.

What outcomes have you seen or do you expect from work at Spur?

I expect to see a cohesive, interconnected community that shares a mutual appreciation for creativity, curiosity, and innovation — a community that supports one another and fosters inclusive access to education.

What would you like others to know about Spur?

That hybrid LIFE Biology (college-level) courses are being offered now at CSU Spur, and they are AWESOME!! Come learn about LIFE on a different level than you ever have before. From the chemical building blocks of life, such as DNA, all the way through learning about plants, animals, and diverse populations — we talk about it all and learn how to apply our knowledge to real-world situations!

KAREN SCHLATTER

Director, Colorado Water Center

Karen Schlatter was appointed director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University in 2025, after joining the Center as associate director in 2023. Schlatter brings academic, nonprofit, and public sector experience in managing complex water challenges with a deep commitment to building partnerships and the ability to engage in conversations across Colorado’s water community. She joined CSU from the University of Florida Water Institute where her work included facilitating multi-stakeholder/academic teams to achieve shared goals around water management through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Prior to her role at UF, she served as associate director of the Colorado River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute, where she focused on building cross-sector and international partnerships to support large-scale ecological restoration, effective binational water management, and community engagement in the Colorado River Delta region. Schlatter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from McGill University and a Master of Science in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She served as an agricultural extension volunteer in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.

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TOM VILSACK

Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation

Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.

In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.

He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.

Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.

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Celebrate the Fourth of July at Spur!

CSU Spur is hosting its first Fourth of July party! Join us at 5:30 p.m. on July 4 for a live DJ, local barbecue, activities for kids, and a view of celebrations across the city from the Terra rooftop.

Tickets are $5.

Get your tickets

We’ll see you Saturday!

2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (Aug. 8), and this month, the theme is Back to School Bash. Join us to make your own pencil pouch, pick up some school supplies, and participate in hands-on STEM activities and experiences designed to spark curiosity in learners of all ages.

Explore 2nd Saturday activities