Brian Elizardi

Brian Elizardi headshot.

Director of Community Impact and Innovation, College of Business, CSU Fort Collins

Brian J. Elizardi is an experienced education leader with over 20 years of private and public sector experience in fundraising, corporate engagement, and program development excellence gained in public and private universities. He currently serves as the Director of Community Impact and Innovation at the Institute for Entrepreneurship based on the CSU Spur campus, focused on catalyzing investment and partnering with the community to create a world-class innovation ecosystem.

Previously Brian led the alumni function at the University of Denver, architecting a new model for engagement through increasing public-private partnership activities, strengthening career pathways for students and alumni, expanding experiential learning and connections to employers and industry, and engaging the community to ensure research and creative work meaningfully addressed contemporary issues.

Brian’s passion for innovation led to the CASE Grand Gold Award for the industry’s top marketing campaign in 2020, as well as numerous university excellence awards. He serves the community in a variety of leadership positions and industry trade groups through speaking engagement, conference and institute design and facilitation, and authorship of content that catalyzes new thinking and innovative business approaches.

Brian received his Executive MBA from the Daniels College of Business. He was awarded a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the Morgridge College of Education and received his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Leadership from the University of Denver.

TONY FRANK

Chancellor, CSU System

Dr. Tony Frank is the Chancellor of the CSU System. He previously served for 11 years as the 14th president of CSU in Fort Collins. Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residencies in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president in 2008, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was appointed to a dual role as Chancellor in 2015 and became full-time System chancellor in July 2019.

Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards, has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, and has been honored with state and national awards for his leadership in higher education.

Dr. Frank and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters.

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CSU Spur is turning 2! Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.

It’s our anniversary!

It’s our anniversary! CSU Spur has been fully open to the public, sharing hands-on, family-friendly activities around food, water, and health for two years. Join us on Saturday, Jan. 11, for 2nd Saturday activities, including desserts, a mariachi performance, face painters, horses on treadmills, veterinarians in surgery, scientists in labs, and more. The celebration is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and CSU Spur will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no registration required, all public activities are free.

2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is presented by Canvas Credit Union.

JOCELYN HITTLE

Associate Vice President for CSU Spur, Colorado State University

Jocelyn Hittle is primarily focused on the CSU Spur campus at the National Western Center, and on supporting sustainability goals across CSU’s campuses. She sits on the Denver Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Council, on the Advisory Committee for the Coors Western Art Show, and is a technical advisor for the AASHE STARS program.

Prior to joining CSU, Jocelyn was the Associate Director of PlaceMatters, a national urban planning think tank, and worked for the Orton Family Foundation. She has a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton, and a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Jocelyn grew up in Colorado and spends her free time in the mountains or exploring Denver.

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We’ll see you Saturday!

2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (April 12), and the theme is Health & Wellness! Miles, the Denver Broncos mascot, will be on campus from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. for photos and autographs. Other activities include making hummus, sampling food made from insects, watching an equine sports medicine demonstration, learning how to tie fly fishing flies, and more.