Michelle Marks

Chancellor, University of Colorado Denver

Since joining CU Denver in July 2020, Chancellor Michelle Marks has pursued an
ambitious vision for the future of CU Denver and its impact as a leading urban public research university.

An innovator dedicated to making higher education equitable for the good of society, Dr. Marks believes the urgent national need for equitable education, amplified in this time of great societal challenge, demands long-term solutions. She is leading CU Denver to address long-standing structural inequities through a reimagined approach to lifelong learning.

In her first year as chancellor, she led the university in a highly collaborative, ambitious strategic planning process, completed in June 2021. CU Denver’s 2030 Strategic Plan promotes social mobility and workforce sustainability through an evolved vision of an equity-serving institution. It outlines goals for advancing research and creative work, developing an open innovation district in downtown Denver, and being known as a university for life, among others. Dr. Marks continues to engage the university community during every step of the implementation phase of this strategic plan to realize its bold goals.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Marks led academic innovation and new ventures at George Mason University. There, she pioneered the ADVANCE pathways program, a new collaborative paradigm that united high school, community college, university, and corporate partners to create an extended learning community offering students and families affordable access to superior education and employment opportunities.

As a scholar, Dr. Marks has dedicated her career to the study of leadership and team effectiveness. While a professor of management in GMU’s School of Business, her research focused on organizational leadership development and teamwork. She is currently a tenured full professor in CU Denver’s Business School and has been recognized for leadership throughout her career, with awards including the George Mason University Alumni of the Year Award (2017), Executive MBA Professor of the Year award (2008 and 2011), and Teaching Excellence Award (2006).

Dr. Marks holds a PhD in industrial/organizational psychology from George Mason University. She currently serves on the boards of the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the Colorado Business Roundtable, the Denver Education Compact, and the University Innovation Alliance, and on the executive committee for the board of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities.