A New Leader to take CU to New Heights

"Monisha Merchant, has good ideas and is just the type of person we like to see in public service."

-The Denver Post, 10/17/08

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein

Happy New Year!

It has been an honor to serve my constituents in Congressional District 7 and the people of Colorado as a member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents. The learning curve has been steep, and I have enjoyed every nanosecond of it! I am the Chair of the Awards Committee and serve on the Capital Construction Committee.

Professionally, I continue to work as an engineer and product manager at Level 3 Communications, where I have been leading our efforts for federal stimulus funding to expand broadband access across the country. I even had an opportunity to provide input to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the National Broadband Plan!

Despite the economic downturn and reduced state funding, the University of Colorado System--which has a strong presence in Boulder, Colorado Springs, Downtown Denver, and Aurora--continues to thrive in its success in obtaining research funding, attracting top faculty, and providing our students a quality education. However, we still have much to do in Colorado to address the "Colorado paradox" and provide opportunities for our Colorado kids to pursue post-secondary education and training. Plus - with Colorado as a global hub for the new energy economy, we must encourage our kids to study math and science and become the innovators and engineers leading our nation's energy strategy.

My Regent activities are a healthy combination of constituent outreach, advocacy, politicking, and ceremonial duties. Some highlights of my first year:

• Rode in a stagecoach for CU Night at the Stock Show;
• Attended the 2009 Spring Commencement Ceremonies at Boulder, Colorado Springs, Downtown Denver, and Anschutz Medical Campus as well as the 2009 Winter Commencement at Downtown Denver;
• Participated in CU Advocacy Day at the State Capitol;
• Witnessed in D.C. the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama and the first cloture vote on Health Care reform;
• Featured in Marie Claire magazine;
• Hosted a joint Town Hall meeting at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora with Congressman Ed Perlmutter and CD7 State Board of Education member, Jane Goff. Participants included state legislators, city council members, School Board members, parents, middle and high school students, and leaders from Front Range Community College and Colorado School of Mines.
• Supported the CU Boulder Athletics, including our Football, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Golf, and Women's Volleyball teams;
• Spoke at: The White House Project's Go Run training and Invite a Woman to Run reception; the Integrating STEM Education program kick-off at CU Boulder; Bear Creek High School, my alma mater, freshman orientation; and local city council and state legislative Town Hall meetings across Adams, Arapahoe, and Jefferson Counties;
• Serve on Senator Michael Johnston's (SD33) Education Citizen Policy Committee;
• Attended the annual Young Elected Officials (YEO) conference;
• Completed the 9-month Center for Progressive Leadership fellowship;
• Selected as a 2010 American Marshall Memorial Fellow and as a 2010 Truman National Security Project Fellow;
• Planted trees in the Atlantic rainforest and provided recommendations to the Ministry of Health for expanded rural health care access in Brazil;
• Revised CU policy to ensure that dependents of our men and women serving in the military maintain their in-state tuition status throughout their education; and
• Joined the Boards of Directors of Colorado MESA and LARASA.

Thank you for your support and providing me the opportunity to serve.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010!

Sincerely,

Monisha M. Merchant
Regent, University of Colorado
Congressional District 7 (CD7)

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