Dialogue with University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman
by Karen Nakandakare, Chair Denver Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council
April 6, 2002

The Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council (MAAC) hosted a dialogue with University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman at the Denver Public Library on Thursday, March 14, 2002. This community meeting was the first effort by Hoffman to outreach to the Asian Pacific American communities of Colorado. There was broad APA representation at the meeting. Attendees included Daniel Oh, Chair, Governor’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council; George Kuwamura, Chair, Asian Roundtable of Colorado; Catherine Fogg, 2002 President of the Organization of Chinese Americans, Denver Chapter; Mariagnes Medrud, Chair, Boulder Asian Pacific Alliance; Kenzo Kawanabe, President of the Colorado Asian Bar Association, John Yee and RuthYamauchi, President and Vice President of their respective Sister Cities Committees, Nai-Li Yee,Chair of Chinese Cultural Center and many others. There were about 50 attendees including APA representatives from K-12 education and faculty and administrators from other colleges. Karen Nakandakare, chair of the Denver Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council, facilitated the session.

President Hoffman started the meeting with "CU 2010-A Culture of Excellence" a presentation that briefly summarizes her ten year strategic vision for the University of Colorado System. Diversity is one of five strategic initiatives that underpin President Hoffman’s vision. She spoke about her personal commitment to recruit and retain Asian students and other students of color. Additionally, she addressed the different ways that she was encouraging the huge, complex CU system to recruit, hire and promote minority faculty and senior staff.

Her recruiting strategy includes training people who serve on search and admissions committees, identifying and aggressively pursuing talented individuals who bring diverse backgrounds to CU and creating access. President Hoffman is increasing retention and support by creating access in maximizing the use of the Governor’s Opportunity Scholarships, working with the CU Foundation to increase scholarship funding for underrepresented students and supporting minority student success programs like Upward Bound, LEAD Alliance, MASP, Pre-Collegiate and CU Succeed. To help improve the diversity mix at the CU system, President Hoffman invited the all to the Fourth Annual Diversity Symposium, "Challenges and Opportunities for a Diverse Faculty", to be held on April 12, 2002, from 7:30 AM– 3:30 PM, at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 South Syracuse Street. You can get more information and register for this symposium at http://www.cu.edu/%7Evpaar/3.diversity/symposium2002/index.html. Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Chair and Professor of Ethnic Studies -- University of Colorado at Boulder will be the luncheon speaker.

Her presentation was followed by a lively 35 minute question and answer session. The broad range of questions underscored the deep interest held by APAs in education. Many questions focused on strategies and programs in the CU system that ensured the success of APA students, particularly first generation students. Other questions targeted teacher education, allied health career training, particularly at the Health Sciences Center, and law training. President Hoffman displayed a strong command of both the big picture and details in her responses to questions. Where she did not know, she promised prompt personal answers to the inquiry.

At the end of the evening, President Hoffman and her staff walked away with names of individuals wanting to get involved with the recruitment and retention efforts of Asian students in the CU system. President Hoffman stated "by the second quarter of the 21^st century, there will be no majority population within the United States. It is extremely important for CU to educate all of the citizens of Colorado and be open to all of this nation’s citizens and citizens around the world who meet our requirements. I greatly enjoyed meeting with the Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council and looks forward to doing so again."

Prior to the community dialogue with Hoffman, a catered reception was held. Participants shared cuisine provided by Sunny China restaurant. The event was a success through the partnership and co-sponsorship of the following organizations:

• Asian American Committee on Education (AACE)
• Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APBA)
• Asian Roundtable of Colorado (ARC)
• Boulder Asian Pacific Alliance (BAPA)
• Colorado Asian Pacific Student Alliance (CAPSA)
• Front Range Community College
• Organization of Chinese American, Denver Chapter (OCA)
• University of Colorado at Denver / Asian American Student Services

Denver’s Mayor Asian Advisory Council (MAAC) meets on the second Thursday of every month at 6 pm at Denver’s Human Rights and Community Relations Office, 303 West Colfax, Suite 150. Next month’s meeting on April 11, 2002 will be a presentation by Hmong representatives highlighting their culture and community. If you are interested in becoming a member of MAAC or, would like to receive notices of the upcoming meetings, please contact Karen Nakandakare at: nakandakare@attbi.com or (303) 263-1768.

Karen Nakandakare, current chair of Denver’s Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council, is a mediator and meeting facilitator who served as Peace Corps Regional Manager and Commissioner of Denver Public Safety Review Commission.