Staff and Executive Board
CU GOLD is run by professional and student staff, as well as a volunteer base of students who sit on the CU GOLD Executive Board. The Executive Board is instrumental in planning, implementing and facilitating all CU GOLD events and programs.
Do you want to improve your leadership skills and help run the Center for Student Involvement’s leadership development organization? If you have completed the CU GOLD Core Leadership Program, you are eligible to apply! For more information and an application, email cugold@colorado.edu.
Keyla Gholipoursani
Program Director
Major: Sociology
Certificate: Social Innovations
Hometown: Castle Rock, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Taking a nice walk, art, having good conversations, listening to music and learning new things
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
My favorite part about CU GOLD is all the people I've met and had the pleasure to know. The people you surround yourself with fuel your days with fun and laughter but also teach you about yourself and the world. Getting to be part of this group has expanded my view and my capability while also giving me memories that will last forever!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
There are so many possibilities... I want to take the time to explore them and see what's next.
Craig MacLaren-Swan
Assistant Program Director
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Business
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
I love snowboarding, lifting, playing guitar and chillin’ with my cat, Wanda.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
CU GOLD has allowed me to meet awesome and passionate people; I’ve found my best friends through this program. The retreat we do every semester is always a highlight—it’s a great outing and strengthens the friendships I’ve made so far. Our weekly meetings are also a ton of fun!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
After graduation, I’d like to pursue business school. With that, I want to be involved in facilitating environmental investment and helping companies improve environmental standards!
Harper Slezak
Head Facilitator
Major: English
Other: Secondary Education Licensure
Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Reading, writing, cooking and the occasional soccer game
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
I love meeting new people and watching freshmen grow into strong leaders through the program. I have met good friends through being on the exec board and would highly recommend CLP/ALP to any incoming freshman or upperclassmen who want to be involved.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I plan to teach high school English along with finishing my graduate degree. I want to eventually get my doctorate in English to become a professor at a university one day.
Briana Tuttle
ALP Facilitator
Major: Psychology
Minor: Philosophy
Certificate: Pre-Health
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Reading, gardening and spending quality time with my friends
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The overwhelming sense of community and camaraderie
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I plan to work in the medical field to gain clinical experience before pursuing medical school or a PhD
Johnny Serna
ALP Facilitator
Majors: Leadership and Community Engagement, Political Science
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
I love to play guitar, hike, snowboard, hang out with friends and enjoy everything Boulder has to offer.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
My favorite thing about CU GOLD is the retreat, as it allows us the opportunity to learn more about being leaders and creating connections amongst each other!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
My goal is to stay in Boulder and pursue a career that will be productive for me in the future. I still have a long journey of education and experience ahead of me to obtain my goal of becoming a chancellor of CU Boulder one day.
Michel Jarjour
CLP Facilitator
Major: Neuroscience
Minors: Spanish, Sports Media
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
My favorite hobby in the world is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Besides that, I love Muay Thai, weightlifting, playing guitar and graphic design.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
My favorite part of CU GOLD is the continuous learning opportunities to grow as a leader, even as a facilitator! I know there is still so much I can learn about leadership, and I love that CU GOLD gives me the opportunity to keep learning and growing!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I want to go to medical school and become a surgeon. And a good surgeon needs to be a strong leader.
Patrick Simpson
CLP Facilitator
Major: Neuroscience, Psychology
Hometown: Superior, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
My favorite hobbies outside of academia are whitewater, rock climbing, backpacking and playing guitar.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
CU GOLD allows its members access to an environment that explores the human complexities of leadership. It is through collaboration, discussion and education that CU GOLD stimulates the journey of growing leaders. This community has connected me with passionate, diverse individuals with new perspectives and styles of leadership. Leadership is fundamentally about leading diverse teams of people. CU GOLD emphasizes this fact every day to produce individuals who are attentive to fostering a well-functioning team!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
After graduation I plan to apply to medical school, with the hope of putting my skills to use to help others on a daily basis.
Hannah Kijner
Marketing Specialist
Major: Public Relations (Strategic Communications)
Minor: Business Leadership
Certificate: Writing
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
My hobbies include going to live music shows, snowboarding, photography and traveling.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
My favorite part about CU Gold is the supportive community it provides me on campus and how it motivates me to be a leader to myself and others.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
After I graduate, I hope to take some time to explore my interests in my twenties before working at a public relations firm.
Brittany Phan
Marketing Specialist
Major: Integrative Physiology
Certificate: Public Health
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Late-night drives, eating good food and spending time with friends.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
My favorite part about CU GOLD is that it’s a safe space for students to learn from others and cultivate their leadership skills. Equally, I love that CU GOLD creates an inclusive environment for like-minded people to grow together and develop strong connections.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
My plans are still up in the air of what exactly I want to do after I graduate, but I’m thinking of going to grad school to pursue medicine.
Josh Smith
Marketing Specialist
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minor: Business
Hometown: Grants Pass, OR
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Hiking and biking are daily adventures, and I'll always be up early for a Copper mountain pow day. When I'm home I like to play piano. Interstellar is my favorite movie and I've spent many hours on the keys trying to tackle its theme song.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
I was surprised when CU GOLD turned out to be not only a fun way to develop my leadership abilities but also a tight-knit group of people who are very open-minded and who I look forward to seeing every week. It's a great way to grow a productive mindset while making several friends who are just as leadership-focused as you.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
Meet cool people, build robot arms, save the world.