Mark Kennedy, who was named by the University of Colorado Board of Regents on April 10 as the finalist in听, spoke to an audience estimated to be about听900 people听at Macky Auditorium on Friday, April 26.
The CU Boulder campus event, which was livestreamed (), kicked off at 10:15 a.m. with an introduction by CU Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano, who emphasized the importance of this opportunity for the campus to hear directly from Kennedy, and for Kennedy to hear from the campus.听
CU Regent and board Chair Sue Sharkey moderated the event, encouraging the community to听听that led to the finalist decision, and giving a description of the format of the forum: a few minutes for Kennedy to address the audience, an opportunity for Kennedy to answer three questions that were submitted by the public in advance and a Q&A session with audience members at Macky Auditorium.
In his introduction, Kennedy described his view of CU Boulder as the听flagship campus not only of the CU system, but of the American West, saying he is honored to be a finalist for the presidential position. He also discussed how, when leading an organization as complex as the CU system, 鈥淵ou need someone with academic, business and political skills.鈥�
Kennedy also spoke about his focus on priorities the Board of Regents has set forth: fiscal sustainability, keeping CU affordable and accessible, student success, and elevating research and impact.
Questions that were submitted in advance, as well as those asked by a lively Macky Auditorium audience, involved themes of diversity and inclusion, the LGBTQ+ community, budget cuts, leadership at a tier-one research university, the first amendment, salary expectations, climate change and more.
At the conclusion of the forum, audience members and online viewers, who numbered up to about 885 people, were reminded to leave听, which will be reviewed by the Board of Regents. A vote by the board is expected on May 2.
