CU Boulder’s Ann Schmiesing named interim chancellor at CU Denver
CU President Todd Saliman today named Ann Schmiesing interim chancellor at CU’s Denver campus, effective Aug. 26. The appointment is expected to last until a new chancellor begins work on the CU Denver campus. The president announced a national search earlier today.
Schmiesing currently serves as CU Boulder’s vice chancellor for academic resource management, where she leads academic resource strategy in support of the university’s mission; interacts with the directorates in the division of Strategic Resources and Support; and oversees the Graduate School, Continuing Education, CU Boulder Online and research infrastructure.
She also serves on the cabinet of Provost Russell Moore, who lauded her selection as CU Denver interim chancellor.
“Ann Schmiesing is one of the most able and conscientious administrators I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with,” Moore said. “She is focused, thoughtful and collegial in every way and an effective problem-solver, consensus builder and listener. She’ll make a strong and successful interim chancellor for CU Denver, and we look forward to having her back in Boulder after her important service there.”
“I am honored to undertake this temporary role at a vital time for CU Denver. I look forward to working with its faculty, staff and students to help advance their success at one of the nation’s premier public urban research universities,” Schmiesing said.
Schmiesing confirmed Moore’s assertion that she would not be a candidate for the permanent post at CU Denver.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to help support a campus I greatly admire, but my home is CU Boulder, and I’ll return here once a new chancellor is in place,” Schmiesing said.
Moore said that while Schmiesing’s absence will leave a gap in the provost's office functions, given the short, interim nature of the appointment, he will assume extra duties related to academic resource management, with support from his cabinet and other team members until Schmiesing returns.
Schmiesing, a professor of German, has been a CU Boulder faculty member since 1995. Her research and teaching interests span 18th and 19th century German and Norwegian literature and culture. Her publications include two books and a forthcoming biography of the Brothers Grimm.
Before assuming her current administrative role, Schmiesing served as chair of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures (2007–11), director of the Sewall Residential Academic Program (2015–16), and dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs (2016–18). She received the Excellence in Leadership and Service Award from the Boulder Faculty Assembly in 2016.
Schmiesing earned a doctorate from Cambridge University (U.K.), a master's from the University of Washington, and a bachelor's from Willamette University.