Colorado’s Chief Operating Officer, Don Elliman, Named to CSU System Board

The Colorado State University System Board of Governors on Thursday tapped Don Elliman, the state’s chief operating officer, to serve on its board.

While Board of Governors members are typically appointed by Colorado’s governor, the board has statutory authority to fill vacancies that occur mid-term. The board elected Elliman to fill the position held by Tom Farley, who died last month.

The board oversees Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado State University-Pueblo and CSU-Global Campus, an online university. Board members are appointed for four-year terms. Elliman will complete Farley’s term, who was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to serve through 2011.

“There are several reasons why Don will be an incredible asset to the CSU System board and higher education,” said Patrick McConathy, chairman of the CSU System Board of Governors. “Don’s breadth of business success, especially in economic development, makes him astutely aware that we need an educated workforce for Colorado to be successful. He will be an outstanding advocate for keeping our public universities accessible and competitive in academics and research.”

“It is an honor for me to serve on the board of the CSU System,” Elliman said. “I believe excellence in higher education is absolutely critical for the future of our state.”

Elliman was appointed in 2009 by Ritter to serve as the state’s first chief operating officer. In this position, he assists the governor in the management of state agencies. Elliman is also the chair of the Colorado Recovery Accountability Board with responsibilities for oversight of spending in Colorado under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Prior to that, he served as director of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, providing key leadership on the recruitment of numerous new companies to Colorado.

Elliman enjoyed a 32-year career at Time Inc., including as publisher of People magazine and president and publisher of Sports Illustrated. From 2000 to 2004, he served as president and CEO of Ascent Sports, which became Kroenke Sports and Entertainment and owns the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and Pepsi Center.

Elliman serves on the boards of The Children’s Hospital in Denver, the Gates Family Foundation and Middlebury College, where he earned his degree in economics.

The CSU System Board of Governors consists of 13 members, nine of whom are voting members. The remaining members include one faculty member and one student leader from CSU in Fort Collins and CSU-Pueblo.

The Colorado State University System consists of CSU in Fort Collins, CSU-Pueblo and CSU-Global (an online university), which in total attracts about 36,000 new and returning scholars annually. Highly skilled graduates number more than 6,500 a year, and more than 198,000 alumni live throughout the state, nation and world. More than 115,000 alumni reside in Colorado. CSU is home to several top centers and programs and has annual research expenditures totaling more than $311 million.

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