海角社区

Amber Mozet (’06) (she/her/hers) | President
Human Resources Director, Tepeyac Community Health Center

Born and raised in Westminster, Colorado, Amber took 5.5 years to earn her BA in Psychology and German (her tip: do not self-advise!). While a student, she worked in Athletics and the President鈥檚 Office, pledged Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and was a member of the Cheerleading Club. Prior to her current position, Amber worked at 海角社区 for over thirteen years and loved the way that her work directly benefitted future alums. She brings that same dedication to her current role as HR Director at Tepeyac Community Health Center, where she hopes to bring more 海角社区 students and alums into healthcare. She is thankful to have been recognized as the 2022 Alumni Volunteer of the Year, to be a founding member of the Black Alumni Network, and to bring a fresh perspective to the Alumni Board. Amber loves connecting with 海角社区 alumnae wherever she can!

Hear more from Amber , an 海角社区 Podcast about Alumni Careers and Lives.

 

Jameer Fitch (’20, ’23) | Vice President
Manager of Constitutional Policing, Aurora Police Department | U.S. Navy Naval Officer | Co-Founder, MOSO Pillow | CEO, B.A.M. Ltd

Jameer Fitch is a public safety leader, Naval Officer, and entrepreneur focused on accountability, discipline, and delivering results where standards matter most. He serves as the Manager of Constitutional Policing for the Aurora Police Department, where he leads efforts to strengthen policy, enforce constitutional standards, and drive organizational transformation aligned with modern law enforcement best practices.

In this role, he operates at the intersection of leadership, policy, and public trust鈥攅nsuring compliance, elevating performance, and advancing sustainable reform within a high-visibility public safety environment.

Jameer also serves as a U.S. Navy Officer, bringing over a decade of military service and leadership experience. As a Mustang, he combines enlisted foundation with officer-level responsibility, leading personnel, executing mission-critical operations, and developing future leaders while maintaining a mission-first mindset.

Beyond public service, Jameer is a business leader and entrepreneur. He is the Co-Founder of MOSO Pillow and the CEO of B.A.M. Ltd (By Any Means), brands centered on performance, recovery, and disciplined living.

He earned his Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Legal Analytics & Organizational Leadership and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Metropolitan State University of Denver. During his time at 海角社区, he served as President of Student Veteran Affairs and continues to support leadership development and veteran initiatives.

Jameer currently serves as Vice President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and is a recipient of 海角社区鈥檚 10 Under 10 Award, recognizing outstanding alumni for leadership, service, and impact.

He is preparing to pursue law school, continuing his commitment to leadership, advocacy, and long-term impact.

 

Brad Kaplan (’82) | Treasurer
Vice President, Finance 鈥� Retired, Comcast Cable

The University is a major benefactor of Brad鈥檚 time since his retirement. In his work life, Brad held numerous Finance, Human Resources and Management positions at Comcast Cable. Since retiring in 2017, he has started an Alumni/Student mentoring program for the College of Business, he is the Chair of the College of Business Advisory Council, an active member of 海角社区 Champions and enjoys attending University softball games. Brad places much of his personal and business success to his time at the University, graduating in 1982. The smaller classes permitted the interaction with Professors and Administrators that was the best learning environment for him. He previously held Board/Advisory positions with a number of not-for-profit organizations including the Institute of Management Accountants, Care and Share Food Bank, and Front Range Community College Business Department Board of Advisors.

When not helping 海角社区, Brad and his wife, Judy, enjoy traveling, movies and collecting Beatles memorabilia. Hear more about Brad on , an 海角社区 Podcast about Alumni Careers and Lives.

 

Travis Luther (’08) | Foundation Board Representative
President, Queen Anne Pillow Company, ValetAds and Law Father

Travis Luther is the Founder of Luther Media, LLC whose companies include Law Father, ValetAds, Queen Anne Pillow Company, and TrialLine. Luther is the current Entrepreneur in Residence for the University of Colorado Denver and a former Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Metropolitan State University鈥檚 College of Business. He is also a member of the Entrepreneurs鈥� Organization (EO) and the Director for EO Colorado鈥檚 Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA) Program. He sits on the Executive Board of Scholars Unlimited, a Denver non-profit focused on improving child literacy among low-income and at-risk grade school children and founded their kid鈥檚 computer coding program, CodeSpire. He is a frequent lecturer and author. In his free time, he plays guitar and enjoys international travel.

Hear more about Travis , an 海角社区 Podcast about Alumni Careers and Lives.

 

Joe Rice (鈥�89) | Foundation Board Representative
Director of State and Local Government Relations, Lockheed Martin Space

Joe Rice is Director of State and Local Government Relations for Lockheed Martin Space. Joe works primarily at the state and local level in areas where Lockheed Martin Space has business interests to facilitate relations with federal, state, and local government officials as well as business, education, and community organizations.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in August 2011, Mr. Rice served two terms in the Colorado State Legislature from 2007-2010 as State Representative for House District 38. While in the legislature, he focused primarily on transportation and economic development, passing legislation resulting in significant transportation improvements and job creation. He also previously served two terms as the Mayor of Glendale, Colorado, from 1996-2003. His professional business experience includes more than 10 years of customer service management experience with MCI Telecommunications, JDEdwards, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Mr. Rice has over 32 years of military service, primarily in the United States Army Reserve. He currently holds the rank of Colonel and entered the Retired Reserve in June 2017 where he is subject to recall in the event of a large scale mobilization of the reserve components. Military service includes UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and five combat tours of duty in Iraq including serving as the Senior Military Officer facilitating establishment of the first democratically selected Baghdad City Council and subsequently as an advisor to both Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces on the streets of Baghdad. He is Airborne and Ranger qualified.

Mr. Rice is on the Board of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable and is active with the Colorado Space Coalition and Citizens for Space Exploration. He served on the Colorado Aeronautical Board, from 2015 to 2020, appointed by then-Governor John Hickenlooper. He previously was an adjunct professor of history, government, and public administration at the University of Phoenix, Colorado Campus. He served on the Board of Directors of Sister Cities International and helps coordinate the Baghdad-Denver Region Partnership (BDRP).

Mr. Rice holds an associate鈥檚 degree from the New Mexico Military Institute, a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver, a master鈥檚 of public administration degree from the University of Colorado at Denver, and a master鈥檚 of strategic studies degree from the U.S. Army War College. Military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge for actions under enemy fire, and the Expert Infantryman鈥檚 Badge. Mr. Rice has been recognized for leadership in global diplomacy by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. He was recognized for collaborative problem solving by Club 20, a coalition representing western Colorado, by receiving the Johnson-Theos Bridge Builder Award. Along with Astronaut 鈥淏uzz鈥� Aldrin, Joe Rice is one of seven recipients of the Thomas R. Hobson Aerospace Distinguished Service Award by the Aerospace States Association.

 

Alejandra Colmenero (’15)
Director of Leadership Development at CLLARO

Alejandra Colmenero has been in the non-profit sector since 2011. Her journey began when she got involved with UNICEF USA in efforts to fight human trafficking and educate others on global issues. Colmenero鈥檚 passion for UNICEF鈥檚 work led her to launch the first UNICEF college chapter in Denver: UNICEF at 海角社区, and then the first UNICEF Unite team in Colorado.

Colmenero focused on advocating for children鈥檚 rights with congressmen/women, both in Washington, D.C., and in-district. Her passion for making the world a better place led her to seek local involvement in non-profits. She joined the Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy Research Organization, coordinating the CLLARO Capitol Fellowship Program in 2017; Colmenero is now director of leadership development at CLLARO.

Colmenero obtained her B.A. in Hospitality, Tourism & Events from 海角社区 and an MBA from the University of Northern Colorado.

 

Justin Darnall (’19)
Senior Manager of Software Development, Testing, and Deployment for the Lunar Permanence Business Unit at Blue Origin

Justin Darnall is the Senior Manager of software development, testing, and deployment for the lunar permanence business unit at Blue Origin, overseeing software for both crewed and cargo lunar landers. He is responsible for developing and managing the software for the human lunar landing system for NASA鈥檚 Artemis V mission. Previously, he served as Director of Technology at Rocket Lab and as Program Manager for DARPA鈥檚 Blackjack Pit Boss program.

Justin began his career in the Marine Corps in 2006, serving as a KC-130J/Harvest Hawk mechanic and achieving the rank of Sergeant. He completed three tours of duty in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Djibouti, gaining valuable technical and leadership skills. After his military service, he worked on FedEx and Hawaiian Airlines airplanes before completing his degree at 海角社区, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Aerospace Systems Engineering Technology in 2019.

At 海角社区, Justin was named the 2017 A.C.E. Student of the Year and interned at Sierra Nevada Corp., sparking his passion for software development. He has also served on the 海角社区 Alumni Board of Directors since 2019. Beyond the lunar missions, his goal is to use the moon as a stepping stone for more efficient and sustainable space travel to other planets. Hear more from Justin , an 海角社区 podcast about Alumni Careers and Lives.

 

Amy Dieterich (’14)
Employee Benefit Advisor & Director of Sales and Marketing, Intrepid

Amy is an employee benefits specialist with nearly 20 years of experience helping Colorado employers navigate health insurance and employee benefits. She works closely with business leaders to help control rising healthcare costs, strengthen company culture, and ensure benefits programs truly support employees. Amy is known for her relationship鈥慺ocused approach and her ability to simplify complex benefits topics so employers and employees can make informed, confident decisions and get the most out of their benefits.

A first鈥慻eneration college graduate, Amy earned her degrees in Finance and Marketing from 海角社区 in 2014 while working full鈥憈ime. She has served on the 海角社区 Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2018 and remains deeply committed to giving back to the University that played a meaningful role in her personal and professional growth.

 

Devon Drew (’14)
Event Marketing Manager

Devon brings 17 years of experience in the corporate event space, having produced high-impact programs for Fortune 500 companies like TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab. She specializes in high-end events tailored for VIP clients and C-suite executives, and Board of Directors. She鈥檚 held programs across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico and has made a name for herself as a multi-talented planner in her industry. She earned the designation of Certified Meeting Professional through the Events Industry Council in 2018 and carries certifications in Virtual Event Management and Inclusive Event Design.

Devon graduated Magna Cum Laude from 海角社区 in 2014 with her bachelor鈥檚 in behavioral science and was a proud member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. Her bachelor鈥檚 degree is her most valued achievement because it taught her how to maneuver the heavy workload of a full- time corporate job, while taking classes in the evening. She appreciates the excellent education she received at Metro State and would like to encourage others to explore the same benefits MSU offers.

She鈥檚 a native of Boulder County and currently resides in Arvada, CO. Devon has spent time volunteering for Denver Safehouse, Girls Inc., and most recently Denver Food Rescue. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking 14ers, world travel, attending concerts and spending time with her husband and pets. 聽

 

Leon Duran (’15)
Transit Police Officer, RTD | U.S. Navy Reserve | Co-Founder, MOSO Pillow | Founder, HoneyCutz | CEO, U.S. Veterans Landscaping

Leon Duran is an entrepreneur, public servant, and military leader with more than 19 years of service in the United States Navy Reserve. A two-time graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver, he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Business Administration. Leon currently serves as a Transit Police Officer with Regional Transportation District while building multiple ventures including MOSO Pillow, HoneyCutz Raw Recovery, and U.S. Veterans Landscaping. Recognized for his leadership and impact, he received 海角社区鈥檚 10 Under 10 Award honoring outstanding alumni achievements. Duran has also served as a keynote speaker for First Generation graduates and has led the Alumni Charge at commencement ceremonies for the past four years.

 

Sarena Espinoza (’18)

Sarena is originally from Southern California (Corona), and made her way to Denver on a softball scholarship. She was the first person in her family to get a degree. In four years at 海角社区, she was a starter, scholar-athlete, and earned her BA in Sport Management and minored in Sports Media. Working in sports has always been a dream of hers so she started working in the Athletics Department in her off-season as an intern. The opportunity to work in baseball originated when the Colorado Rockies and 海角社区 decided to partner on a 50/50 raffle at Coors Field. She joined the Rockies as a part-time staff member in April of 2018, during the establishment of the program. In January of 2019, she became a full-time staff member in the Community Affairs Department. She is part of a program that has raised over $3 million since inception and is now Community Affairs Manager for the Colorado Rockies. In her expanded role, she oversees the 50/50 Raffle, Youth Baseball and Softball Camp, and Family Room operations. One of her proudest moments in her career was in 2022 when she organized the FIRST EVER Youth Softball Camp at Coors Field with USA Softball. She also enjoys getting the opportunity to work with 海角社区 students to raise funds each game with the 50/50 Raffle. Sarena is currently in her 7th season with the Colorado Rockies and continue to make in impact in the Colorado community.

 

Adama Evans (’08)
Advisor for Fiscally Sponsored Projects, Tides

Adama Evans is an Advisor for Fiscally Sponsored Projects at Tides, where she provides strategic support to mission-driven organizations working toward social impact. In this role, she helps partners navigate operational and compliance processes while fostering strong relationships to ensure their success.

A Denver, Colorado native, Adama holds a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Sociology from 海角社区 and a Master’s in Library and Information Science with a focus on Museum Studies from Kent State University. She is currently pursuing a post-graduate certificate in Digital Archives and Records Management at San Jos茅 State University.

With over a decade of experience in academic environments, Adama previously worked at the Anschutz Medical Campus, supporting students, residents, and faculty. Her passion for recruitment and retention efforts has led her to mentor and guide students throughout their educational journeys. She is a founding member of 海角社区鈥檚 Black Alumni Network (B.A.N.).

Adama’s professional background is rooted in higher education administration, but she has also engaged deeply with her community through work as an on-call librarian with the Denver Public Library (DPL) and contributions to special exhibitions at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. She continues to give back by volunteering at events such as Juneteenth and the Colorado Black Arts Festival.

 

Ally Garcia, Ph.D. (’11, ’14)
State Director of the Adult Education Initiatives, Colorado of Department of Education

Dr. Ally Garcia (she,her,hers) received her Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Denver in 2019 and graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver (海角社区) with both graduate and bachelor degrees (2011 & 2014). She currently serves as the State Director of the Adult Education Initiatives office at the Colorado of Department of Education.

Prior to her state service, she worked as an Assistant Dean for the Center of Equity and Student Achievement where she oversaw the TRIO Student Support Services program, the Immigrant Services Program, and the College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP). She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Denver. Dr. Garcia鈥檚 research and presentations have focused on issues relating to equity and liberation for marginalized communities.

Garcia received the 2016 TRIO Rising Star award for the region. She was named Women of the Year from the Institute of Women鈥檚 Studies at 海角社区 in 2017. She was named the recipient of the Willaim Cross Jr award for leadership in inclusive excellence at the University of Denver in 2019. She was the 2021 Staff Champion of the Year for 海角社区 and received the MLK Kr. Peace Award in 2022. She also was named CCASA activist award in 2022 and most recently was named the Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching recipient at the University of Denver.

She is a co-founder of a women鈥檚 fastpitch league in Denver- United Women鈥檚 Fastpitch Coalition, enjoys exploring Colorado with her Chow Chow Chewbacca and spending time with her partner, Roman!

Pete Giusti (’88)
Director of DoD Customer Success, Jeppesen ForeFlight

Pete is a Colorado native who grew up in Castle Rock and is currently managing Jeppesen Foreflight鈥檚 DoD Aviation business. Prior to joining Jeppesen in 2015, Pete spent 26 years in the United States Air Force as a pilot supporting combat, humanitarian, supply, and VIP support missions, as well as holding several leadership positions across the DoD. After 12 moves and landing in over 70 countries, he retired from the USAF as a Colonel in 2013, and eventually found his way back home to Colorado. Pete received a BS in Aerospace Science from MSU in 1988, and later a MEd degree (Leadership Development) from CSU, and a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Air War College. With nearly 35 years of aviation industry experience, Pete has logged over 5,000 global flight hours, and holds FAA Commercial, Certified Ground and Flight Instructor-Instrument, and Air Transport Pilot licenses in multiple aircraft.

With the desire to give back to the institution where he started his career, as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Pete hopes to not only work with and represent the Aviation and Aerospace Science Department, but to help advocate MSU to the greater local and industry communities, as well as mentor MSU students in achieving their education and career goals.

 

Brandi Rideout | Executive Director
Executive Director of Alumni Engagement, 海角社区

Brandi Rideout joined 海角社区 as the Assistant Director of Alumni Programs in 2015. As the current Executive Director of Alumni Relations, she creates the best possible environment for students to succeed in life. Through innovative programming and networking events, Brandi hopes to create a legacy of engaged alumni who can always count on their Alma Mater for support. She is also an affiliate faculty member in the Human Performance and Sport Department.

Prior to becoming a Roadrunner, Brandi spent over 10 years dedicated to developing student-athletes. She helped create the best possible environment for them to succeed athletically and academically as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services and SWA at Upper Iowa University, Director of Student-Athlete Services at the University of Maine, and the Assistant Basketball Coach at Colby College.

Brandi graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a B.S. in community health education and earned a MEd in higher education administration from Upper Iowa University. As a first-generation college student, she passionate about higher education and the opportunities that can develop as a result of obtaining a degree. She brings positive energy and a great attitude to any situation and is always looking for ways to grow and learn.

Brandi enjoys spending her free time skiing and hiking with her dog, Zion, and was the proud winner of her 7th-grade spelling bee.

 

Peter Sola (鈥�16)

Peter Sola, a mortgage loan officer with Spire Financial, Inc., was born and raised in Colorado, graduating in 2016 with a B.S. in Management. Before joining Spire in 2019, he was employed by Enterprise Rent-A-Car as a management trainee and with ADP in various roles, including district manager. Now that Sola is more established in his career, he looks forward to giving back to the University that offered him so much as a working student, including flexibility and affordability. He is excited to mentor and guide current students, helping them achieve their career goals.

 

Alyssa Svalberg (’18)
Assistant Facilities Director, Gold Crown Foundation

Alyssa is a 2018 graduate of the Human Performance and Sport Program, where she earned a degree in sport management.

Today she is the Assistant Facilities Director at Gold Crown Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides basketball, volleyball, golf, and enrichment programs to more than 15,000 youth annually. Alyssa manages staffing and event coordination for 350+ days a year.

Since graduating, Alyssa has stayed active in the Roadrunner community, serving as a member of the 海角社区 Sport Management Advisory Board of Directors, and participating in the annual 海角社区 Women in Sports panel. She is Alumni Association board member and her engagement awarded her a 10 under 10 alumni award in 2022, and the 2024 Alumni Volunteer of the Year.

A member of the Roadrunners Volleyball Program from 2014 to 2017, Alyssa finished her career with a second team All-RMAC honors in 2017. After graduating cum laude and earning the Sport Management Student of the Year award in 2018, Alyssa joined Special Olympics Colorado, where she was a project manager in fundraising and helped raise over $1.2 million.

Alyssa is a proud alum of 海角社区 and enjoys keeping busy within the community, continuing to play volleyball and spend time hiking.

Alyssa is a Denver native who enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, and continuing to support both 海角社区鈥檚 athletic and academic programs. Hear more about Alyssa , an 海角社区 podcast about Alumni Careers and Lives.

 

Elisa Varela (’10)
PhD Student, University of Colorado

Elisa is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is a 2010 alumna of 海角社区鈥檚 Department of Communication Studies. Currently, her research focuses on democratic engagement across differences. Broadly, she draws on social interaction and feminist perspectives to dig into questions of discourse, difference, and democracy. In particular, she is interested in how persons in dialogue and deliberation engage in discursive practices that support and limit quality communication across differences and ultimately democratic action. Often times, well-meaning people perpetuate prejudice and polarization and the practical aim of Elisa’s research is to support responsible, accountable, and critically reflexive communication practice that contributes to social change. As a member of the Alumni Board at 海角社区, Elisa is committed to putting into practice the democratic values that ground her research through various 海角社区 community-focused projects.

 

Kayla Wright-Jackson (’17, ’19)
CEO & Co-Founder, Transition

Kayla is an ambitious leader from Denver, Colorado, with a deep passion for transforming the healthcare industry. Her journey in this field began at 海角社区, where she completed her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science in 2017 and her Master’s in Healthcare Administration in 2019, both times finishing at the top of her class.

Currently, Kayla is making waves as the CEO and Co-founder of Transition, a platform dedicated to workforce development, where she focuses on supporting adult learners to address the critical shortages in healthcare. Her experience as an HR leader at a home care agency, during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, has given her a unique perspective on recruitment and staff retention.

Kayla is committed to nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Her goal is to make education and job opportunities more accessible, particularly in communities that need it the most. Her work is making a real difference in the way healthcare education and employment are approached, with a focus on community health and professional growth. Her remarkable contributions have been recognized by Forbes 30 under 30, SHRM and Google for Startups.

Excited to bring her wealth of experience and passion for mentoring to the Alumni board, Kayla looks forward to connecting with students about career development. When she’s not working, Kayla loves to be outdoors, stay active, and travel.

Hear more about Kayla , an 海角社区 podcast about Alumni Careers and Lives.