Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts is a vibrant community of artists, thinkers, storytellers, and scientists who examine the human experience. In a special podcast version of our Liberal Arts Magazine, our faculty share their areas of expertise and talk about why their work matters in our world today.
Simone Ross (B.A., ’04; MBA, ’14) is redefining what leadership looks like. From scaling complex organizations to delivering a powerful TEDx talk on authentic leadership, Ross blends operational strategy with a deeply human lens. Now CEO of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, she challenges traditional corporate culture and encourages leaders – especially women – to show up fully and unapologetically.
Through initiatives like the Mountains and Plains Thriving Communities Collaborative, the Center for Environmental Justice has supported more than 200 rural and tribal communities by connecting them with resources, expertise, and funding opportunities to help their projects thrive.
Abigail Rolbiecki has been named the director of the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences at Colorado State University. An internationally recognized expert in meaning-centered narrative interventions and trauma-informed therapeutic processing, Rolbiecki has overseen more than $8M in funded research and led both interdisciplinary teams and multi-institutional partnerships that integrate the social sciences into ambitious, transformative scientific and scholarly projects.
Doug Yarrington, an associate professor of History in the College of Liberal Arts recently published a sweeping history of Venezuela that explores the ways corruption and efforts to combat it shaped the national state during the years of its formation.
University Distinguished Professor of Economics Ed Barbier and Associate Professor of Economics Jo Burgess recently published their first co-authored textbook, intended to invite students with little or no knowledge of economics to explore the field of environmental economics. The book uses extensive case studies to introduce concepts including sustainable development and the inextricable relationship between the natural world and the global economy.
More than 1,600 College of Liberal Arts alumni responded to our career survey last year. The results were clear: A liberal arts degree from CSU leads to meaningful work, adaptable careers, and lasting confidence.
An update on the latest research, faculty achievements, alumni spotlights, and other recent news from the College of Liberal Arts.
Highlighting new podcasts, rising student interest, innovative AI courses, and opportunities like the President’s Art Prize and Colorado Democracy Prize—reflecting a year of growth, creativity, and civic engagement.
The two-part exhibition examines how Warhol’s 1981 visit impacted the campus landscape, as well as how his photos were eerily predictive of social media.
