About Us

Our Team

Katherine Tennis, Ph.D
Faculty Director, University Honors Program
katherine.tennis@du.edu | 303-871-2237

• Bio

  Kate Tennis is the director of the Center for Undergraduate Scholarship and Honors and the Faculty Director of the Honors program. She is a Teaching Associate Professor at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs. Kate began her career at the University of Denver in 2017 after serving as an EU Borders Visiting Scholar at the University of Victoria and completing her Ph.D. program at American University.  Her academic areas are interdisciplinary in nature; her scholarly work spans multiple research areas including migration, population research, economic development, and human security.  Her book, Outsourcing Control: The Politics of International Migration Cooperation, was published by McGill-Queens University Press in December 2020.  Kate has served in a variety of professional and leadership capacities during her time at the University. These include her leadership as the faculty director of the Undergraduate Research Center, service on Faculty Senate, supporting the DU Undergraduate Research Journal as a faculty mentor, and supervising student theses.

• Schedule Honors Advising with Kate

  Kate advises on:

  • Honors Contracts
  • Distinction/Research

  Office Hours: http://calendly.com/khtennis  

Kira Castle, M.A.
Assistant Director, University Honors Program
kira.castle@du.edu | 303-871-2035

• Bio

  Kira Castle is the assistant director for the University Honors Program. She is a native Midwesterner who joined the University of Denver community in October '21. Kira is a proud alumna of a small liberal arts college in Michigan called Kalamazoo College, where she majored in English/Creative Writing and Economics & Business. She also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership from Western Michigan University. She has worked in higher education for over a decade in a variety of roles, including program management, admissions, academic advising, and orientation. 

• Schedule Honors Advising with Kira

  Kira provides advising for 2nd through 4th year Honors students on Honors requirements. Appointment scheduling happens through the DU Student Success Hub and can also be accessed using the links below. 

  Schedule In-Person Advising 
  Schedule Virtual Advising

Vivien Enriquez, M.S.
Program Coordinator, University Honors Program

• Bio
  Vivien Enriquez is the Coordinator for the Honors Program at the University of Denver. She joined DU in December 2025 after working as an undergraduate research and fellowships advisor in the Honors College at the University of Vermont. Vivien completed her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Spanish Language & Literature from Beloit College, a small liberal arts institution in southern Wisconsin. In graduate school, she followed her curiosity into the sciences, researching bioluminescent squid at San Francisco State University and later studying urban wildlife and antibiotic resistance at UCLA. She is passionate about holistic student growth, meaningful mentorship, and creating space for curiosity, exploration, and lifelong learning.

  
   
• Schedule Honors Advising with Vivien

  Vivien provides advising for first-year Honors students on Honors requirements. Appointment scheduling happens through the DU Student Success Hub and can also be accessed using the links below. 

  Schedule In-Person Advising 
  Schedule Virtual Advising

Faculty Profile List

• Honors Council

  2026-2027 Honors Council Members

  Phil Chen, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Political Science

  Richard Colby, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  Director of First Year Writing
  University Writing Program

  Cora Dietrich '28
  Student Representative
  Major: Physiology in Health & Disease
  Minors: Chemistry, English & Literary Arts, Medical Physics 
  
  Helen Hazen, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Geography and the Environment

  Sarah Krohn '27
  Student Representative
  Major: Environmental Science
  Minors: Socio-Legal Studies, Writing Practices

  Bilha Moor, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Art History

  Lapo Salucci, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  Institute for Public Policy Studies

  Mandi Schaeffer Fry, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Mathematics

  Susan Schulten, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of History

  Benjamin Williams, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  Daniels College of Business
  Department of Business Information & Analytics

• Current Honors Faculty

  2026-2027 Honors Faculty

  Jesse Acevedo, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Political Science
  PLSC 3706: Contemporary Topics in Latin America

  Erin Anderson-Camenzind, Ph.D
  Professor
  4D Director of Faculty Innovation
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Communication Studies
  COMN 1014: The Art of Compassionate Citizenship

  Julia Baldassari, L.S.W.
  Adjunct Faculty
  HNRS 3000: Into the Unknown

  Russell Brakefield, M.F.A.
  Teaching Assistant Professor
  University Writing Program
  HNRS 2400: Poetry as Social Activism
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing: Exploring History, Culture, and Community through Documentary Poetry

  April Chapman-Ludwig, M.A.
  Teaching Professor
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Christy Cobb, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Religion
  HNRS 2400: Hildegard of Bingen: Music, Mysticism, and Monasticism

  Richard Colby, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  Director of First Year Writing
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1622: Advanced Rhetoric & Writing
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Paula Cole, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Economics
  ECON 1020: Economics: A Critical Introduction

  J. Michael Daniels, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Geography and the Environment
  GEOG 1266: Global Environmental Change III

  Jared del Rosso, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of History
  HNRS 2400: Denver Wilds

  Dong Dinh, Ed.D
  Director, First-Generation Experience
  First@DU
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  Jena Doom, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Psychology
  ASEM 2505: Early Social Experiences and Health Throughout the Lifespan 

  Vivien Enriquez, M.S.
  Program Coordinator
  Honors Program
  HNRS 1000: Honors Summit
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  Robert Gilmor, Ph.D
  Teaching Associate Professor
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Ilene Grabel, Ph.D
  Professor
  Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  INTS 1500: Contemporary Issues in the Global Economy

  Ileya Grosman, Ph.D
  Adjunct Faculty
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  Helen Hazen, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Geography and the Environment
  HNRS 2400: The Human Population--Sustainability & Social Justice
  HNRS 2400: Ways of Knowing

  Lindsay Lawton, Ph.D
  Director
  Scholar Development & Fellowship Advising
  HNRS 2401: Adventures in Fellowships

  Rachel Lim, Ed.D
  Senior Director of Advising & Engagement
  Daniels College of Business
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  Calley Marotta, Ph.D
  Teaching Assistant Professor
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1622: Advanced Rhetoric & Writing

  Heather Martin, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  University Writing Program
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  Leah McFail, M.S.
  Assistant Director
  Leadership Studies
  HNRS 3000: Into the Unknown

  Daniel McIntosh, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Psychology
  ASEM 2454: Psychology of Religious and Spiritual Practices

  Keith Miller, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
  INTZ 2501: Exploring Global Citizenship

  Pamela Miller, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Psychology
  PSYC 1001: Foundations of Psychological Science

  Maik Nwosu, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of English & Literary Arts
  HNRS 2400: Migration & Diaspora Narratives

  Lisa Pasko, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Sociology & Criminology
  HNRS 2400: Serial Killers in Colorado

  Trishula Patel, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of History
  HIST 1655: Pop Culture in Africa

  Laura Perille, Ph.D
  Executive Director
  4D Experience
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  LP Picard, MFA
  Teaching Professor
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1622: Advanced Rhetoric & Writing
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Savannah Pine, Ph.D
  Fellowships Advisor
  Scholar Development & Fellowship Advising
  HNRS 2400: Heated Chivalry: Knightly Gender and Sexuality
  HNRS 2401: Adventures in Fellowships

  Chiara Piovani, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Economics
  ASEM 2595: What We Eat Matters: The Political Economy of Food

  Virginia Pitts, Ph.D
  Director of University Teaching
  Office of Teaching & Learning
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics

  David Riche, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1622: Advanced Rhetoric & Writing
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Lapo Salucci, Ph.D
  Teaching Associate Professor
  Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  Institute for Public Policy Studies
  PPOL 1910: Introduction to Public Policy

  Susan Schulten, Ph.D
  Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of History
  HIST 1510: War and the Presidency
  
  Rebekah Shultz Colby, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  University Writing Program
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Geoffrey Stacks, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  University Writing Program
  ASEM 2743: Bad Words: The Ideologies of Profanity
  WRIT 1622: Advanced Rhetoric & Writing
  WRIT 1733: Honors Writing

  Jesse Tenenbaum, M.A.
  Doctoral Candidate & Adjunct Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Geography and the Environment
  GEOG 1264 & 1266: Global Environmental Change II

  Audrey Townsend, Ph.D
  Director of Student Leadership & Service
  Student Affairs
  INTZ 2501: Exploring Global Citizenship

  Erika Trigoso Rubio, Ph.D
  Teaching Professor
  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  Department of Geography and the Environment
  GEOG 1264: Global Environmental Change I

  Kate Tennis, Ph.D
  Associate Teaching Professor
  Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  Faculty Director, University Honors Program
  HNRS 2000: Extreme Academics
  INTS 1700: Intro to International Politics

  Tanika Vigil, Ph.D
  Teaching Assistant Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Sociology & Criminology
  PLSC 1810: Introduction to Law & Society

  Zoe Weiss, Ph.D
  Assistant Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Lamont School of Music
  HNRS 2400: Hildegard of Bingen: Music, Mysticism, and Monasticism
  
  Benjamin Williams, Ph.D
  Associate Professor
  Daniels College of Business
  Department of Business Information & Analytics
  HNRS 2400: Chance Encounters: Statistics in Everyday Life

  Wayne Yeung, Ph.D
  Assistant Professor
  College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  Department of Languages, Literatures, & Cultures (Chinese)
  ASEM 2777: Stranger Things: Monsters, Spirits, & the Supernatural from Asia