Notable Lectures and Performances at Colorado College

Mike Shum '07 is a Chinese-American filmmaker who specializes in documentary directing and cinematography. He started in video journalism in 2009, working in and out of east and central Africa. Since then he's covered stories ranging from Eastern Congo's (DRC) M23 rebels to the rise of ISIS in Northern Iraq to a feature documentary about legendary war photographer Chris Hondros, which won the Audience Award at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. In this episode, Mike is interviewed by Jessica Duran ’25.

CooXooEii Black '20 recently garnered acclaim by winning the Rattle Chapbook Prize for his work, “The Morning You Saw a Train of Star Streaking Across the Sky.” His victory in this highly competitive contest, which drew over 2,000 entries, is a testament to his profound talent in poetry. At Colorado College, he pursued a creative writing track, deeply influenced by his mixed-race heritage and commitment to the Arapaho language and ceremonies. Black recently completed his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis, where he also served as the lead poetry editor for The Pinch Journal. Recognized as a First Peoples Fund Cultural Capital Fellow in 2020, Black's work is deeply rooted in his cultural heritage and personal experiences, positioning him as a significant voice in contemporary poetry. In this episode, CooXooEii is interviewed by Chloe Brooks-Kistler ’23.

Sheldon Kerr ’07 majored in feminist and gender studies at CC, and since graduation has made outstanding achievements as a mountain guide. In 2020, she became the 13th American woman to earn an American Mountain Guide certification — the highest level of credential attainable by a professional mountain guide, recognized in more than 20 International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) member countries. For perspective, as of June 2022, there were 4,000 guides working in the U.S., and only 175 guides had attained this elite credential. Throughout her career, Sheldon has been a tireless advocate for gender equity in the career of mountain guiding. She and her company Moxie Mountain Guides focus on programs that target justice, inclusion, and funding for the underrepresented in the outdoors such as deaf, fat, indigenous, and neurologically atypical peoples. Her accomplishments and leadership have been lauded by many respected outdoor organizations and magazines. In this episode, Sheldon is interviewed by Chloe Brooks-Kistler ’23.

Mike Slade '79 was Microsoft's director of corporate marketing (1983-90); VP- Marketing, NeXTComputer, Inc, reporting to Steve Jobs (1991-93); chairman and CEO of Starwave, Corp., a Paul Allen venture (1993-98); a consultant for Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs (1998-04); and partner and co-founder of the Seattle-based venture capital firm Second Avenue Partners (2000-current). His board memberships include: RealNetworks (RNWK) and seven startup/private boards (RealSelf, The Wrap, Fantasy Moguls, Flowplay, entrée.ai, Skydio and TreeRing). He is also a strategic adviser to Crtl-Labs and LeakSmart. He established the Slade Fund for Sustainable Development Studies at CC in 2001. In this episode, Mike is interviewed by Chloe Brooks-Kistler ’23.

In this final episode of Mic on the Mic, Professor Steve Hayward takes over the host duties as Senior VP Edmonds reflects on his long and successful time at Colorado College.

In Part 2 of this episode of Mike on the Mic, host Mike Edmonds is joined by Colorado College professors Santiago Guerra and Heidi Lewis to explore the intersection of race and higher education. They delve into the significance of inclusivity and equity, and how these issues manifest at Colorado College. The conversation also tackles the broader implications of race in America. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion with leading academic voices.

In this episode of Mike on the Mic, host Mike Edmonds is joined by Colorado College professors Santiago Guerra and Heidi Lewis to explore the intersection of race and higher education. They delve into the significance of inclusivity and equity, and how these issues manifest at Colorado College. The conversation also tackles the broader implications of race in America. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion with leading academic voices.

In this episode, Senior VP Edmonds is joined by Elizabeth Coggins, professor of Political Science at Colorado College for a conversation about the state of American politics and this past year’s midterm elections.

Professor Elizabeth Coggins joined the faculty of Colorado College in the fall of 2014. She studies United States politics, public opinion, ideological identification, and political psychology.

Originally published March 2023

In this episode, Senior VP Edmonds is joined by Margaret Sabin and Dr. David Steinbruner – two pillars of healthcare in Colorado Springs – for a conversation about mental health and its effects on our college community.

Margaret Sabin is the past president of Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs and former President and CEO of Penrose Hospital. Dr. David Steinbruner is the Chief Medical Officer at UCHealth Memorial Hospital and an emergency room physician.

English Professor Dave Mason gives a hypothetical “last lecture.”