Today we are honored to host RCFC member and the 14th president of Colorado State University and Chancellor of the CSU System, Dr. Tony Frank, to deliver his annual "State of the University" address to Rotary and the community. Tony will be introduced by Kirvin Knox and will be joined by a number of CSU officials.
 
This event continues a Rotary Club of Fort Collins tradition that dates back to the administration of William E. Morgan, also a former member of our club who served as Colorado A&M & Colorado State University President from 1949 to 1969.  Dr. Frank's remarks are expected focus on CSU’s pursuit of academic and fiscal fundamentals.  CSU is one of the nation’s leading public land-grant research universities with more than 25,000 students and more than $300 million in annual research activity. CSU continues to set records for student enrollment and ranks among the nation's top-tier research universities, while also facing ongoing state higher education funding challenges.  Following his remarks, Dr. Frank will welcome comments and questions from attendees.
 
Since his appointment to the presidency in 2008, Dr. Frank has overseen a period of record fund-raising and enrollment, rising graduation rates, increasing diversity, and unprecedented research support. Dr. Frank has held leadership roles at Colorado State University for two decades, including serving as Provost and Senior Vice President - and Vice President for
Research before accepting the challenge as president.  
 
Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residences in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. He served on the faculty at Oregon State University before joining Colorado State in 1993 as chairman of the Department of Pathology and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He served for many years on the board of the Food Bank for Larimer County and currently on the board of the Boettcher Foundation, the Denver Chamber, the Denver Public Schools College & Career Pathways Council, as a trustee for the National Western Stock Show, as chair of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Commission on International Initiatives, and more. He and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters. He is also proud to be a Rotarian!