About University Communications

Kenna Aukamp

Graphic Designer & Studio Specialist
kenna.aukamp@ucdenver.edu

Kenna supports the CU Denver brand through graphic design and visual communication. She has been with UCOMM since August, 2022 and has designed a wide array of items, including university branded merchandise lines, publications like the campus viewbook and commencement programs, advertisement suites for digital marketing campaigns, branded suites of materials for events, and more. Most notably, she was heavily involved with the brand refresh project and helped to develop the look and feel of the Meet Your Moment brand. She designed the brand book, environmental graphics around campus, billboards and bus shelter ads, Larimer Square flag takeover, pole banners, print ads, and digital ads.

Kenna was born in Colorado and raised just south of Denver in Highlands Ranch. She earned a bachelor of fine arts in graphic design from Colorado State University in 2018 and brings more than seven years of design experience from freelance, agency, and in-house settings. She loves working in higher education environments and is constantly striving to learn new skills and build on her existing knowledge.

Outside of work, Kenna can be found spending time with friends and family, tending to her houseplant collection, birdwatching, enjoying live music, reading, and obsessing over her tabby cat, Louie.

Megan Briggs Pintel

Senior Marketing & Communications Coordinator
megan.briggspintel@ucdenver.edu

Megan recently joined the University Communications team to assist with the university’s public relations efforts. Megan helps connect journalists with the many subject matter experts at work at CU Denver. A big perk of her role is learning about all the relevant work faculty members are doing and how it applies to the non-academic population. In addition to her work for UComm, Megan tells the stories of the College of Arts & Media’s students and faculty members through articles and social media content.

Prior to joining CU Denver, Megan created and managed content for a media company and a few not-for-profit organizations. Growing up a military brat, Megan has called many places in the U.S. and Germany home. As an adult, she spent a significant amount of time in southeast Asia. Eventually, though, Colorado called again and she settled down in Aurora.

When she’s not working on university-community relations, Megan enjoys finding new places to go for a walk or eat in her neighborhood with her husband, son, and dog.

Emilia Covault

Senior Operations Specialist
emilia.covault@ucdenver.edu

Emilia Covault, a skilled administrative professional and organized individual, serves the University Communications team as the Senior Operations Specialist. She works as CU Denver’s eComm specialist, while also creating employee engagement events, streamlining workflow processes, and managing procurement operations for the unit.

Emilia has several years of experience in administrative assistance, management, and schedule coordination which she has acquired as a music administrator and professional stage manager in theatres and opera houses across the country.

Emilia holds a Master of Fine Arts in Stage Management from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She is originally from Ventura, California, but most recently lived in Houston, Texas. After work, she enjoys going to barre class, going on walks with her dog and husband, writing, and reading.

Julia Cummings

Marketing and Communications Director, School of Education & Human Development
julia.cummings@ucdenver.edu

Julia Cummings is a versatile, inclusive, and collaborative marketing communications leader. Since 2007, she has planned and executed marketing communications for the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Education & Human Development. She is skilled in crisis communications, marketing and digital advertising, content and creative design, strategic planning, and the management of team members and consultants.

Before joining CU Denver, she held leadership roles at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the National Audubon Society, High Plains Library District, and the Smithsonian Institution.

Julia is a PhD candidate in Public Affairs at CU Denver (expected graduation: 2025). She holds a Master of Business Administration with a marketing concentration from CU Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, magna cum laude, from the University of Colorado Boulder. Julia also lectures part-time in the CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs and serves as an affiliate faculty member for the Center for Community Safety and Resilience at CU Denver.

In her free time, Julia channels her creative spirit through gardening, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her loved ones and pets. She is the mother of three sons. Her husband Steve is a licensed commercial architect in Denver.

Alex DeWind

Assistant Director of Internal Communications
alex.dewind@ucdenver.edu

Alex oversees communications strategies and tactics for updates and initiatives impacting CU Denver's faculty and staff. She also helps lead the campus’ internal newsletter that showcases CU Denver’s people, programs, research, and more.

Alex formerly worked as a reporter at a community newspaper in south metro Denver, where she covered suburbia, mental health, and public education. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from CU Boulder.

In her spare time, Alex enjoys walks with her pug, trying new restaurants, and soaking up Colorado's outdoors.

Marissa Dienstag

Director, Events & University Ceremonies
marissa.dienstag@ucdenver.edu

Marissa creates meaningful experiences for our CU Denver students, faculty, staff, and community. She oversees large university ceremonies as well as some intimate university events. With more than 15 years in higher education, she has had the pleasure of working in various departments, with a multitude of campus partners, and overseeing exciting and engaging university initiatives. Being able to collaborate across departments provides her unique perspectives and an environment of growth and learning.

She received her bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and her master’s degrees from The Ohio State University and Colorado State University. As a native Floridian, the beach will always bring tremendous joy and nostalgia. When not involved in various local theatre groups, she loves taking advantage of the Colorado sunshine and beautiful mountains and lakes.

Olivia Earle

Web Designer
olivia.earle@ucdenver.edu

Alexander Freedman

Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
alexander.freedman@ucdenver.edu

Natasha Gardner

Executive Director of Editorial and Creative Content
natasha.gardner@ucdenver.edu

Natasha Gardner is an award-winning writer, editor, brand developer, and content creator. She has more than 17 years of experience with telling stories that matter in Colorado. A longtime editor at 5280, Denver’s magazine, she was also the managing editor at History Colorado before joining CU Denver’s University Communications team. Here, she helps develop storytelling and creative content that amplifies the university’s brand and resonates with our students, faculty, staff, alums, and community.

She leads the Creative Content team, which takes ideas from concept to completion, with a talented group of experts in writing, brand management, graphic design, photography, multimedia, motion graphics, internal communication, e-communications, and more.

Natasha has a master’s degree in news gathering from the University of Colorado Boulder and a bachelor of arts in sociology from Smith College. When she’s not typing away on a laptop or creating new things, she might be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, skate skiing, reading, or trying new recipes.

Haley Gray

Creative Content Writer
haley.gray@ucdenver.edu

Haley supports the CU Denver Communications team as a creative content writer. She is an award-winning, multimedia communications professional with more than nine years' experience writing, editing, and producing audio. Most of all, Haley enjoys showcasing the inspiring and impactful work being done across the Lynx community. Before joining UComm in 2025, she produced The Science of Happiness podcast, a production of The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and PRX.  She has also worked as a community pages editor in rural New Mexico, public radio reporter in San Francisco, volunteer journalist on the Thailand-Myanmar border, and more. When she’s not sharing CU Denver’s incredible stories, she loves to cook, hike, and spend time with her adorable nephew. She holds a Master of Journalism degree from UC Berkeley and once won a chili cook-off.  

James Hough

Senior Web Developer
james.hough@ucdenver.edu

James manages a web team that ensures the university's web properties provide an optimal user experience. Working as part of Marketing and Digital Strategy, he focuses on making CU Denver's websites and applications simple to navigate, with a particular emphasis on helping prospective students easily request information and engage with the university.

With a background in web management, design, and the arts, James has previously served as the web services manager for the University of Texas at Dallas’ business school, and held roles as a graphic designer, K-12 art teacher, and custom glass artist. He holds degrees in Fine Arts and English Literature from the University of North Texas and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Outside of work, James enjoys drawing comics, painting, following basketball, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Mitch Howes

Graphic Designer & Brand Manager
mitchell.howes@ucdenver.edu

A talented designer, art director, and brand manager, Mitch brings experience in graphic design, video editing, and motion graphics to the University Communications team as well as an eye for detail and organizational skills. Prior to working at CU Denver, Mitch has worked as a motion and graphic designer to elevate and define brand stories through both digital and print media. 

Taylor Keating

Multimedia Producer

taylor.keating@ucdenver.edu

Taylor joined the University Communications team in early 2025 as Multimedia Producer, where he leads the development of in-house video productions ranging from commercial advertisements to short-form documentaries that highlight the stories of students, faculty, and staff. In this role, Taylor combines his passion for authentic storytelling with creative vision, contributing to the dynamic and talented team at the University of Colorado Denver.

Originally from Michigan, Taylor earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communications before relocating to the West. His career began in adventure filmmaking, where he produced several award-winning documentaries featuring professional climbing athletes. He later created the feature-length documentary The Incredible Lamont and spent four years as the Senior Videographer at Colorado Ballet. After a two-year "micro-retirement," traveling across the United States in a truck camper with his partner, Marika, Taylor enthusiastically accepted the position at CU Denver.

Outside of work, Taylor enjoys playing his electric guitar Jane, hiking with his dog Beanie, skiing, rock climbing, and exploring the stunning Colorado landscape with his friends. 

Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications
Zenaida.gonzalezkotala@ucdenver.edu

Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala joined CU Denver from the University of Central Florida where she served as Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Communications. At CU Denver she leads a team responsible for media relations, internal communications, crisis communications, and strategic communications.

Zenaida’s 20+ year career includes working with media, faculty, students, and executives. At UCF, she also built and led the research communications ecosystem, which earned several local and national awards. Before her career in higher education, Zenaida was an award-winning journalist who worked for Gannett.

She is bilingual in Spanish and has a special place in her heart for first-generation students because she was one. Born and raised in California, she holds a BA in Journalism and in International Relations from San Francisco State University. She was a Knight Fellow and has been recognized for her communication work by CASE and MARCOM.

William Kubie

Assistant Vice Chancellor, Marketing & Digital Strategy (Interim)

william.kubie@ucdenver.edu

William Kubie is a strategic marketing leader with over 20 years of experience driving enrollment, brand awareness, and audience engagement through high-impact, data-informed campaigns. A Colorado native, he brings creative and analytical expertise from a broad range of roles—including designer, web art director, developer, marketing director, and brand manager—at CU Boulder, Colorado State University, and now CU Denver.

In his current role at CU Denver, William leads the university’s marketing and digital strategy efforts, overseeing digital advertising, web development, marketing, and performance analytics. He is known for building award-winning teams, crafting integrated campaigns, and translating business goals into results-driven marketing strategies.

William’s approach blends innovation, technology, and research across channels—spanning branding, SEO/SEM, CRM, UX, and web development. He also shares his expertise as a digital marketing lecturer at CU Denver, mentoring the next generation of marketing professionals.

Gabriel Lira

Director of Enrollment Marketing and Communications

gabriel.lira@ucdenver.edu

Gabriel Lira serves as the Director of Enrollment Marketing and Communications. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Digital Strategy in UComm with a dotted line to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management. Gabriel plays a critical role in creating, implementing, and measuring enrollment marketing strategies that support the campus in meeting and exceeding its enrollment targets for prospective and current students. In addition, he helps establish and execute the internal communications strategy for the broader Strategic Enrollment and Student Success (SESS) division, facilitating knowledge sharing and integration across the division. Gabriel earned an MBA with Human Resources concentration from Johnson & Wales University. Before joining CU Denver in October 2024, he spent four years at the University of Denver (2020-2024) and four years at Johnson & Wales University (2016-2020). He is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and believes this approach is key to his own growth and success. With expertise in multi-cycle recruiting, data analytics, human resources, and operations management, Gabriel is driven by a data-informed approach to tackling challenges and developing teams. He takes pride in his ability to transfer these skills across multiple industries to drive positive outcomes. Outside of work, Gabriel enjoys camping at the lake with his family or exploring downtown while spinning PokéStops.

Sindhusha Maliyala

Web and Marketing Analyst
sindhusha.maliyala@ucdenver.edu

Carmen New

Director of Communications, College of Architecture and Planning
carmen.new@ucdenver.edu

Carmen is a dedicated communicator embedded within the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP), where she actively collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to amplify the stories, achievements, and milestones that highlight what makes CAP exceptional.

Since earning her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2011, Carmen has cultivated her career in higher education communications and marketing. Her areas of expertise include digital communications strategy, recruitment and yield communications planning, social media management, digital graphic design, brand management, and website oversight and maintenance.

Originally from Jackson, Tennessee, Carmen balances her professional pursuits with personal passions, which include writing, singing, baking, and hiking.

Elise Nguyen

Enrollment Communications and Strategy Senior Professional

elise.nguyen@ucdenver.edu

Elise Nguyen supports the Strategic Enrollment and Student Success (SESS) departments by effectively facilitating communication initiatives. As a dynamic communications professional with seven years of experience in higher education, Elise is committed to enhancing marketing strategies and fostering a campus environment where students, staff, faculty, and community members feel valued and supported in their journeys. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from CU Denver, she spent two years in CU Denver’s SESS division before joining UComm in 2024.

Leigh Pinner

Director of Brand & Digital Marketing
leigh.pinner@ucdenver.edu

Leigh Pinner joined the University Communications team in 2022 as the Director of Brand and Digital Marketing. In this role, she leads the development and execution of CU Denver's digital marketing strategy, with a focus on promoting university programs and enhancing institutional visibility. Prior to this, Leigh served as Senior Brand Marketing Manager for CU's Office of Digital Education. With a strong passion for higher education, Leigh is driven by the opportunity to support students and create a positive impact through marketing initiatives.

Leigh holds a bachelor of science in communication from Old Dominion University and a master’s in marketing, brand communication, and digital media from CU Denver. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she volunteers with local arts and cultural organizations, including the Richmond Symphony and RVA Broads.

Dan Ruzich

Web Content Writer/SEO Strategist
daniel.ruzich@ucdenver.edu

Dan, a web optimization professional and skilled content marketer, is the SEO specialist and content manager on the University Communications Marketing and Digital Strategy team at CU Denver. In this role, he leverages SEO strategies to improve CU Denver's organic search results and website performance, designs site architecture, develops new content, and optimizes existing university content. With a background in website development and driving digital growth, Dan's expertise spans data analysis, strategic communication, and creative storytelling.

Dan holds a bachelor of science in Marketing with a concentration in data analytics from the University of Illinois Chicago. His professional journey includes optimizing web content for industries like tech consulting, advertising, and IT/cybersecurity and serving as a digital strategist at a growth marketing agency before joining CU Denver. Originally from Chicago, he has called Denver home for six years. Outside of work, Dan is passionate about rock climbing, snowboarding, traveling, soccer, and immersing himself in sci-fi worlds.

Jeremy Simon

Director of Communications
jeremy.m.simon@ucdenver.edu

Beki Strauser

Web Developer
beki.strauser@ucdenver.edu

Paul Wedlake​

Senior Photographer and Videographer
paul.wedlake@ucdenver.edu

Paul was born and raised outside of Detroit, Michigan and was introduced to the craft of photography at an early age by his father who was also a photographer. It wasn’t until high school that he started to fall in love with photography. While working on the yearbook in high school, Paul discovered two things: The first being that photographing people was fun and he loved telling their stories with images and the second is that when he had a camera in his hands, he was able to have adventures around school and see what the other students were up to.

Paul now lives in Denver and freelanced for 20 years photographing people at work and at play, in the city and in the mountains, and on commercial and editorial assignments. He began freelancing for CU Denver in 2019 and joined the staff in 2022. Paul can be found on campus and in classroom shooting video and taking photos for storytelling purposes, including professional headshots, events, lifestyle, and drone photography. When his assignments are done, Paul can be found with his family skiing, snowboarding, hiking, camping, rafting, paddle boarding, and mountain biking.

Jennifer Woodruff

Director of Public Relations & Integrated Media
Jennifer.Woodruff@ucdenver.edu

Jennifer is the Director of Public Relations and Integrated Media for University Communications. She leads CU Denver’s earned media coverage efforts and focuses on increasing brand visibility by building a strong relationship between the university and the public, media, and target audiences. She also serves as the university's back-up PIO with an advanced public information officer FEMA certification.

Jennifer came to CU Denver after working in local broadcast news as a Director of Marketing at 9NEWS, NEWS CENTER Maine, and KGW, where she oversaw the marketing, brand, and promotional efforts in addition to client commercial production, PR, community relations, philanthropic efforts, and programming. Prior to working in local news, she worked for the financial company Transamerica Capital, Inc. as a Senior Graphic Designer.

She attended Colorado State University and received a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Media Studies. She has six Regional Broadcaster Emmys, 11 Local Broadcasters Awards, and three National Promax awards.

Jennifer has had the distinct pleasure of living in both Portlands back-to-back and loves traveling to new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people. She also plays Scottish/Celtic fiddle and bakes French patisserie in her spare time.