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Photos by Lilian Wright

Most of Dalton Ford-McGee’s classes take place in the College of Engineering, but you’re more likely to find him in the Koelbel Building or the Olson Atrium. That’s partly because he’s pursuing a business minor, but also because he’s worked for Leeds since the end of his first year.��

Ford-McGee’s quiet, studious and friendly demeanor makes him a natural fit for his role as a welcome desk specialist at Leeds. The job allows him to study—something he does “24/7.”

His warm smile and easygoing nature serve him well as he rotates through various stations in the Koelbel and Rustandy buildings, greeting students, staff and visitors. It’s a skill he’s honed and one he believes will serve him well in any future workplace. Fostering a sense of community is one reason he loves spending time at Leeds—and he’s come to learn it’s something he deeply values.

CU Boulder bound

For Ford-McGee, a Denver native, coming to CU Boulder made practical sense. He credits his mom, Leeds alumna Ashika Ford (Mgmt’98), for helping him understand the cost of college.

“My mom loves finance and has invested many hours in showing me how important it is to not be in debt. She had me read financial books and make a whole college plan,” he said.

That early financial literacy has already paid off—Ford-McGee is confident he’ll graduate without being buried in debt. But affordability wasn’t the only factor in his decision. CU Boulder’s academic reputation and his mom’s glowing memories as a Buff sealed the deal. It helped that Ford-McGee’s impressive high school GPA helped him get in. And these days, he and his mom bond over Colorado Buffaloes football and their shared enthusiasm for Coach Prime.

A budding programmer

Ford-McGee took programming classes throughout high school and quickly developed a passion for coding. He liked designing video games when he was younger, and his mom noticed his interest early on, signing him up for classes.

He was hooked. That sense of creative freedom continues to drive his interest in software development. “It's not like something that's repetitive,” he said. “It's something unique each and every day.”

“[Software development] is not like something that's repetitive. It's something unique each and every day.”

Dalton Ford-McGee

His current software development course is a favorite, and he’s leaning toward a career in the field. “I can do web apps or phone apps,” he said. “That’s my favorite aspect of computer science."

His job at Leeds has also shaped his vision for the kind of work environment he wants. “My dream—and this has changed since my freshman year—is that I don’t want to work in a big corporate office. I don’t want to work remotely, by myself. I want to work with a smaller group of people, know them well, and build something together.”

Finding community

Ford-McGee found that sense of community in Kappa Theta Pi, a coed professional fraternity focused on information technology. He has enjoyed seeing the group grow while intentionally keeping its size manageable.

“I liked the idea of having a smaller club where I could get to know everybody on a deeper level and become friends with them.”

He saw the immediate benefits of joining the organization, gaining practical skills in writing a resume, networking and talking to recruiters. And it was a fellow KTP member and a welcome desk student assistant manager, Wesley Allen (CompSci’25, MCompSci’26), who encouraged Ford-McGee to apply for the welcome desk position.

Business minor, big impact

Ford-McGee chose the BA track for his computer science degree, requiring a minor. Business was a natural fit.

“Challenging.” “Rigorous.” “Fun.” That’s how he describes the Business Minor program at Leeds.

“It’s been a completely different experience than my computer science classes,” he said. He appreciates the exposure to the same foundational “mods” that business majors receive. “Last year, I did marketing for the first half of the semester, then management. In the spring, I did accounting and then finance.”

Next up: a class in his emphasis area—finance and data analytics—and a capstone project. The value proposition? He’s confident the minor will help him stand out to employers and better prepare him for the workplace.

“I want to work with a smaller group of people, know them well, and build something together.”

Dalton Ford-McGee

A day in the life at Leeds

When other students went to far-flung destinations over the summer, Ford-McGee was a fixture at Leeds, working full-time. “I lived in Leeds over the summer,” he joked. During the school year he scales back his hours but still appreciates his time in Koelbel. “I love being in Leeds. That’s where I spend 90 percent of my time outside of class.”

The job has its busy moments—especially at the beginning and end of each semester—but it also offers time to study. “For the most part, I get a lot of homework done. Honestly, it’s the perfect work-life balance.”

As Ford-McGee considers that work-life balance for his future—including a possible move out of state for the right career opportunity—he knows that close-knit bonds with family and friends are something he wants to maintain. And even if he lands an internship or study abroad opportunity this summer, he wants to return to Leeds.

“I would love to work at the welcome desk until I graduate. Hopefully, I’ll be there for at least another two years.”

For the Leeds community, that’s good news. Ford-McGee’s steady presence and genuine care for others have made him a familiar and valued face—one whose impact doesn’t go unnoticed.