Snapshots

Richard L. Wobbekind (MEcon’79, PhD’84)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:52:17 +0000

Richard L. Wobbekind (MEcon’79, PhD’84) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 10/02/2025 - 15:52

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Richard L. Wobbekind
Alumni Award: Wobbekind is the 2025 recipient of the William H. Baughn Award for Faculty.
Brief Bio: Richard L. Wobbekind is associate dean for business and government relations, associate professor of business economics and finance, and faculty director of the Business Research Division (BRD) at Leeds.

What has kept you energized and engaged in your work with Leeds for nearly four decades?
There are really two things: the mission of higher education and the people with whom I’ve worked. All my work—both in and out of the school—is consistent with helping make the world a better place through education. I could not possibly have done this without the support of the great people in the school and in the community.

How do you hope your economic research through the Business Research Division and your teaching have shaped future business leaders?
I hope my teaching has helped our future business leaders see the world through a bigger lens. Business economics is certainly not the only way to view society, but it brings a valuable and critical perspective. The use of economics to build critical thinking skills is the ultimate goal. I view our economic research work in the community in a similar fashion. We are elevating the level of understanding of critical issues to help decision making, often in a difficult environment, where tradeoffs must be made.

What’s a lesson you’ve learned from your partnerships with business leaders in Colorado that has influenced your work?
The answer to this question is complex, as I have learned many things from the broader business and government community. If I had to boil it down, I would say that regardless of geographic location or political affiliation, we all care about the same thing—creating an economy and society that is better for our state.

To build a better economy and society, you have to build relationships and trust so that the differences don’t get in the way of the common good.

Richard L. Wobbekind is the 2025 recipient of the William H. Baughn Award for Faculty.

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Amanda Freeberg Donovan (Mktg’03)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:25:54 +0000

Amanda Freeberg Donovan (Mktg’03) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 10/02/2025 - 15:25

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Amanda Freeberg Donovan
Alumni Award: Freeberg Donovan is the 2025 recipient of the Leeds Luminary Award.
Brief Bio: Amanda Freeberg Donovan is the executive director of the Don and Lorraine Freeberg Foundation. She was a founding member and officer for the Leeds Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board.

What does “letting your light shine” mean to you in your personal and professional life?
'Letting your light shine' to me means being a good person, caring about others, and always doing your best. I focus on honesty and integrity. If I see something that is a problem, or some way I can help make things easier for another person, I try to help. I say "yes" to a lot of requests as long as I feel like I can add value or a good perspective. I bring my varied skillset—a result of my Leeds education—to think about the big picture.

How has your Leeds experience influenced your commitment to social responsibility and service?
I remember being in class when the Leeds’ gift to name the school was announced, and I was excited to take classes that focused on or included social responsibility and ethics. It has made me look more critically at how businesses and organizations are run.

I am proud that the foundation I run helps children get the best start, provides educational opportunities, funds research into deadly diseases, acquires critical medical equipment and assists those who serve our country.

As a dedicated alumna and member of several CU/Leeds boards, can you highlight a moment when your leadership made a meaningful impact on the Leeds community?
I was one of the founding members and officers for the Leeds Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board, working to define what the board would be and how it could help Leeds. I also worked with Advancement on behalf of the GOLD Board to start an undergraduate scholarship funded by the members. It has been wonderful to see the GOLD Board continue to grow over the past 13 years and to keep younger alumni involved.

From the time I was a child, I understood that if you are able to help or serve others, it is something you should do.

Amanda Freeberg Donovan is the 2025 recipient of the Leeds Luminary Award.

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Jeremy May (Acct’92)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:07:38 +0000

Jeremy May (Acct’92) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 10/02/2025 - 15:07

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Jeremy May
Alumni Award: May is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Service Award.
Brief Bio: Jeremy May is the founder and CEO of Paralel Technologies and is a member of the board of advisors for the Renée Crown Wellness Institute at CU Boulder.

What inspired your long-standing commitment to supporting Leeds and CU Boulder over the years?
The high-quality education I received at CU changed my life by giving me the foundation that opened the doors to follow my career. It brings me joy to play a small part in providing that opportunity for others.

How did your time at Leeds shape your approach to leadership?
Leeds exposed me to many disciplines in business education and allowed me to match my abilities and interests to get my career off the ground in public accounting. While in public accounting, this same exposure to different businesses and industries guided me to the asset management industry. I take the same approach to leadership, aiming to provide experience and support to the people I work with so they can pursue the career that is right for them.

What’s one piece of advice to students and alumni about building a career that follows one's passions and inspires achievement?
Wherever you are on your path, make the most of the opportunity that you have in that present moment. Of course, if you are not in a good situation, be courageous and make a change, but if you are doing good work with people you care about, opportunity will find you.

If you are looking back with regret or to the future with expectations, you will miss the opportunities that are right in front of you.

Jeremy May is the 2025 recipient of the Leeds Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Service Award.

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Kate M. Harris (Fin’16)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 22:07:27 +0000

Kate M. Harris (Fin’16) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 10/01/2025 - 16:07

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Kate M. Harris
Alumni Award: Harris is the 2025 recipient of the Leeds Young Alumni Achievement Award.
Brief Bio: Kate M. Harris is an attorney currently clerking on the Supreme Court of the United States.

A top graduate of the Leeds School of Business, Kate M. Harris followed her undergraduate degree with law school. She went on to work for a litigation boutique and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Her writing has appeared in national outlets including The New York Times—one article notably led to her permanent ban from Russia.

While at Leeds, Harris was a Leeds Scholar and CU Boulder Esteemed Scholar, receiving the President James H. Baker Award. She also earned the Finance Student Investment Fund Award, the Shreve Memorial Scholarship, and was part of the winning team in the 2015 CESR Business Ethics Case Competition.

She graduated with high honors from the University of Chicago Law School, where she was a Kirkland & Ellis Scholar and received both the Ann Watson Barber Outstanding Service Award and the Edward W. Hinton Memorial Cup for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy.

The law school featured her profile in the article "Seven Clerks for Seven Justices," where she shared this advice: “Focus on being present, building intentional relationships, making the most of every opportunity, and taking the next best step forward. ... Learn from those around you so that you can become a better lawyer, leader, and person.”

Kate M. Harris is the 2025 recipient of the Leeds Young Alumni Achievement Award.

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Maria Julia (MJ) Maymone (Bus’29)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:07:12 +0000

Maria Julia (MJ) Maymone (Bus’29) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 09/24/2025 - 14:07

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Maria Julia (MJ) Maymone
Major: Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship International Business
Hometown: Campo Grande, Brazil

Just one month into her time at Leeds, Maria Julia Maymone (Bus’29) had already accomplished more than what many can in one year. Her unwavering determination and drive are what led her to Leeds, where she was drawn to the school’s student-driven ethos and the many opportunities and clubs available. She quickly immersed herself in campus life, joining the competitive figure skating team, the competitive triathlon team and the Chi Omega Sorority.

Maymone intends to graduate in three years and pursue international corporate law. Before Leeds, she said she thought of business as two-dimensional, not realizing all the complexities and people that go into its creation A leadership retreat with the Dean’s Leadership Fellows Program opened her eyes to how complex business is, and how much it revolves around community and teamwork. The experience has significantly shaped her academic and career aspirations, which include learning about all types of businesses and establishing herself to be able to practice law in multiple countries.

Coming from Campo Grande, Brazil, English is Maymone’s second language, but she thrives in situations where she can learn and grow. She has self-published two fiction books in English and is working on her third, making her more eager to study entrepreneurship to make her ideas—like her books—come to life.

I chose Leeds for many reasons, but one of them is that there were numerous opportunities to make a positive impact. At Leeds, it feels like students are the ones who get to create their own path.

Maria Julia Maymone (Bus’29) is no stranger to blazing her own trail. A native of Brazil, she has already written two books and is on her third, and she aims to graduate in three years to pursue a global career in corporate law.

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Chenhui Qu (PhD’30)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:46:23 +0000

Chenhui Qu (PhD’30) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 09/24/2025 - 10:46

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Chenhui Qu
Major: PhD in Operations Management
Hometown: Yantai, Shandong, China

Chenhui Qu studied management science and engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and graduated from Wuhan University of Technology with a bachelor's degree in information management and information systems.

So, what made her choose CU Boulder? The vibrant academic culture and extremely supportive faculty at Leeds were the key factors. The high bar set by her peers in the program has pushed her to work hard and do her best consistently, inspiring her to achieve more. In just a short while after starting at Leeds, she has already made incredible friends, joining her peers in everything from hiking Chatauqua to eating at the Center for Community as a group. She also finds that the friendly competition at Leeds keeps each of them on their toes, eager for the next challenge.

Qu is currently working with Professor Rui Zhang, whose mentorship has been a defining factor in her academic journey, motivating her to produce work she is proud of. Under his guidance, she is delving into topics she is passionate about, such as transportation optimization, and has received invaluable support every step of the way.

Leeds’ strong research culture—courses, seminars and conversations with excellent scholars—has broadened my horizons and confirmed my academic path.

Chenhui Qu came from China to pursue her PhD, and from day one she has found invaluable support every step of the way to thrive in the Leeds community.

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Rebecca Slezak (MBA’27)

Jane Majkiewicz — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:56:01 +0000

Rebecca Slezak (MBA’27) Jane Majkiewicz Tue, 09/23/2025 - 11:56

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Rebecca Slezak
Major: Master's in Business Administration
Hometown: Mahomet, Illinois

Rebecca Slezak is excited to be back in school to get her MBA, but she’s not exactly “going back”—she was already here. As an adjunct professor teaching photography for the past nine months in the Journalism Department of the College of Communication, Media, Design, and Information, she felt that becoming a CU student was a “natural transition,” as she already loved the campus culture and compelling opportunities within Leeds.

What excites Slezak the most? The diverse group of peers in the MBA cohort. She looks forward to learning from and learning with them.

Her goal: to become a creative director or marketing director. She has already started thinking about the type of leader she’d like to be, drawing upon her natural tendency to put herself in others’ shoes and advocate for them. Matched with her personal goals of creating a healthy work-life balance in her future career, the MBA program is making that goal feel more achievable than ever.

It really feels like we’re all in this together and that I can ask anyone within the group for help if I have questions.

Rebecca Slezak (MBA’27) was already at CU Bolder as an adjunct professor in the journalism department, but pursuing her MBA at Leeds is bringing her closer to her dream of becoming a marketing or creative director.

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Shannon Laird (PhD’30)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:38:25 +0000

Shannon Laird (PhD’30) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 09/10/2025 - 16:38

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Shannon Laird
PhD: Business Administration and Accounting
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

For Shannon Laird, coming to Leeds was one of the easiest decisions she’s made in a long time. After working as both an auditor and an accounting director, she arrived on campus for her interview and immediately felt the pull to choose Boulder. She met the faculty and students with whom she would share her next five years, instantly recognized the opportunities, and felt an overwhelming sense of community. It just felt right.

Family ties made the choice even easier. Some of her family members attended CU and are loyal Buffs. They still live in the area, allowing Laird to dive into her program knowing she has a built-in community cheering her on.

Looking forward (when she’s not busy working and listening to her favorite Taylor Swift songs), Laird aspires to become a mentor for future accountants, inspired by the incredible mentors she encountered during her undergraduate and master’s programs. She knows that the next five years will be transformative, both professionally and personally. She can’t wait to see where it all leads.

It’s definitely not an easy admission process getting into the PhD program, and imposter syndrome can take over if you let it, so I think just making it here and moving to Boulder is something to be proud of.

Shannon Laird is proud to be a part of Leeds' PhD program and is ready to face the next five years with perseverance, curiosity and excitement.

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Alex Corren (MRelEst’26)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:14:08 +0000

Alex Corren (MRelEst’26) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 09/10/2025 - 16:14

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Alex Corren
Major: Real Estate
Hometown: Rollinsville, Colorado

For Alex Corren (MRelEst’26), Leeds is the hub that will bring his vision of developing regenerative communities at scale to life. With a background in regenerative community development and entrepreneurship, he sought the financial modeling skills and clear business strategy needed to attract the necessary capital for what are ultimately complex real estate projects. The ability to collaborate with the Klump Center for Real Estate and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship was a draw, as he saw it as the perfect way to balance academic curriculum with industry exposure.

Having lived in the Boulder area since 2016, he has befriended CU Boulder graduates who have raved about the school’s robust network and ecosystem. Corren aspires to graduate from Leeds equipped to reach his long-term goal of building communities that have a social impact. For him, that means channeling more investment money into local projects that heal environments and strengthen communities. He wants to create an environment where every resident can thrive.

Corren doesn’t just preach environmental awareness, he practices it: In the mountains west of Boulder, he has already built his own sustainable home. He designed it to incorporate passive solar features, using eco-blocks made from 85 percent recycled woodchips and upcycled windows and doors.

Coming from an entrepreneurship background into the real estate master’s program, Leeds’ Centers of Excellence create the perfect bridge between my past experience and future goals. The programming from these centers creates ample opportunities to fine-tune the student experience.

Alex Corren arrived at Leeds to pursue his master's in real estate, with a vision to create regenerative communities with positive social, financial and environmental impacts.

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Roberto Araujo-Rodriguez (Bus’29)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:37:24 +0000

Roberto Araujo-Rodriguez (Bus’29) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 09/10/2025 - 15:37

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Roberto Araujo-Rodriguez
Major: Business Administration/Entrepreneurship
Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Roberto Araujo-Rodriguez first heard of the Leeds School of Business through his high school counselor. He was impressed with the competitive nature and environment that Leeds has. Even before college, Araujo-Rodriguez had stepped into the world of entrepreneurship by founding his own car detailing company. When business was slow, he invested in social media advertisements through Instagram and Google. After using paid advertising, he noticed that his company’s metrics increased and popularity skyrocketed. Now at Leeds, he is eager to deepen his understanding of the fundamentals required to build and manage a business.

Araujo-Rodriguez is already laying the groundwork for his future franchises by building small daily habits and sharpening his discipline. He wants to learn how to improve his time management skills, understanding that building small habits each day will help him in the long run. After graduating from Leeds, he aspires to create a Mexican luxury restaurant and turn it into a franchise. Menu ideas? Well, he can eat an entire watermelon by himself ... as long as there’s Tajin [seasoning blend]!

I’m trying not to get too distracted by my goals and future plans. I want to keep a disciplined mindset, ambition and respect. I believe these will help me in the long run.

Roberto Araujo-Rodriguez already has a car detailing business—and he's ready to use his education to lay the groundwork for his next business dreams.

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Snapshots

Richard L. Wobbekind (MEcon’79, PhD’84)

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

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