Staff and Executive Board
CU GOLD is run by professional and student staff, as well as a volunteer base of students who sit on the CU GOLD Executive Board. The Executive Board is instrumental in planning, implementing and facilitating all CU GOLD events and programs.
Do you want to improve your leadership skills and help run the Center for Student Involvement’s leadership development organization? If you have completed the CU GOLD Core Leadership Program, you are eligible to apply! For more information and an application, email cugold@colorado.edu.
Michel Jarjour
Director
Major: Neuroscience, Pre-Health
Minors: Spanish, Sports Media, Biochemistry
Certification:Spanish for the Healthcare ProfessionsÌý
Hometown: Lone Tree, COÌý
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
My favorite hobby in the world is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Besides that, I love Muay Thai, weightlifting, playing guitar and graphic design.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
My favorite part of CU GOLD is the continuous learning opportunities to grow as a leader! I know there is still so much I can learn about leadership, and I love that CU GOLD gives me the opportunity to keep learning and growing.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I want to go to medical school and become a surgeon. And a good surgeon needs to be a strong leader.Ìý
“Love and care! Thanks, and appreciate y’all! 😀â€Ìý
Patrick Simpson
Assistant DirectorÌý
Major: Neuroscience, Psychology
Minor: BiochemistryÌý
Hometown: Superior, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, wilderness medicine, guitar.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
CU GOLD is the only environment in which I connect with intelligent and inspiring individuals from a variety of unique backgrounds focused solely on leadership development, a skill most of us learn passively through a leadership position.Ìý
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I aspire to find a home in medicine and clinical research working to find innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes!Ìý
“Come join CU GOLD!â€Ìý
Will Conway
Marketing Specialist
Major: Biochemistry
Certificate: Political Science
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Fishing, basketball, tennis and going on adventures with my friends.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The ability to make deep, long-lasting connections with people in such a short time. The program teaches you so much about how to connect with people and I’ll always be grateful for that!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
Going to law school. My goal is to become a patent lawyer and hopefully work in litigation.
Dylan Dodds
Marketing Specialist
Major: Landscape Architecture
Hometown: Eagle, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
I enjoy anything outdoors, most of all camping and hiking. I also love to garden, dance and make weird art. I am also involved in the American Society of Landscape Architects through ENVD and Verve Dance.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The community and close relationships that form in club meetings and last forever.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I plan to gain practical field experience and move to Latin America to practice landscape architecture.
Tara McDaniel
CLP Facilitator & Marketing SpecialistÌý
Major: Psychology
Minor: Art
Hometown: Littleton, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
I like to bake, play video games, spend time outdoors, make art, play guitar and lift weights.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The community. As generic as that sounds, it is very important to have a healthy community. This program has a beautiful group of people who are the kindest group I’ve ever met.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I hope to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Hopefully, in a psychiatric ward.
Josephine Orona
Facilitator
Major:Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Public Health
Hometown: Erie, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Oil painting, playing tennis, watching anime, modeling and being with my friends!ÌýÌý
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
I love being around people who want the same out of the world and each other. They all want to do their part to help others.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
Modeling and research.Ìý
“No matter how much or how often people hurt each other, loving someone is never a waste.â€Ìý
Sam Patten
Marketing Specialist
Major:Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Minors: Chinese, Public Health
Hometown: Aurora, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
I love to hike, lift weights, paint, paddleboard and hang out with my dogs!
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The welcoming community that allows everyone to not only feel accepted but also appreciated for who they are. I love that the community emphasizes growth and continuously pushes me to be my best self and the best leader I can be!
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I plan to continue pursuing my passion for science and medicine by either attending medical school or pursuing a PhD in biomedical science.Ìý
Brittany Phan
CLP Facilitator
Major: Integrative Physiology, Public Health
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Ft. Collins, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Cooking good food then eating said food, spending time with family and friends and exploring new places.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The community. I love seeing people learn from one another and cultivate an environment that fosters individual and community growth. Equally, the people I’ve had the privilege to meet and know through CU GOLD have inspired me to grow as both a leader and person.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
To work hard then play harder.
Larry Shan
ALP Facilitator
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Business
Hometown: Thornton, CO
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Running, pickleball.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
The people.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
Find a job, any job.Ìý
Josh Smith
CLP Facilitator
Major: Biomedical EngineeringÌý
Minor: Business, Biochemistry
Hometown: Grants Pass, OR
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Outside of learning cool things about science, I like to hike, ski, play piano, read/listen to good books and exercise.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
I was surprised when CU GOLD turned out to be not only a fun way to develop leadership abilities but also a tight-knit group of open-minded people who I look forward to seeing every week. It’s a great way to strengthen a productive mindset while making friends who are just as committed to grow themselves as individuals.
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I’ll (hopefully) be off to medical school and continuing my engineering education to advance the field of medicine.Ìý
Ben Weiss
Alumni Specialist
Major: NeuroscienceÌý
Minor:Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Hometown: Pacific Palisades, CA
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
In my free time I always love a good outdoor adventure, whether that be mountain biking, snowboarding, climbing or the occasional sunrise hike. Beyond that, I am a huge science nerd who plays guitar and enjoys philosophical conversations with friends.
What is your favorite part about CU GOLD?
Leadership is not easy, nor is it an independent process. The three features that make CU GOLD so effective in its efforts to develop interdependent leaders are the community, care and real-world impact that this organization facilitates. Every member of this community is here to grow themselves and improve their capacity to help others. That feeling is palpable whenever you meet a CU GOLD member, and it is evident by the tight knit relationships that CLP and ALP participants from wildly different backgrounds and perspectives forge.Ìý
What do you plan to do once you graduate?
I look forward to diving deeper into my research career and working on developing initiatives to help support a world where adolescent brain health is a community priority. Whether that looks like a gap year or jumping straight into grad school, I have yet to figure out.Ìý