About Us

At CU Denver GES, we believe that a truly resilient world requires a vast range of viewpoints and experiences. We are dedicated to being a home where students from all walks of life—first-generation scholars, working professionals, and community leaders—find the support they need to excel. GES is built on the principle of accessibility, ensuring that every student has hands-on access to our high-tech spatial labs and outdoor research initiatives. By fostering an environment of mutual respect and shared discovery, we empower a new generation of scientists and geographers to build a sustainable and thriving future for every community.

At CU Denver GES, our ‘urban laboratory’ is not a one-way street; it is a space for collaborative discovery. We believe the most impactful geography and environmental science happens when students and faculty work alongside community members to solve real-world problems. Our department is committed to community-engaged teaching that takes students beyond the classroom and into the city. Through participatory research, ranging from monitoring local air quality to campus-based beekeeping initiatives, we ensure our scientific work is informed by local knowledge and directly contributes to the health and vitality of the neighborhoods we call home.

We honor and acknowledge that CU Denver is situated upon the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute nations. We also acknowledge that this land served as communal and ceremonial spaces for more than 48 Indigenous nations. As these words of acknowledgement are spoken and heard, let us acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory and pay our respect to the diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land.