Tucked away in a tiny corner of northwest Denver, Regis University might just be an afterthought to a lot of people who call the metro area home. Worse, there might be people who aren’t even aware of this jewel in the crown of Colorado higher education. But, said incoming Regis President Salvador Aceves, the University’s job isn’t to have the biggest tailgate parties or best football team—it has neither—but simply to continue turning out 21st century scholars and leaders.

Aceves, who will officially assume the presidency of this historic university on January 1st, has no plans to radically alter the school’s formula for success. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to make a good school even better.

Already known for its business, nursing, and pharmacy schools as well as its world class on-line education programs, Aceves wants to elevate the Regis University profile to a whole new level. Of course, among American colleges, the Jesuit system is already an established gold standard with such institutions as Creighton, Loyola of Chicago, Boston College, Holy Cross and the University of San Francisco to name just a few.

The Denver school has also produced its share of famous graduates, among them current Colorado Lieutenant Governor Diana Primavera, Congresswoman-elect Dr. Yadira Caraveo, the late Colorado Governor Steve McNichols, Richard Cabela, founder of the eponymous outdoor sporting and recreational supply store, Cabela’s, political pundit Campbell Brown and Saturday Night Live alum and movie star Bill Murray.

Regis University, both the latest and the permanent name of the university, was named for Saint John Francis Regis, a 17th century Jesuit priest. Its Colorado roots were planted in 1884 as Sacred Heart College, the progeny of Las Vegas College. Its original Colorado location was in Morrison. Sacred Heart and Las Vegas College would merge in 1921 and become known as Regis College. It became Regis University in 1991

Regis University, said Aceves, has long been known as a school for underrepresented students. Over its history, he said, the school has been known “as a destination for Irish, Italian, and Eastern European immigrants…over the years, many looked to Regis College to educate their children.” Building upon this rich legacy, Aceves said the school, because of its growing

Latino student population, may soon be designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. An HSI institution is a school that has at least 25 percent full-time students who are Hispanic. As of 2020-21, Regis has a full-time Hispanic enrollment of 28.2 percent. As an HSI, Regis would be eligible for grants to provide opportunities for Latino students.

The Jesuits have a long, rich and sometimes controversial history in the church though today’s rank and file Jesuits are considerably more conventional than many in centuries past.

Today’s Jesuits are often identified with education and social commitment. Pope Francis, the current head of the Catholic Church, is the first Jesuit pope.

Though an academic and not a priest, Aceves aligns well with the Jesuit philosophy. He comes from parents who left Mexico in the fifties and made San Francisco their home. After arriving, his mother worked first in a Planters Peanuts warehouse but later taught elementary school. His father worked in factories, including one that manufactured whiskey.

Over the course of his career, Aceves has worked in the classroom and in administration. His specialty is accounting and finance. Prior to his appointment as Regis president, he served as the school’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He has held the position since 2014.

Though the work of a university president demands a clear-eyed focus on the mission of the school, there is also an element of legacy associated with the job. “What I am most interested in,” said Aceves, “is honoring the legacy of Regis and ensuring that it continues to be a force for good in the community.”

Just as the Jesuits whose guiding philosophy is to give aid and comfort to those most in need, Aceves is committed to be “sensitive to those living at the margins and do that in a way that helps us reimagine the role higher education plays in our society.”

While Regis is a Catholic university and many of its students identify as Catholic, things are changing on campus and across the country as they relate to matters of faith. Polls taken over the recent past show that a growing number of Americans no longer identify as members of an organized religion. Despite this trend, Aceves sees no change in the way students are educated at Regis.

“Regis welcomes people of Catholic and all faiths. We want to become an institution that really helps people understand spirituality at a personal level.” “I truly believe that there is a place for a high-quality Jesuit Catholic education…it will keep us relevant and impactful.”

When he is away from his official duties, Aceves enjoys something that has stayed with him from childhood when his parents always had the radio on and playing music. “I am very much wedded to music,” he said.

“It’s something that has been part of my life from a very early age.” He calls music an extension of the beauty of humanity. The California native says his favorite artists come from the golden age of soloists, including Frank Sinatra. As a nod to the culture in his family’s home, he is also a long time and forever fan of Mexican music.

Aceves is married to a person he first met when they were fifth grade students in San Francisco. “We formed a deep friendship that turned into marriage.” He and his wife, Carol, reside in Denver.

CU Denver welcomed graduates and their families to the Colorado Convention Center this past Saturday, December 17 to celebrate their academic achievements. This fall’s class ushered in a new era by graduating just before the university celebrates its 50th anniversary on January 11. They serve as a bridge from the first 50 years to the next half-century.

More than 1,300 students graduated from CU Denver between summer and fall 2022 with more than 700 students earning bachelor’s degrees, close to 600 students earning master’s degrees, and 29 graduating with a PhD/ED. They came from throughout Colorado as well as 30 states across the country and 11 nations around the world. Roughly 44 percent of undergraduate graduates are first-generation students.

Attending CU Denver is life-changing, both for the students and their families.

“These remarkable graduates will go on to be the leaders in their communities across Denver, Colorado, and the country,” said CU Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks. “For 50 years, CU Denver has produced change-makers, innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and so much more. And now, this final class of those first incredible 50 years will help usher in a new era of excellence for our university as they join the 110,000 CU Denver alumni who continue to have a profound impact on the social, economic, and political landscape of our world.”

Two such graduates are James Dolores, a bilingual teacher earning a Master of the Arts in Teaching, and Dania Maaliki, who plans to continue to medical school now that she is receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology along with a Psychology minor and Biochemistry certificate.

CU Denver appealed to Dolores because of its prime location in the heart of downtown Denver with a diverse student body and a strong LGBTQ+ community. He is a proud first-generation college graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.

Dolores is in his first year as a bilingual teacher at North High School in Denver where they are implementing the first Spanish language arts program.

As president of the Bilingual Education Students Organization at CU Denver for several years, he urges students to “Never lose your identity and be proud to use your native language no matter where you are.”

For Maaliki, being a Lynx runs deep for this Denver family. Her two older sisters graduated from CU Denver, and her younger brother is a current student. Her parents, immigrants from Palestine and Lebanon, are no strangers to the Auraria campus either, as they met while attending the neighboring Metropolitan State University of Denver.

While she was in middle school, Maaliki decided she wanted to go into medicine because of her family’s focus on community care.

“The Middle East is very communal; you take care of each other,” Maaliki said. “Growing up around that, it left a good mark in my mind…I have always wanted to take care of my community and people that are underserved.”

She knows not all immigrants have the opportunity to attend college and so she wants to continue the legacy of her parents.

About the University of Colorado Denver

The University of Colorado Denver is the state’s premier public urban research university and equity-serving institution. Globally connected and locally invested, CU Denver partners with future-focused learners and communities to design accessible, relevant, transformative educational experiences for every stage of life and career. Across seven schools and colleges in the heart of downtown Denver, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges through boundary-breaking innovation and impactful research, and creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. For more information, visit ucdenver.edu.