Giving in Action

Spruce Gulch land gift enhances future ecological and academic studies at CU Boulder

Megan Maneval — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:41:33 +0000

Spruce Gulch land gift enhances future ecological and academic studies at CU Boulder Megan Maneval Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:41

Jessica Winter

CU Boulder has received a momentous 476-acre land gift, the Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve, alongside endowment funds to support ecological and academic work at the site. Donated by Linda Holubar Sanabria (A&S鈥�67), the gifts are valued at a combined total of $10.4 million and managed by the university鈥檚 Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). INSTAAR鈥檚 faculty and students have conducted research at the Spruce Gulch Reserve for almost 25 years, and the gifts will support current and future on-site studies across the sciences, humanities and fine arts.

The donated land, located in Boulder County, was previously owned by Holubar鈥檚 family for almost 100 years. Holubar鈥檚 grandmother, Irma Freudenberg, purchased part of it in 1927, and Holubar鈥檚 parents, Alice (A&S鈥�33) and LeRoy Holubar (ElEngr鈥�36), expanded it. The site was once hunting grounds for Indigenous peoples like the Arapaho, but later sustained mining and logging operations, grazing and agriculture, plus wildfires and floods.

After inheriting the land in 1994 and managing it as a natural reserve since 2001, Holubar and her spouse, Sergio Sanabria (A&S鈥�66; Arch鈥�70; MArtHist鈥�75), concluded a conservation easement with the county prior to donating the site to CU Boulder. The wildlife reserve and endowment funds were officially transferred to the university on June 24.

鈥淥ur gift to the university was conditional on the easement and additional preservation terms,鈥� said Holubar. 鈥淗aving grown up on this land and having it be a part of my family for almost a century, I view it as my heart and soul and want nothing more than to protect it.鈥�

The donations consolidate Holubar鈥檚 dedication to environmental conservation and CU Boulder鈥檚 long-standing relationship with the wildlife reserve.

鈥淭he Spruce Gulch property has had a real impact on CU Boulder research studies over the years, and it鈥檚 inspiring to consider the ways in which this will continue to grow,鈥� said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. 鈥淭hrough her land and endowment gifts, Linda Holubar is fostering hands-on learning opportunities and strengthening the university as a leading research institution.鈥�

A symbiotic friendship

For nearly 25 years, CU Boulder has carried out ecological research studies on the Spruce Gulch Reserve, led by ecology and evolutionary biology Professor Emeritus Tim Seastedt from INSTAAR. The university鈥檚 symbiotic relationship with the land began in 2001, when Holubar contacted Seastedt for assistance with an invasive plant on the land.

鈥淢y lab had just reported the results of a successful demonstration project, in which biological control insects could reduce densities of a particular weed infestation,鈥� said Seastedt. 鈥淭hose using this approach saved thousands of dollars in management costs.鈥�

At the time, a similar plant was dominating over 50 acres of the Spruce Gulch Reserve. Seastedt and his lab group thought they could help while avoiding the use of toxic herbicides, which would have contaminated the drinking water and wells.

鈥淟inda鈥檚 enthusiasm and persistence to use non-chemical management approaches was inspiring,鈥� said Seastedt. 鈥淲e organized volunteer groups to assist our insects and set up monitoring plots where the only treatment was the presence of the insects. The projects were often a lot of fun, empowering and certainly good exercise.鈥�

Over time, and with the assistance of volunteer weeding efforts, the project proved successful and Holubar agreed to CU Boulder conducting more experiments on the property. As of early 2025, the Spruce Gulch site has aided CU faculty and students in research for 29 scholarly publications, plus chapters in six doctoral dissertations, three master鈥檚 theses and four undergraduate honors theses.

Volunteers from a co-sponsored U.S. Forest Service event remove invasive spotted knapweed from an upland meadow on the Spruce Gulch Reserve. (Photo: Tim Seastedt)

鈥淔ield ecologists don鈥檛 pass up opportunities to leverage a new field site, and this one is special,鈥� said Seastedt, who serves as director of the reserve.

The varied landscape of the wildlife reserve includes canyons and cliffs intermixed with forest, savanna and prairie meadows. In addition to offering multiple research opportunities, the land also provides 鈥渟olitude and adventure,鈥� said Seastedt.

Land of possibilities

While CU Boulder has primarily used the property for ecology studies, the gifts open new educational possibilities across disciplines.

鈥淪ergio was a professor of architecture for 42 years and understood the necessity of weaving many disciplines into his teaching,鈥� said Holubar. 鈥淚t seemed particularly important to extend that approach to a research site where ecology would be a central discipline. We wanted to discourage an inevitable disciplinary blindness by opening the site to as many different world views as possible.鈥�

Holubar鈥檚 long-term vision for the wildlife reserve is that its complex landscape offers intellectual and creative opportunities across the university. The reserve and its endowment will enrich and support studies by academics of many departments鈥攆rom biologists to visual artists. CU affiliates and other local organizations can inquire with Seastedt about research, education and conservation initiatives and opportunities on the land, which is not open to the public.

The endowment will mainly fund student and faculty research projects, and it will also aid in the maintenance of access trails and the future construction of a modest educational center and research support facility.

Through her gifts, Holubar hopes CU Boulder will steward her family鈥檚 legacy of environmentalism into the future.

鈥淭he history of CU鈥檚 environmental efforts includes some of the largest and most significant contributions to our understanding of high-elevation systems,鈥� said Seastedt. 鈥淭he acquisition of Spruce Gulch now allows us to pursue essential science relevant to the grasslands and foothills region, where most of us live. Therein lies the magnitude of this gift.鈥�

To learn more about the Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve, or to inquire about research and conservation opportunities on the land, visit the INSTAAR Spruce Gulch Reserve webpage.

Reference the Alumni Association's degree abbreviations.

Preserving a century of family legacy, a transformative $10.4 million land and endowment gift will turn CU Boulder's Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve into a living laboratory for generations of scholars, scientists and artists.

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Employer gift matching multiplies donor impact

Megan Maneval — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:06:40 +0000

Employer gift matching multiplies donor impact Megan Maneval Thu, 08/07/2025 - 09:06

Employer gift matching empowers CU Boulder donors to double their impact through simple, yet transformative giving.

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$10M investment to invigorate sustainability education at CU Boulder

Megan Maneval — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:47:50 +0000

$10M investment to invigorate sustainability education at CU Boulder Megan Maneval Tue, 08/05/2025 - 12:47

Left to right: Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock, alumnus and donor Spike Buckley, and Chancellor Justin Schwartz at the signing ceremony.

A $10 million gift from a CU Boulder alumnus will transform the way sustainability is taught at CU Boulder鈥攅mpowering students and faculty to create a more environmentally sustainable future in the face of a changing climate.

Through a venture-style investment designed for rapid impact, the gift from Spike Buckley will establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education. Buckley鈥檚 donation will provide $2 million annually for the next five years to implement a robust sustainability curriculum across campus, advance faculty impact and educate students for a more sustainable future.

鈥淐U Boulder is already a powerhouse in sustainability and climate research,鈥� said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. 鈥淪pike's remarkably generous gift will allow us to better support the growing number of students across disciplines who are seeking the knowledge, skills and experiences to lead and thrive in a rapidly changing world.鈥�

Investing in a more sustainable future

Universities play a key role in helping students engage with the environmental challenges shaping our future. The new Buckley Center for Sustainability Education will guide this work at CU Boulder, providing resources to students, faculty and staff to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their ability to integrate sustainability into the curriculum.

In this way, the center will help respond to the growing demand for sustainability education and support students in their pursuit of meaningful work.

Through course development, teaching collaborations, learning modules and tech tools, the center will create best practices and offer support for integrating sustainability concepts into courses across campus. The center will also support faculty in effectively teaching sustainability concepts鈥攆or example, through a fellowships program, curriculum ambassadors, professional development and recognition for outstanding sustainability educators.

鈥淭he Buckley Center will use a hub-and-spoke approach to accelerate this work, serving as the central coordinator for sustainability-related curricular efforts on campus,鈥� said Andrew Mayock, CU Boulder鈥檚 vice chancellor for sustainability.

鈥淏y fostering a collaborative and dynamic environment for learning, research and real-world application, the center will not only prepare students to tackle environmental challenges but empower them to lead global solutions.鈥�

Lastly, all students on campus will have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning, civic engagement, career pathways and leadership development related to sustainability, including through a new, competitive Buckley Scholars Program for students committed to sustainability work.

CU Boulder is uniquely equipped to continue its leadership role in sustainability education. By combining its legacy of environmental leadership鈥攊ncluding its fifth STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education鈥攚ith world-renowned research institutes, academic programs and local partners, the university is an ideal hub for advancing innovative learning.

鈥淭he impact of these efforts will resonate around the world, preparing graduates who are equipped to shape a sustainable future for all,鈥� Mayock said.

A legacy of impact

Spike Buckley is a proud graduate of CU Boulder鈥檚 economics program and a successful real estate redeveloper with four decades of experience across the U.S. and Canada. A longtime environmental philanthropist and advocate, Buckley founded the nonprofit Earth鈥檚 Call Fund in 2019 and One Earth Philanthropy in 2021 to help discover and fund climate solutions.

He has been recognized for his leadership in climate action, including with the Earth Legacy Leadership Award from the American Renewable Energy Day Summit in 2019. He has also served on the boards of several organizations focused on climate, public health and technology, and actively supports a wide range of environmental and conservation causes.

Buckley's gift to establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education underscores his confidence and commitment to advancing education in areas critical to the planet鈥檚 future.

鈥淭hanks to recent initiatives, events and awards, CU finds itself uniquely positioned to take a leadership role among universities in the drive toward a more sustainable world,鈥� said Buckley. 鈥淚t is my fervent hope that CU students, faculty and alumni will ultimately see the Center for Sustainability Education as their vehicle to make the world a better place for future generations.鈥�

This gift is part of CU Boulder鈥檚 strategic vision and investments in a more sustainable future. For more information, visit colorado.edu/sustainability.

Sustainability at CU Boulder

Recognition and rankings

First university to earn and maintain a STARS Gold rating for five consecutive cycles

Ranked 11th in the U.S. for sustainability by QS World University Rankings (2024)

Top five global rankings in earth and atmospheric sciences

Pioneering achievements

First U.S. campus with a student-run Environmental Center (1970)

Launched the nation鈥檚 first campus recycling program (1976)

Among the first universities to commit to carbon neutrality (2007)

First major college football stadium with a zero-waste program

First university to sign the UN鈥檚 Sports for Climate Change Action Framework

Academic and research leadership

Sustainability to be integrated across all colleges and schools through the Sustainable Futures Common Curriculum

Home to leading institutes and centers like CIRES, RASEI, INSTAAR, LASP, IBS and NSIDC

Strong national and global research collaborations with federal labs, NGOs and industry partners

Established the campus-wide Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI) in 2024

Climate action and innovation

Climate Action Plan targets 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050

Investments in solar, geothermal and electric fleet upgrades

Zero-waste and net-zero initiatives in athletics facilities

Eliminated single-use beverage plastics on campus (2025)

National leadership and partnerships

Founding member of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3)

Member of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

Co-hosted the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with the UN (2022)

Transformative gift to help elevate Leeds School community, mission

Megan Maneval — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:25:25 +0000

Transformative gift to help elevate Leeds School community, mission Megan Maneval Mon, 07/21/2025 - 09:25

A significant gift to the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder will expand experiential learning, enhance student success and mental health, and support faculty excellence鈥攁ll in service of the mission to elevate business as a force for good.

鈥淭his transformative gift to Leeds expands experiential learning for students, empowering them with real-world opportunities,鈥� said Chancellor Justin Schwartz.

鈥淭his investment aligns with CU Boulder's broader applied education initiatives across campus, providing tomorrow鈥檚 leaders with access to a broad toolkit of resources for their academic and professional success.鈥�

Amplifying experiential learning

In honor of his mentor and friend, CU Boulder alumni John Cumming and the Cumming Foundation are launching the Nicholas Dante Badami Office for Experiential Learning. The new, high-impact initiative will bring together and amplify existing experiential efforts, serving as a hub to strengthen student career outcomes, foster leadership and entrepreneurial mindsets, and ensure professional readiness, better equipping students for lifelong success.

Cumming鈥檚 desire to advance experiential learning stems from Badami鈥檚 guidance and his own professional experiences.

鈥淣ick used to say, 鈥楳anagement starts where the fingertips end,鈥欌€� said Cumming. 鈥淲hat he meant by that was that management is not just formulaic. It鈥檚 not just what is in the job description. It is human.

鈥淚 also took it to mean that it requires enhanced EQ [emotional intelligence]...To know how to manage people, I had to have interpersonal relationships and experiences, and I had to navigate existing human organizations. I worked in every department, in every location, with different managers, in different roles, and I learned that the job description wasn鈥檛 the only parameter for success.鈥�

Experiential learning deepens students鈥� understanding of the concepts learned in the classroom and how that knowledge can be applied to careers. Through project-based engagements, students will work in dynamic environments to learn to solve challenges and develop skills that empower them to contribute in professional settings on day one of their careers.

鈥溌槎挂� will gain invaluable real-world experiences that deepen their learning, broaden their perspectives and prepare them to lead with confidence, empathy and purpose,鈥� said Vijay Khatri, Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean at the Leeds School of Business. 鈥淭his gift will help close the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world impact, shaping the future of business education.鈥�

Business faculty and student excellence

In addition to supporting the new Office for Experiential Learning, the Cumming Foundation鈥檚 donation will establish programs that promote well-being and community within Leeds, with a special emphasis on mental health initiatives that foster connection and belonging.

Lastly, the investment will establish two endowed faculty professorships and four fellowships for faculty whose work advances high-impact, cross-disciplinary education in the business school.

These roles strengthen CU Boulder and Leeds鈥� ability to attract top-tier educators and students while maintaining a reputation for academic excellence. Having exceptional faculty means students can obtain a high-quality education with engaged mentors.

This holistic focus on the student experience, including experiential learning, reinforces CU Boulder鈥檚 standing as a national leader in applied business education.

Impactful year for Leeds

Read more impact stories

This transformational gift marks the culmination of Leeds鈥� best-ever fundraising year, totaling a record-breaking $41.6 million. That total includes a $15 million gift last fall to establish the Klump Center for Real Estate and support student wellness鈥攑art of the inspiration for the Cumming Foundation鈥檚 own donation.

Cumming is the founder and chairman of POWDR, an adventure lifestyle company. With his foundation鈥檚 gift, he honors his mentor Nicholas Dante Badami by naming the new Office of Experiential Learning and associated endowed funds after him.

A pioneering figure in the ski industry and former chairman of the United States Ski Association, Badami shared Cumming鈥檚 passion for the outdoors and experiential learning. He played a key role in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and was later inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

The Cumming family鈥檚 generosity amplifies CU Boulder鈥檚 commitment to experiential education and student success. The foundation's transformative gift will strengthen the university鈥檚 leadership in applied learning鈥攅nsuring students graduate with the skills, experience and confidence to thrive in the job market and lead in the business world.

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Supporting future business and engineering leaders by paying it forward

Megan Maneval — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:06:07 +0000

Supporting future business and engineering leaders by paying it forward Megan Maneval Wed, 07/02/2025 - 12:06

Terry and Charlotte Quarton turned their gratitude into impact by creating a scholarship fund at CU Boulder. Through tax-wise giving, they support future business and engineering leaders.

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New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration

Megan Maneval — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:30:44 +0000

New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration Megan Maneval Mon, 06/23/2025 - 13:30

A $2.5 million donation will establish a new endowed professorship in space policy and law, with broad implications for national security, global communications, navigation, weather forecasting and international collaboration.

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Jazz swings forward at CU Boulder thanks to Thompson endowment

Megan Maneval — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:17:06 +0000

Jazz swings forward at CU Boulder thanks to Thompson endowment Megan Maneval Thu, 04/10/2025 - 13:17

In the fall, alumni and longtime donors Jack and Jeannie Thompson expanded their endowment, adding a vocal jazz degree option to the Thompson Jazz Studies Program in CU Boulder鈥檚 College of Music.

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Buffs All In鈥攖omorrow鈥檚 the day!

Megan Maneval — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:47:39 +0000

Buffs All In鈥攖omorrow鈥檚 the day! Megan Maneval Wed, 03/05/2025 - 07:47

March 6 is CU Boulder鈥檚 annual giving day. When you give, it shows your belief in the life-changing work that happens here. Be part of Buffs All In鈥檚 collective impact.

Plus: Don鈥檛 miss the chance to celebrate with the Buffs community. Stop by Farrand Field from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy free games, giveaways and food. Together, we鈥檙e all in.

Explore different causes and donate today!

Tomorrow is CU Boulder鈥檚 annual giving day. When you give, it shows your belief in the life-changing work that happens here. Be part of Buffs All In鈥檚 collective impact.

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Every dollar counts: The impact of collective giving at CU Boulder

Megan Maneval — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:50:06 +0000

Every dollar counts: The impact of collective giving at CU Boulder Megan Maneval Wed, 02/12/2025 - 09:50

When it comes to philanthropy, it鈥檚 easy to get caught up in the multimillion-dollar donations that often make headlines. While these gifts are undeniably transformative, every gift鈥攍arge and small鈥攁dds value.

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$1.9M bequest from CU sweethearts bolsters university鈥檚 art museum

Megan Maneval — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 21:17:23 +0000

$1.9M bequest from CU sweethearts bolsters university鈥檚 art museum Megan Maneval Mon, 02/10/2025 - 14:17

The CU Boulder Art Museum has received the largest philanthropic gift in its history: a $1.9 million investment reflecting a couple鈥檚 love of art and acknowledging the museum鈥檚 significance to the campus community.

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Giving in Action

Spruce Gulch land gift enhances future ecological and academic studies at CU Boulder

A symbiotic friendship

Land of possibilities

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