A Conversation with Dean Sara Thompson

Programs: Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship

Connecting the university’s resources to public needs across Colorado has been part of Continuing Education’s mission since it began as University Extension more than a century ago.

From offering lectures, courses and degree programs across the state to creating outreach centers that became independent colleges and universities, Continuing Education has powerfully influenced the development of higher education and public life in Colorado.

This role continues today under the leadership of Sara Thompson, who in 2015 became the dean of Continuing Education and the vice provost for Outreach and Engagement and Summer Session. She brings more than 20 years of experience building academic programs that meet the needs of students and communities in innovative ways.

Thompson recently sat down and shared the intriguing history of Continuing Education, a division that has been at the forefront of CU Boulder’s public outreach and community engagement efforts. Read her full interview on the Public Outreach and Community Engagement’s website.