A life of service, continued
Sifting through the mementos of her mother’s life, Continuing Education advisor Ann Herrmann made an unexpected discovery.
Nestled in a pile of forgotten papers was Nancy Denman’s resume from 1979.
“I literally picked up her resume and started to cry because my mom did the work that I do and I had no idea. So it was really emotional,” said Herrmann. “It's hugely validating and interesting to have these connections with my mom. I knew we were inspired by similar things, like helping people and being of service, but I didn't know the details of her career trajectory. But to have such similar paths, and not even realize it, that's amazing.”
Though Denman passed away in 2020, Herrmann is just now coming to understand that some paths run parallel despite the decades that separate them.
Denman came of age in the 1950s, when she—and countless other young women—faced immense societal pressure to settle down and build the perfect nuclear family.
Nancy Denman, pictured during her years of professional service, in an undated image.
A prevailing stereotype of the time was that women went to college to get a “M.R.S.” degree—shorthand for securing a husband rather than obtaining an education.
Inquisitive and curious by nature, Denman chafed against those expectations, valuing a degree and a career before starting a family.
She earned a bachelor’s from William Jewell College in 1953 and a master’s in counseling from Indiana University in 1957—an uncommon achievement for women at the time.
Her career soon moved into leadership roles supporting women and families. In 1957, she became assistant dean of women at the University of Oregon, then worked as a childcare caseworker in 1959 before returning that same year to an assistant dean of women role at Denison University.
After reaching significant professional milestones, she pivoted, with motherhood becoming her primary occupation in 1962. She welcomed son Brian, followed by twins Ann and Courtney in 1963.
While raising children and supporting her husband’s career, Denman continued helping others and modeled a commitment to service at home. She encouraged her children to serve others in organizations like the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.
This philanthropic spirit followed the family to the University of Colorado Boulder in 1973. There, Denman—always passionate about higher education and women’s access to it—became involved with The Mini College for Women.
The Mini-College for Women was a groundbreaking program administered by the Division of Continuing Education for women ages 25 and older who had life experience and needed a low-barrier entry into the world of higher education.
Courses met once a week, making participation manageable for women balancing work and family. In addition to a low-commitment class schedule, students were given a range of support services, including scholarship opportunities, a dedicated coordinator and counselor, library tours, non-credit course options and a simplified registration procedure wherein students simply had to show up to the first class and pay their registration fee.
Leaning on her master’s degree in counseling and career experiences, Denman became the program’s dedicated counselor and a go-to support system for the women, taking the time to listen to each woman’s reasons for pursuing her education before empowering her with tailored resources.
While Denman left the program in 1974 when she and her family moved to Arkansas, her influence endured, especially in Herrmann.
With her mother continuing her volunteer work in organizations such as the Developmental Child Care Association—a group which organized after-school centers and an infant care center for university students—Herrmann began making her own way, returning to CU Boulder as a psychology student.
Naturally drawn to positions of service, Herrmann joined numerous campus organizations like student government and residence life.
After graduating, Herrmann planned to become a counselor in a mental health treatment center for emotionally abused children in Denver, Colorado. She worked with dozens of children, finding the work hugely important but also mentally taxing.
Searching for a new calling, Herrmann stumbled upon a student affairs class at Colorado State University.
“Day one in the class, I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is it. These are my people,’” said Herrmann. “I figured out that I wanted to work in higher education and I wanted to work with students who are just struggling with the normal day-to-day stuff.”
After earning her master’s in education in student affairs in higher education at Colorado State University, Herrmann came back to CU Boulder, this time landing at Career Services as a career counselor.
“When I entered the field of higher education, my mom thought it was a natural fit,” said Herrmann. “She was always very encouraging and supportive, and growing up seeing her self-validation inspired me to pursue my own goals.”
For over 21 years, Herrmann helped countless students, advising them about their resources and career opportunities as well as supervising career development advisors.
Meanwhile, Denman filled her retirement with new volunteer opportunities in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“She was very engaged in the community, managing four or five different volunteer positions at one time, but she was also usually the leader of things,” said Herrmann. “She coordinated Light Up a Life, a fundraiser and an event to honor people who died in hospice and it was a huge success. She just very quietly led things that made a huge impact.”
Denman continued to be of service to others well into her 80s until her health caught up to her, prompting a move back to Colorado to be closer to Herrmann.
Ann Herrmann, advisor for the Division of Continuing Education, pictured in 2025 as she continues a legacy of supporting adult learners.
“I was about ready to make a change in my career at the time. I also needed the capacity to be able to deal with my parents’ health issues, so I was going to step out of my leadership role and do something different,” said Herrmann. “Then my mom went into hospice a week before COVID-19 started.”
On the Friday before lockdowns began, Herrmann received a fateful email in her mother’s final hours of life.
The email, sent from an advising colleague, urged Herrmann to apply for an academic advisor role in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at CU Boulder—marking the beginning of a new chapter and the end of another.
“The whole week after my mom passed, I worked on my resume and cover letter. I know it's what my mom would want me to do,” said Herrmann. “So that's what I did—and I got the job.”
Herrmann worked as an academic advisor before pivoting to become an advisor for the Finish What You Started program—a federal initiative administered by the Division of Continuing Education and designed to support students who paused their education and wanted to return—in 2022.
In this role, Herrmann helped empower students whose lives and circumstances interrupted their education to accomplish their goals and eventually earn their degrees—continuing the work her mother did over 50 years ago.
Today, as she approaches her retirement, Herrmann is able to take a look back at her career with fresh perspective. Now, she not only sees her own track record of helping others, she sees how her mother was with her every step of the way.
Because the deepest connection she has to Denman is not an item or a story. It is her work, an enduring legacy carried forward through the decades.
If you are interested in returning to school and completing your degree, Continuing Education offers CU Complete, a degree completion scholarship program to help eligible students finish their undergraduate degrees. Learn more or schedule an appointment to speak with an advisor.
