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Alumni Spring Lecture - IS HERE!

We’re excited to announce this year's PLC Alumni Spring Lecture and invite you to reconnect with the PLC community!

📅 Tuesday, April 2 @ 6 PM
📍 CU Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Building, Room 220

This year’s lecture will feature Romain Sepehr Vakilitabar (PLC ’10), the founder of Pathos Labs and co-founder of the Watson Institute Boulder, Romain works at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and social impact. His talk, “Lead with Empathy. Change the World.” will explore how leaders can help build authentic human connections, navigate division, and harness the power of narrative in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Our last Spring Lecture has been a highlight for PLC alumni, and we hope to continue it by offering a chance to reconnect with fellow Buffs, celebrate our graduating seniors, and engage in a thought-provoking conversation with leaders making an impact in their fields. Register now with the link below.

Feel free to email Maneesh Gundluru, PLC's Alumni Relations Coordinator at ��maneesh.gundluru@colorado.edu with any questions regarding the event.

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Our second Buffs All In Giving Day is OFFICIALLY HERE! Buffs All In is an opportunity from March 1 - March 31 to give back to our campus community and to celebrate our philanthropic impact at 91��ý. Now is the time to make that special gift to the PLC and CU community to help sharpen our resources and tools for our growing buff community. Please consider supporting any of the PLC funds to help us continue to develop extraordinary leaders of character. Our current PLC funds include our academic (Douglas), experiential (Allen), or general use fund (PLC Fund). We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again soon (Hopefully at Spring Lecture)!

Support PLC!

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The PLC community is buzzing with energy as we move into one of our most exciting seasons of the year! ��Interviews for the PLC 26 cohort have just wrapped up. ��Each conversation reminds us why this program continues to grow and thrive: outstanding students are eager to join a community built on leadership, service, and connection.

Behind the scenes, our PLC Student Staff has been hard at work making this process possible. They recently completed Application Review (ARC) Day, dedicating their time to carefully reviewing applications and engaging in thoughtful discussions about the future of PLC. Their commitment and attention ensure that the next cohort will carry forward the values and spirit that make this program so special.

We are energized by the incredible students who are hoping to join PLC and can’t wait to welcome the next class of leaders into the community. At the same time, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many alumni who have stepped in to support the selection process. Your willingness to give your time, insights, and encouragement makes a meaningful difference. PLC has always been strengthened by the people who stay connected to it, and we are deeply grateful for your continued investment in the next generation of PLC leaders. Sko PLC!

Our first spotlight features Angela Thieman Dino, PLC class of 1988. Ang has built a career rooted in curiosity, justice, and a deep commitment to understanding people. Today, she serves as an instructor in 91��ý’s Engineering Leadership Program (ENLP), where she helps guide the next generation of leaders while continuing her work as a cultural anthropologist.

During her time as an undergraduate at CU, Ang spent much of her early academic career as an open option major, opting to explore a wide range of classes. Through this, along with a bit of mentorship, she discovered an incredible fascination for anthropology, as it was a field that aligned with her passion for people, culture, and global perspectives. She later pursued a master's and a PhD in cultural anthropology while remaining actively involved in international human rights work, working with youth, and volunteering with organizations like Amnesty International and a local center in Denver supporting survivors of torture and genocide. For Ang, anthropology and human rights naturally went hand in hand, as she is driven by a strong sense of justice and service to her community.

Her path eventually led her back to PLC when she was invited to teach the sophomore leadership course. While initially hesitant about returning to the university, the experience quickly became meaningful as Ang found herself drawn to leadership education and the opportunity PLC provides for students to bridge theory and practice while developing interpersonal skills and real-world perspectives.

Looking back, Ang credits her time in PLC for helping to shape many of the relationships and experiences that influenced her career. The friendships she built became lasting connections in her work, and her time as a First Year CA and guest lecturer helped spark her passion for teaching. She also fondly remembers the adventures that came with the program, including road trips to Devil’s Tower and climbing Bear Peak with her fellow PLCers and recitation group.

Like many careers in research and advocacy, Ang’s work has involved navigating challenges. When asked what motivates her, she stated "I have a photo of Rosa Parks doing paperwork during a board meeting, I think it's really important because it's a reminder that meaningful change requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to do the unglamorous work behind the scenes."

Her advice to current PLC students is simple: avoid comparing yourself to others and instead focus on discovering what truly matters to you. Define success on your own terms and let your curiosity and values guide the path forward.��

Our next spotlight features Ben Whitehair, PLC class of 2004. Ben is a father, nonprofit leader, activist, and actor who has dedicated much of his life to service and community impact. Today, he serves as the Executive Director of Calling All Crows and previously served as the Executive Vice President of SAG-AFTRA. Throughout his work, Ben has focused on advocacy, community-building, and championing fairness for creative professionals in the arts.

Ben’s path to where he is today was far from linear. When he first arrived at CU, he studied biochemistry and theatre before eventually graduating with degrees in political science and theatre. Like many students, he wasn’t entirely sure what direction he wanted to take. During his freshman year, however, a PLC Community Advisor introduced him to a business opportunity, giving him his first taste of entrepreneurship, and making him invested (pun intended). Around that same time, a fellow PLCer shared a quote that deeply resonated with him: “Ask not what the world needs, but what makes you come alive.” That message encouraged Ben to pursue acting while also exploring entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities, and he moved to Los Angeles soon after graduation.

Over time, Ben launched several companies while becoming more involved with SAG-AFTRA and the entertainment industry. An additional transformational leadership program later in his career helped him realize that leadership is not defined by a title or position, but rather by a set of values and a way of showing up in the world, a perspective that continues to guide his work today.

Ben credits PLC with fundamentally shaping the course of his life. The program opened doors that introduced him to entrepreneurship and strengthened his commitment to service. Just as importantly, PLC created a supportive environment where he could practice leadership and grow alongside others, which he believes is something so invaluable and an experience everyone should have. The program additionally helped him learn the power of community and collaboration, which contrasted from his initial mindset of independence.

Those lessons continue to influence his work today. As the leader of a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the power of music to address pressing social issues, Ben focuses on building strong teams, supporting others, and creating a community around shared causes. He believes much of leadership involves inspiring people to believe in a mission and helping them feel fulfilled in the work they do.

For current PLC students, Ben offers simple but meaningful advice: Be patient and gentle with yourself. "While the desire to create change is admirable, real impact takes time, and you can't rush that". Over the years, his definition of success has also evolved. Where he once measured success through recognition or large-scale accomplishments, he now sees it as the difference he makes in people’s lives, and whether those around him are better off simply because he was part of their story.