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I chose to do this Perspectives series on the values I bring to leadership because, throughout my career, I have seen how easily values can be obscured by the projects, issues and external influences that accompany academic work in large public research universities. How and why we do our work matter as much as the work itself, and values are at the core of our how and why.

In my first Perspectives piece I discussed how academic freedom is foundational to my decision making. In my second piece, I explored how a commitment to partnership, clarity and facts over fear leads to a clearer leadership consensus that supports the progress of our academic mission. Here, I want to explore how five foundational, shared commitments (that also speak to some underlying values) guide my work with the academic affairs team.

These five commitments are:

• Aligning our work with campus priorities

• Being good financial stewards, but advocating for what we need

• Assuming the best motivations of colleagues

• Using our individual portfolio-specific knowledge with confidence and humility

• Being a part of problem solving whenever possible

Underlying all five commitments is an important reminder: none of the five are at odds with holding one another, and others, accountable. That accountability is crucial to earning your confidence and that of our students, families, partners, donors, alumni and the public.

Collectively these commitments form the basis not only of work with my team, but of an important relationship with all of you—one built on a trust that my team and I are working hard to earn. We have work to do and a complicated latticework of problems to solve; but this work becomes more difficult when fundamental commitments are unspoken.

As I approach the end of my first year as provost, I am ready to move CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s academic mission forward with my team, with the values I’ve addressed in earlier Perspectives and the commitments I’ve outlined here. I look forward to many more years working in partnership with all of you.

Thank you for welcoming me this past year and for all you are doing to advance our mission in Colorado, across the nation and throughout the world.

Ann Stevens

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs