A Legacy of Excellence at Colorado State
On May 12, 2008, Colorado State University received a $3.1 million gift from the Monfort Family Foundation to extend the Monfort Excellence Fund.
The fund, which began in 1999 and will continue until 2014, provides money for Monfort Scholars, Monfort Professors, Monfort Professors-in-Residence and the Monfort Lecture Series.
The Monfort Excellence Fund has had a tremendous impact on Colorado State University students, faculty and the Northern Colorado community through its scholarships for exceptional students, its support of outstanding faculty and its public lectures delivered by international leaders. [full Story]
Monfort Professor-in-Residence Program
Dr. Naomi Oreskes
2013 Professor-in-Residence
The Monfort Professor-in-Residence Program is designed to bring accomplished individuals in business, government and the arts to campus from around the world. The program is funded through $300,000 of the foundation gift.
Oreskes, a world-renowned historian, scientist, and communicator, is the author of numerous essays and books, including Merchants of Doubt, Plate Tectonics, and The Rejection of the Continental Drift. Her 2004 essay 'The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change' has been widely cited both in the United States and abroad, including in the Academy-award winning film, An Inconvenient Truth.
Dr. Oreskes will present her lecture on Thursday, May 2, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center North Ballroom. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged, but not required.
Monfort Lecture Series
George F. Will,
Pulitzer Prize columnist, presented the
2013 Monfort Lecture
George F. Will delivered the Monfort Lecture "The Political Argument Today" followed by a moderated question-and-answer session on January 31, 2013.
The foundation gift provides up to $200,000 annually for guest speakers for three years. The Monfort Lecture Series features distinguished speakers, and targets people of international distinction.
In conjunction with the lectures, the university has created a series of seminars and other activities to engage faculty, students, alumni and community members with the speakers.
Monfort Professors
2010-2012 Monfort Professors
Kevin Crooks, associate professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, and Sammy Zahran, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, have been named Monfort Professors for 2010-2012. [more information]
The Monfort Professors program helps Colorado State recruit and retain top-quality faculty. The creation of the 10, two-year-term positions allows the University to establish a special funding program to support innovative research and teaching. Selected through a competitive process, the professor positions receive $75,000 a year to support teaching and research activities in addition to the salary and support they already receive from the university.
Monfort Scholars
The Monfort Scholars program, established by the late Kenny Monfort and his wife Myra in 1999, offers annual scholarships to top students entering Colorado State. The Monfort Family Foundation provides full-ride scholarships for up to 20 students per year.
- Monfort Scholars (includes application information)
