Staff

Phillip De Leon

Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Chief Research Officer
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Phillip De Leon serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Chief Research Officer. In this role he leads the CU Denver efforts in elevating our research activities across a diverse array of programs, ideas, and people. This includes developing and implementing CU Denver's research strategy and associated research plan. He is also a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering within the College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC). Phillip joined CU Denver from New Mexico State University where he was a Professor in the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and held the Nakayama Professorship in Engineering for Teaching Excellence and the Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professorship. In addition, he served as Associate Dean of Research in the College of Engineering and Associate Vice President for Research and Chief Science Officer. He earned the B.S. Electrical Engineering and the B.A. Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder and in his free time, enjoys running, hiking, skiing, reading, and traveling. 

Carie Carroll

Executive Assistant
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Carie Caroll is an experienced coordinator at CU Denver, with over 15 years of dedicated service to the university. In her role, Carie is responsible for managing the schedules of the associate and assistant vice chancellors, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the office. Carie ensures that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Born and raised in Denver, Carie has a deep connection to the city and its community. She takes great pride in her work at CU Denver and is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of students, faculty, and staff. When she is not busy at the office, Carie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring all that Denver has to offer. Whether it's hiking in the nearby mountains, visiting local museums and galleries, or simply enjoying a delicious meal at one of the city's many restaurants, Carie always finds ways to stay engaged and connected to the world around her.

Jordan Farrar

Assistant Director of Research Development
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Jordan Farrar is the Assistant Director of Research Development in the Office of Research Services at the University of Colorado Denver. In her role Jordan works across the entire CU Denver research enterprise to build capacity and enable impactful faculty scholarship. As a translational social scientist with over 15 years’ experience investigating intercultural relations, Jordan is especially focused on supporting team science approaches that allow CU Denver faculty to showcase their creativity while addressing society’s most pressing challenges. Originally from Virginia, Jordan moved to Colorado to pursue doctoral training at the University of Denver where she studied community-based healing and social support for war-affected youth. After leading research labs at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston College School of Social Work, she and her partner relocated back to Colorado. Jordan enjoys traveling, hiking, concerts at Red Rocks, and finding ways to integrate principles of banchan into all of her cooking. 

Stefan Reiss

Director of Research Development
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Stefan Reiss, a technical project and business analytics professional, brings over 15 years of experience within higher education sponsored research.  As a Director of Research Development, he supports the strategic growth of our world-class research and creative works by helping teams secure extramural funding for high-impact projects.
Stefan earned his BA from University of Colorado Boulder, his MA from Stanford University, and has enjoyed extended educational experiences in both Bolivia and Spain. He is actively certified through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC). Born and raised in Boulder, Stefan is often out searching for that “flow state” on his mountain bike.

Ian Thompson

Research Development Specialist
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Ian Thompson is a research development professional interested in strategic capacity building, faculty research support, and proposal development. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Ian pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, and his graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in history, languages, and literature. He has taught extensively, including courses on composition, language, and comparative literature. As part of his continuing professional development, he received a professional development certificate in editing specializing in developmental editing (2022) through the University of Chicago. He will complete a MS in Research Administration through Johns Hopkins University in 2025, specializing in program administration and international research administration management. Ian is also interested in the design, building, and playing of stringed musical instruments, with a particular fondness for the odd, obsolete, or unusual. After many years away, Ian is happy to return to the Front Range, its natural beauty, and its cultural possibilities.

An "Andy" Tran

Student Assistant
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Andy is a skilled and motivated student assistant at CU Denver, with over two years of experience in the IT industry specializing in software development, web development, and design. He is proficient in various AI tools, web technologies, and design software, allowing him to support projects with a strong technical foundation and a creative approach. Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Andy is passionate about using technology to create impactful and innovative solutions. Originally from Vietnam, he moved to the United States in 2011 with his family, shaping his resilience and dedication to blending technology and creativity. In his free time, Andy enjoys exploring new tech and expressing his passion for music through DJing, striving to create unique digital experiences that both inspire and entertain.

Ali Pearks

Assistant Director Strategic Development & Initiatives
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Ali Pearks is the Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives in ORS, with a focus on connecting researchers to opportunities and helping them craft their proposals to showcase their research in the best light. In this 0.5 FTE role, she will help streamline the proposal process by providing templates for proposal documents and feedback on proposal contents. She will also help faculty identify funding opportunities for their research. After getting both a BS in Zoology and an MSc in Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State, Ali spent 7 years at the National Cancer Institute and 8 years at Texas A&M as a bench scientist conducting molecular biology, comparative genomics, and transgenic research. She transitioned to research development 13 years ago and has worked as a pre-award administrator for 9 years; during this time, she became a certified Editor in the Life Sciences and a Certified Research Administrator. Ali is also a professionally trained and certified bicycle mechanic and spends her free time on a bike, be it a fat bike on snow, a gravel bike on the road, bike-packing, or a mountain bike on the trails.