CU Regents name Todd Saliman interim president
June 1, 2021
For more information contact: Ken McConnellogue 303.815.8481 ken.mcconnellogue@cu.edu
He is now the senior vice president for strategy, government relations and chief financial officer in system administration at CU. He has been at CU since 2011.
“Todd is a valued and respected member of the university community who has a sound understanding of the issues it faces,” said Board Chair Glen Gallegos. “He was the unanimous choice of the Board of Regents and we look forward to working with him to continue CU’s momentum and upward trajectory.
“His appointment will provide important continuity in some of our key initiatives, including strategic planning, online education and the fall return to on-campus teaching and learning,” Gallegos said.
The board is doing the advance work to prepare for a national search for the permanent president. Saliman has said he will not apply for the permanent position. He replaces Mark Kennedy, who recently reached an agreement with the board to transition out of the presidency by July 1.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the board and my colleagues at CU system administration and on our campuses to ensure that CU continues to advance its mission to serve our students and state,” Saliman said.
Former CU Regent and current U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse congratulated Saliman.
“Congratulations to my good friend and former colleague Todd Saliman on his appointment to serve as the interim president of the University of Colorado,” Neguse said. “As a former CU Regent, I have seen the hard work and expertise it takes to lead this university, and having worked with Todd for many years, I know he has the leadership and experience it takes to guide us through this transition.”
Colorado Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert praised the Board of Regents’ selection.
“Todd’s commitment to public service in Colorado, his deep understanding of state budget and the importance of investment into higher education will serve the institution well in this role,” Holbert said.
Before CU, he served as the State of Colorado’s budget director in the administration of former Gov. Bill Ritter and was a senior adviser early in the administration of former Gov. John Hickenlooper. Before that he served eight years (1995–2002) in the Colorado Legislature, during four of which he served on the Joint Budget Committee. He also owned and operated a lobbying firm that represented some of the most prominent organizations and governmental entities in the state, including the University of Colorado.
Saliman was born and raised in Colorado and is an alumnus of the University of Colorado Boulder.
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What others said. Quotes from Colorado leaders regarding Todd Saliman’s appointment as CU’s interim president
Hank Brown (former CU President, U.S. Senator and Congressman)
Todd Saliman is exceptionally well qualified to serve as the University of Colorado’s interim president. He has a deep understanding of the university, its constituents, the state and the legislature. He will provide a steady hand during an important time as CU returns to on campus teaching and learning in the fall.
Joe Neguse (U.S. Congressman)
Congratulations to my good friend and former colleague, Todd Saliman, on his appointment to serve as the interim President of the University of Colorado. As a former CU Regent, I have seen the hard work and expertise it takes to lead this University, and having worked with Todd for many years, I know he has the leadership and experience it takes to guide us through this transition.
Bruce Benson (former CU President)
The University of Colorado is fortunate to have Todd Saliman fill this important position. He has great experience as CU’s CFO, as a legislator and as someone who has a deep understanding of the university’s operations. He also knows the state. So much of the president’s job is dealing with those things, so Todd will do a great job. I will support him in any way I can.
Tony Frank (Colorado State University System Chancellor)
I’ve worked closely with Todd around budgets, strategy, and issues impacting higher education for many years. He’s a person of great integrity and common sense, and he cares deeply about this state and about the University of Colorado. He’ll do a great job as the interim president, and all of us at the CSU System look forward to the collaboration.
Mark Kennedy (CU President)
Todd Saliman and I have worked together to a great extent and he has been an integral part of CU’s success in recent years. Todd has a wide variety of skills and relationships that will help him be successful in the position. I will work closely with him to ensure a smooth transition.
Chris Holbert (Colorado Senate Minority Leader, Parker, CO)
The Board of Regents made an excellent choice in appointing Todd Saliman as interim president. His commitment to public service in Colorado, his deep understanding of state budget and the importance of investment into higher education will serve the institution well in this role.
Julie McCluskie (Colorado Representative, vice chair of the Joint Budget Committee)
I have had the opportunity to work with Todd Saliman in my role on the Joint Budget Committee and am very excited to learn of the announcement. Todd has been a critical leader for the CU system on higher education funding and policy. He works collaboratively with the diverse members of our higher education ecosystem always with student success in mind. I look forward to continuing my work with Todd and CU.
Matt Soper (Colorado House of Representatives, Delta, CO)
Todd will be an excellent interim president as he loves CU, wants student success, and is about getting work done, not fame or glory.
Leslie Herod (Colorado Representative and member of the Joint Budget Committee)
As a former CU Student leader and now member of the Joint Budget Committee, I’m very pleased to see fellow alumni and friend Todd Saliman stepping into this role. We have worked together on doing great things in the past and I look forward to continuing those efforts with CU.”
Todd Saliman biography
Todd Saliman, the University of Colorado’s senior vice president for strategy, government relations and chief financial officer, has 30 years of experience working on higher education and public policy in Colorado. He served in the Cabinet for two governors and is a former member of the Colorado General Assembly. While interim president, he will continue with many of his senior vice president duties.
From 2007-2010, Saliman was a member of Gov. Bill Ritter’s Cabinet and senior staff. As director of the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting, he represented the governor as he worked with the legislature to develop and implement the state’s budget and other legislative and strategic initiatives. His team worked with every state department to build the governor’s budget request – submitted annually to the Colorado legislature – and recommended and implemented plans to keep the budget balanced throughout the fiscal year. His office also prepared quarterly economic forecasts for the state. He guided the state budget during the great recession, which began in 2008.
When Gov. Hickenlooper was elected, Saliman continued on as a senior advisor during the Governor’s first legislative session to provide guidance and support on state budget and policy issues.
Todd served eight years in the Colorado legislature (1995–2002), four of which were spent serving on the Joint Budget Committee. He also owned and operated a lobbying firm that represented some of the most prominent organizations and governmental entities in the state, including the University of Colorado.
Saliman was born and raised in Colorado and is an alumnus of the University of Colorado Boulder.