25th Anniversary Celebration
Reflecting on 25 Years of Excellence: People, Milestones & Moments
Since becoming the Leeds School of Business in 2001, our school has transformed into one of the nation's leading public business schools—expanding access, elevating research, launching innovative programs and preparing generations of business leaders to drive impact in Colorado and beyond.
What began 25 years ago continues to shape our future and guide our vision—to elevate business as a force for good in a rapidly changing world.
Celebrating a Defining Moment
In 2001, members of the Leeds family and business school leadership gathered in Â鶹ӰԺ to celebrate the Leeds family's landmark naming gift—marking the beginning of a new chapter and a legacy that continues to shape the school today.Ìý
Twenty-five years later, Michael Leeds (Fin’74) remains deeply engaged, advancing Leeds’ mission, vision and values as a member of the Leeds Advisory Board—helping drive ethical business leadership for generations to come.
Leaders in Experiential Learning
In 2025, Leeds established the Nicholas Dante Badami Office for Experiential Learning (BOEL). The office acts as a hub for applied learning at Leeds, closing the gap between theory and practice to prepare students to lead with confidence.Ìý
Through the BOEL, students connect with companies to tackle real business challenges, gain professional readiness, and develop the emotional intelligence that sets them up for success.Ìý
Center for Consumer and Financial Decision Making
The Center for Consumer and Financial Decision Making was founded at Leeds in 2010 to advance the understanding of consumer financial decision-making through cutting-edge research, dialogue among experts, and service as a hub for the global community in this critical field.
Bridging Business and Engineering
In the fall of 2026, Leeds will be welcoming the first cohort of undergraduate students into the Integrated Business and Engineering program, launching the first undergraduate interdisciplinary program between Leeds and the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Establishing the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility
The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR) was established in 2007 to embed ethics, social responsibility, diversity, inclusion and sustainability throughout the Leeds School of Business—shaping the next generations of values-driven leaders. Since its founding, CESR has brought this vision to life through initiatives such as the Conscious Capitalism Conference, the UN PRME North America Chapter, and Â鶹ӰԺ Climate Ventures. CESR also spearheaded the Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate for undergraduates and the Clean Energy MBA and Sustainability MBA pathways, as well as the Sustainability Scholars Program and more.
Â鶹ӰԺ Climate Ventures
Â鶹ӰԺ Climate Ventures (BCV) is a new program at the Leeds School of Business that brings together an interdisciplinary community of students to explore the commercial viability of new ventures in climate tech.
Through a market-driven curriculum and a strong focus on community building, BCV provides the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools to deploy innovative solutions to the climate crisis.
Innovation in Clean Tech | MBAX6570 Course
As part of the Â鶹ӰԺ Climate Ventures program, this innovative course features top experts discussing next generation technologies and opportunities for innovation in clean tech.Ìý
Open to all graduate students and designed for students interested in launching or working for a cleantech startup. Accomplished undergraduates may apply to the program as well.
Rustandy Building Opens
In 2021, the Koelbel building was expanded, thanks to a generous gift from Tandean Rustandy, which established a new era of collaboration and innovation on the CU Â鶹ӰԺ campus—and our commitment to generate a positive disruption in higher education. To that end, we are breaking down traditional disciplinary boundaries in order to actively foster cross functional competencies in our students.Ìý
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Wendy Lea Serves as Leeds’ First Civic Leader-In-Residence
Nationally renowned ecosystem builder Wendy Lea came to Leeds in 2025 to share exclusive insights from her career in building businesses, forging strategic alliances and inspiring go-to-market innovation, including the future she sees for quantum technology in Colorado.
Leeds Launches MS in Sustainable Business Program
In fall 2026, Leeds will welcome the first cohort of students to the MS in Sustainable Business program. The 10-month program equips students with the technical, analytical and leadership skills to drive sustainable change in business. It blends business acumen with policy, science and engineering—preparing graduates to lead sustainability initiatives across sectors.
Undergraduate Business Program By the Numbers
No. 21
Best Public Undergraduate Business School
U.S. News & World Report, 2026
No. 15
Best Public Undergraduate Business School
Poets and Quants, 2026
14.5%
First-Year First Generation Students
2026
Expanding Access for Students
Expanding access is a defining priority for Leeds, highlighted by the creation of ODA 25 years ago. Originally established as the Office of Diversity Affairs in 2001, it was renamed to Opening Doors to Achievement (ODA) in 2025 to better reflect its mission. ODA broadens opportunities for students through programs including the Diverse Scholars Program, the KeyBank Business Leadership Program, Business at a Glance, and the Annual Awards Banquet in partnership with the Multicultural Business Students Association. These efforts foster student success and expand pathways into business education.
Offering Pathways to Success
The mission of the Diverse Scholars Program is to empower and equip students with the skills and knowledge to excel as scholars, individuals and business professionals. The program offers comprehensive support, including advising, peer mentoring, academic support, professional networking and community-building events. Defined by four pillars—academic achievement, educational excellence, professional development, and community building—the program provides opportunities to help students flourish as learners and leaders throughout their undergraduate experience.
High school students can enjoy a full-day experience at Leeds, exploring what it’s like to be a business student. The ODA invites students from diverse backgrounds, including those who identify as first-generation and/or low-income, to gain a glimpse into the wide variety of career opportunities available with a business degree.
Students interested in creating solutions for today’s business problems and gaining experience can apply to join the Business Leadership Program (BLP), hosted by ODA. BLP is designed to provide a free, high-impact learning experience through a case competition. Participants work in teams to create marketing campaigns for corporate partners, competing for a chance to win $1,000.
Talented high school students are invited to compete in a summer case competition at Leeds, gaining real-world experience while focusing on issues affecting women. Students learn the values of business leadership and teamwork while strengthening critical thinking and analytical skills. Accepted students compete to win a $1,000 scholarship to Leeds.
For the past 26 years, Leeds has honored the achievements and academic excellence of students in the Multicultural Business Student Association at its annual awards banquet.
2025 Visionary Awardee
The Barney Ford Diversity Scholarship Fundraiser is dedicated to promoting diversity within the Leeds MBA program. The scholarship is named for Barney L. Ford (1822–1902), a former enslaved person who becameÌýa Denver business leader. This annual fundraiser celebrated its 33rd year in 2026.
Research Excellence
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Discipline | 2016–2020 | 2021–2025 | Other Institutions |
| Accounting (TAR, JAE, JAR) | 55 | 29 | Northwestern #28 Yale #30 |
| Finance (JF, JFE, RFS) | 29 | 23 | Cornell #20 Princeton #27 |
| Marketing (JCR, JM, JMR, Marketing Science) | 30 | 38 | Stanford #31 Georgetown #45 |
| Mgmt. Information Systems (JSR, JoC, MISQ) | 57 | 24 | Carnegie Mellon #23 USC #32 |
| Management (AMJ, AMR, ASQ, OS, JIBS, SMJ) | 25 | 41 | MIT #35 Duke #42 |
| Operations Management (MS, OR, JOM, MSOM, POM) | 46 | 39 | Berkeley #36 Notre Dame #44 |
| OVERALL LEEDS RANKING | Ìý | 32 | Ìý |
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Leeds School Research Initiative for Global Business and Citizen Well-Being
In 2025, the Leeds School of Business announced a $3.85 million investment to launch the Research Initiative for Global Business and Citizen Well-Being. The Initiative supports research into how business systems—and the government regulations that shape them—help solve universal social problems, with a focus on two areas: consumer financial decision-making and sustainability. Its guiding premise is that business, together with the regulatory systems that govern it, can be a powerful force for addressing these challenges. Because approaches differ dramatically from one country to the next, so do the outcomes. Nations organize housing, mortgages, and retirement in strikingly different ways, and they pursue very different strategies for managing exposure to climate and environmental risk. By comparing the results of these varied approaches around the world, the Initiative asks a central question: what can we learn from one another to build systems that better serve people everywhere? Learn more about the initiative here.
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MBA Program By the Numbers
No. 13
Best Public Part-Time MBA Program
U.S. News & World Report, 2026
No. 21
Best Public Executive MBA Program
U.S. News & World Report, 2026
6
Number of Graduate Specialty Areas Ranked
Ìýin U.S. News and World Report
2026
The Next 25 Years
As business evolves, Leeds will continue to lead—advancing research that addresses society's most pressing challenges, creating experiential opportunities that prepare students for rapidly changing careers and strengthening our role as a driver of economic and community impact.
Through innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability and emerging technologies, the next chapter of Leeds will be defined not only by growth, but by the difference our students, faculty, alumni and partners make in Colorado and around the world.Ìý
Learn more about our vision for the future through our strategic plan, Leeds 2035.