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Charles H. Nilon was the first Black faculty member hired in the English Department in the fall of 1956. In 1962, the university hired Mildred Nilon, who was CU’s first Black librarian. In the late 1960s, Charles Nilon launched and became chair of the university’s Black Studies Program, when, at the time, he estimated there were about 100 Black students on campus. (Much later, the Black Studies Program became part of the university’s Department of Ethnic Studies.) The Nilons were active on and off campus in the United Black Action Committee, the United Black Women of Boulder Valley, Housing for Everyone through Local Programs, the Town and Country YWCA Board, the Mental Health Board and Historic Boulder. And they helped to desegregate Boulder housing.

Source: College of Arts and Sciences Magazine

Richard Jessor was one of the founders of the university’s Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) in 1959 and served as its director from 1980 to 2001. He also wrote an influential 1970 report on the lack of ethnic diversity on campus. From 1987 to 1997, he directed the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Adolescent Development Among Youth in High-Risk Settings. His areas of research include adolescent and young adult development, the social psychology of risk behavior, health behavior, and psychosocial aspects of poverty. Jessor retired from the university in 2021 as a Distinguished Professor of Behavioral Science. He also served as a U.S. Marine at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.��

Source: Colorado of Arts and Sciences Magazine

George Gamow's fame as a physicist began with his theory that explained the radioactive alpha particle decay of atomic nuclei. In his cosmological studies, he is known for the "big bang" theory of the origin of the universe, and in 1954 his studies in biology led him to suggest that the genetic code was a triplet code. This concept is fundamental to modern biology. He was perhaps most widely known for his popular writings on science that introduced millions of readers to the concepts of relativity and atomic and nuclear physics. These writings have been translated into several dozen languages. In recognition of the global impact of his popular scientific writings, the United National awarded him with the Kalinga Prize in 1956.

Source: Department of Physics

Robert Redford briefly attended �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder in the mid-1950s before leaving to pursue a career in acting and directing. He is recognized as one of the university’s most famous former students. Redford’s legacy is acknowledged in a number of campus displays and histories. His legendary career includes founding the Sundance Film Festival and winning an Academy Award, among many other distinguished achievements.��

Source: Department of Cinema Studies

Charles Cambridge, a member of the Navajo Nation, earned his BA, MA, and PhD in Anthropology at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder, with his studies spanning the 1960s and 1970s. He directed the university’s Indian Program and was instrumental in supporting Native American students. Cambridge’s research focused on traditional architecture and the impact of AIDS on American Indian populations. His papers are archived at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder.

Sources: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder History Project;

In 1969, Bill Collins became the University of Colorado’s first Black football captain, leading the Buffaloes during a pivotal moment in college sports history. At the Liberty Bowl against an all-white Alabama team, Collins walked alone to midfield for the coin toss—an act of quiet defiance against racial intimidation. His leadership helped propel �鶹��Ѱ�����to a 47–33 victory and marked a significant stand against segregation in athletics.��

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Deloria was a giant in the realm of American Indian policy. Deloria graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in general science. Later, he earned a master’s degree in theology from Lutheran School of Theology in 1963 and a JD from Colorado Law in 1970. From 1964 to 1967, Deloria served as the executive director for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), reviving the organization and laying the foundation for its contemporary prominence. Under his leadership, NCAI’s membership grew from 19 to 156 tribes, became financially stable, and brought its platform of tribal sovereignty to the attention of Congress and the Executive Branch.��

After law school, Deloria accepted a teaching position at the Western Washington University College of Ethnic Studies. As a tenured professor of political science at the University of Arizona from 1978 to 1990, Deloria established the first master’s degree program in American Indian Studies. He joined the University of Colorado faculty in 1990, where he taught until his retirement in 2000. During his tenure at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder, Deloria was affiliated with Colorado Law and the departments of history, ethnic studies, religious studies, and political science.

Source: Colorado Law School

Florence��Hernández Ramos (listed in the student newspaper��El Diario as a contributor in 1972) helped found the award-winning jazz public radio KUVO 89.3 FM in Denver, Colorado. For 23 years, she was its president and CEO, promoting diversity and creating a positive picture for communities of color. She created and, along with numerous volunteers, hosted Canción Mexicana, which the local newspaper dubbed “the spiciest” program on the radio and was rated number one in Denver in its timeslot. After retiring from KUVO, she was one of the founders and the first CEO of the Latino Public Radio Consortium (LPRC).��

Sources: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder History Project,

Juan Espinosa, a Vietnam War veteran, earned his BS in journalism from �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder in 1974 and was a staff member of the student newspaper��El Diario de la Gente. He was known for his photography documenting the Chicano Rights movement in Colorado. Espinosa later created the community newspaper��La Cucaracha and served as a reporter and editor at the Pueblo Chieftain for 22 years. He was also the first student director of UMAS-EOP for the summer of 1974.

Sources: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder History Project, College of Communication, Media, Design and Information