More than 250 alumni and friends attended DU’s fifth annual Alumni Symposium Sept. 30–Oct. 1. The event highlighted the University’s rich academic tradition and connected alumni with the intellectual life at DU.
This year’s keynote speakers were Peter Funt (BA mass communications ’69), a syndicated newspaper columnist and former host of the TV show “Candid Camera,” and Cindy Courville (MA international studies ’80, PhD international studies ’88), former special assistant to President George W. Bush and U.S. ambassador to the African Union from 2006–08.
At a dinner on Sept. 30, Funt reminisced about working at the Clarion and the KVDU radio station. He talked about the power of laughter as he showed video clips from “Candid Camera.”
Speaking at a luncheon on Oct. 1, Courville showed photos from her time in the White House and encouraged audience members to have passion and confidence in their dreams of making an impact on the world.
The symposium also included five seminars in which DU faculty members taught 25 classes on a variety of subjects. Classes included a look at a book of historical photographs by DU Archivist Steve Fisher; a presentation by political science Associate Professor Seth Masket on how American political parties select presidential candidates; and a lecture by physics and astronomy Associate Professor Barry Zink about trends in nanotechnology.
“I’ve attended all of [the Alumni Symposiums] over the years, and they keep getting better every year,” said alumnus Mike Sutherland (BSBA ’81, JD ’84). “Ambassador Courville’s lunchtime talk was fascinating for me as an attorney. Our family has always been fans of ‘Candid Camera,’ so [Funt’s] talk was great and definitely entertaining. I also attended Professor Martin Rhodes’ class, Crisis in the Eurozone. That helped me get a handle on what’s going on in that part of the world. It was a tremendous presentation.”
Cheri Stanford, event coordinator at the Office of Alumni Relations, said attendance at the symposium increases every year.
“The event is a shining example of the University of Denver experience — seeing firsthand the issues that faculty and students are tackling and the amazing things DU alumni are doing in the world,” Stanford said.