Phil DiStefano

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Philip DiStefano
11th Chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder
Assumed office
May 5, 2009
Preceded byGeorge P. Peterson
Personal details
Born1946 (age 76–77)[citation needed]
Steubenville, Ohio
Spouse
Yvonne DiStefano
​
(m. 1969)​
Children3
Occupation
  • educator
  • teacher
  • academic
  • researcher
  • author
Board member of
  • Association of American Universities
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I
  • North American research universities
Academic background
EducationOhio State University (BSc),(PhD)
West Virginia University (MA)
Alma mater
Academic work
DisciplineEducation
InstitutionsUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Main interestsliterary education

Philip P. DiStefano (born 1946)[citation needed] is an academic officer and teacher who has served as the 11th chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder since May 2009. He has taught at the University of Colorado Boulder since 1974, and holds the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Leadership chair.

Early life

Philip DiStefano was born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Science from the Ohio State University and a Masters of Arts in English from West Virginia University. He later received a Ph.D in humanities from the Ohio State University.[1]

Career

After attaining his master's degree, DiStefano began teaching high school English in Steubenville. In 1974, he joined the University of Colorado in Boulder as an assistant professor in curriculum and instruction, part of the university's School of Education.[2] DiStefano holds the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Leadership chair, and he overseees leadership programs at the University of Colorado.[3]

DiStefano has also served as a member and director of several boards throughout his career, including the Association of American Universities, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, North America's Research Universities, Boulder Community Hospital, and the Pac-12 Conference.[4]

Before being appointed as chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder, DiStefano served two terms as interim chancellor.[5][6] In May 2009, he was named the 11th chancellor of the university.[7]

Controversies

9/11 essay controversy

In 2001, University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill wrote an essay entitled On the Justice of Roosting Chickens. The essay argued that the September 11 attacks were provoked by U.S. foreign policy. In the essay, Churchill described the role of financial workers at the World Trade Center as an "ongoing genocidal American imperialism" comparable to the role played by Adolf Eichmann in organizing the Holocaust. In 2005, this essay drew attention after Hamilton College invited Churchill to speak.[8] This led to both condemnations of Churchill and counter-accusations of McCarthyism by Churchill and his supporters. Following the controversy, DiStefano, who was serving as interim chancellor, said that "while Professor Churchill has the constitutional right to express his political views, his essay on 9/11 has outraged and appalled us and the general public."[9] A documentary titled Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech, broadcast on HBO, prominently features Churchill's case in addressing the issues of free speech and First Amendment rights.

Suspension from the University of Colorado

In 2017, DiStefano was suspended without pay for ten days for failing to report domestic abuse allegations against an assistant football coach at the school. Rick George, the athletics director at the University of Boulder, as well as Mike MacIntyre, the football coach, both reportedly shared the allegations with DiStefano, who failed to report them or give the allegations any further attention. George and MacIntyre were both ordered to pay $100,000 to domestic violence charities as a result of these allegations, a punishment that was met with some controversy as their base salaries were more than $2 million. DiStefano donated his ten-day suspension pay to domestic violence charities as well.[10]

Protests against budget cuts

In 2018, DiStefano announced that the budget for the Colorado University student government would be cut by more than 90%, and that $21 million of the $23 million budget would be moved to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.[11] Many student unions gathered in support of the student government, calling for the removal of DiStefano due to the decision. Further rallies were led by five groups of student union candidates in another, separate campaign.[12]

Response to threats to campus

On 22 March 2021, a mass shooting occurred at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder. The University of Colorado did not send alerts to notify students and faculty of the shooting until almost three hours after the shooting began.[13] The next year, on 31 January 2022, an 800-page manifesto was published online. The author, who was living close to the University of Colorado campus, threatened members of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) philosophy department, as well as included general references to Boulder and the University of Colorado. UCLA held remote classes on 1 February.[14] The University of Colorado Boulder, however, held classes in person that day and did not send alerts to its students until 10 A.M., nearly two hours after the police became involved. The author of the manifesto was eventually arrested at his home.[15] Following the arrest, a petition was started calling for DiStefano's resignation, citing how out-of-state threats caused enough alarm for UCLA to close campus, but not enough alarm for the University of Colorado, which was under in-state threat. University of Colorado students also cited the university's apparent "lack of care" toward the student body.[16]

Personal life

DiStefano married Yvonne DiStefano in 1969. They have three daughters and two grandchildren.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Philip DiStefano | People | NSF-I3". www.nsf-i3.org. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  2. ^ a b "Phil DiStefano". Global Down Syndrome Foundation. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  3. ^ "Opinion: Philip P. DiStefano: Diversity, equity and inclusion make CU better". Boulder Daily Camera. 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  4. ^ "Biography". Office of the Chancellor. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  5. ^ Langford, Katie (2020-07-08). "CU Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano hosts new video series in lieu of state tour". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  6. ^ "Philip P. DiStefano". School of Education. 2016-11-11. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  7. ^ "University of Colorado President Names Phil DiStefano CU-Boulder Chancellor". CU Boulder Today. May 5, 2009.
  8. ^ Brennan, Charlie (February 3, 2005). "College journalist touched off firestorm". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008.
  9. ^ Ward Churchill Resigns Administrative Post Archived September 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, University of Colorado Boulder, January 31, 2005
  10. ^ "Colorado-Boulder chancellor suspended for failing to report alleged domestic violence by assistant coach". www.insidehighered.com.
  11. ^ Burness, Alex (5 April 2018). "Chancellor Phil DiStefano halts controversial decision after CU Boulder students call for his firing". Boulder Daily Camera.
  12. ^ "CU Boulder demand firing chancellor Phil DeStafano". The Denver Post. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  13. ^ "10 dead, including 1 officer, in King Soopers shooting". KMGH. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  14. ^ Cain, Josh (1 February 2022). "Ex-UCLA lecturer accused of threatening campus personnel is caught, officials say". Boulder Daily Camera.
  15. ^ Byars, Mitchell (1 February 2022). "Suspect in threats to UCLA arrested in Boulder in University Hill barricade situation". Boulder Daily Camera.
  16. ^ Yee, Gregory; Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (2 February 2022). "Colorado neighbors of arrested ex-UCLA lecturer echo students' anger over lack of warnings". Los Angeles Times.
Academic offices
Preceded by 11th Chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder
2009 – present 		Incumbent
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