CSU Spur of the Moment is the podcast of the CSU Spur campus, where we talk with experts in food, water, and health about how they are tackling big challenges in their fields.
The podcast was hosted by Jocelyn Hittle, former associate vice president for CSU Spur, and produced by Kevin Samuelson and the CSU System.
Latest episodes
Loving nature, science, and each other with George Sparks
Episode 40: George Sparks is the CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and has been with the museum for 20 years. Before that, he spent 24 years in the electronics measurement business at Hewlett Packard and Agilent Technologies. His career included marketing, sales, and general management of global businesses and software systems and services.
Indigenous and Tribal water dialogue
Episode 39: In this special episode of CSU Spur of the Moment you will hear a panel discussion from the 2023 Water in the West Symposium that focuses on Indigenous and Tribal water challenges and solutions. It featured Mike Preston, Kathryn Redhorse, and Ernest House, Jr.
Science, innovation, and food entrepreneurship with Mike Gabel
Episode 38: Mike Gabel is the director of the Food Innovation Center at CSU Spur, which supports food innovators through various services and by creating a place for their ideas to be fostered and grow.
The life of a food lobbyist with George Franklin
Episode 37: George Franklin is an author, speaker, long-time lawyer, lobbyist, and former Vice President of Government Relations for the Kellogg Company. George has written numerous books that draw on his experience working in Washington, including “Raisin Bran and Other Cereal Wars” and “So You Think You Want to Run for Congress.”
Innovation in life sciences with April Giles
Episode 36: April Giles is the vice president of Business Development for the Fitzsimons Innovation Community at the University of Colorado, a place where health and life sciences companies are co-located on a collaborative campus and are close to the University of Colorado Medical School.
Transboundary conservation and the economy with Leslie Harroun
Episode 35: Leslie Harroun is the executive director of the CSU System’s Salazar Center for North American Conservation, which works to build conservation, leadership, thinking, and practice across North America to restore and sustain our natural world for future generations.
Corporate responsibility for sustainability with Bruce Karas
Episode 34: Bruce Karas is the principal consultant at Circular Futures. He has over 30 years of experience as an environmental safety professional and has worked with various companies on health stewardship.
Thinking differently about food systems with Dan Dye
Episode 33: Dan is the CEO of Ardent Mills, a flour and milling company based in Denver, Colo., and the sponsor of the Ardent Mills Teaching and Culinary Center in the Terra building at CSU Spur.
Food is fun with Adam Schlegel
Episode 32: Adam Schlegel is CEO of Cumulus Etc., a consulting company focused on food, beverage, agriculture, and sustainability. Some of the restaurants he’s had a hand in creating include Chook Charcoal Chicken, Sun Valley Public Market, and Snooze an AM Eatery.
Water, waste, and reuse with Dr. Sybil Sharvelle
Episode 31: Dr. Sybil Sharvelle is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University and serves as the technical director for the Water TAP lab at CSU Spur.
A place for everyone in agriculture with Dr. LaKisha Odom
Episode 30: Dr. LaKisha Odom is the scientific program director at the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), working to tackle complex challenges in food and agriculture while inspiring future generations of food and ag scientists.
The future of work with Joseph Fuller
Episode 29: Joe Fuller is a professor of Management Practice in General Management at Harvard Business School and co-leads the school’s initiative, Managing the Future of Work.
KAREN SCHLATTER
Director, Colorado Water Center
Karen Schlatter was appointed director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University in 2025, after joining the Center as associate director in 2023. Schlatter brings academic, nonprofit, and public sector experience in managing complex water challenges with a deep commitment to building partnerships and the ability to engage in conversations across Colorado’s water community. She joined CSU from the University of Florida Water Institute where her work included facilitating multi-stakeholder/academic teams to achieve shared goals around water management through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Prior to her role at UF, she served as associate director of the Colorado River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute, where she focused on building cross-sector and international partnerships to support large-scale ecological restoration, effective binational water management, and community engagement in the Colorado River Delta region. Schlatter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from McGill University and a Master of Science in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She served as an agricultural extension volunteer in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.
TOM VILSACK
Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.
He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.
Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.
It’s our anniversary!
It’s our anniversary! CSU Spur has been fully open to the public, sharing hands-on, family-friendly activities around food, water, and health for two years. Join us on Saturday, Jan. 11, for 2nd Saturday activities, including desserts, a mariachi performance, face painters, horses on treadmills, veterinarians in surgery, scientists in labs, and more. The celebration is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and CSU Spur will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no registration required, all public activities are free.
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is presented by Canvas Credit Union.
We’ll see you Saturday!
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (June 13), and this month, the theme is Eco Explorers. Discover the connections between plants, animals, water, and people through hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, opportunities to connect with community partners, the Market at the Center, and more!
