Six-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken returned to Colorado State University to be inducted into CSU Athletics’ inaugural Ring of Honor, a recognition reserved for the most influential athletes in Ram history.

While back on campus, Amy joined President Amy Parsons for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about the moments that shaped her journey, from nearly quitting swimming before transferring to CSU, to finding the right coach at the right time, breaking American records, and winning Olympic gold.

She reflects on the friendships and mentors who defined her CSU years, the lessons that carried her through elite competition, and how discovering renewed purpose beyond the pool has shaped the work she’s doing today. Fresh off a cover feature in People magazine and preparing to launch her own podcast, Amy speaks about using her platform for disability advocacy and visibility.

The result is a candid, funny, and profoundly human conversation about identity, resilience, and staying true to yourself. This episode is a reminder that greatness is rarely linear, and that resilience and authenticity matter more than medals alone.

In this episode of The Next 150, President Amy Parsons sits down with CSU alumnus Norman “Norm” Harris ’99 at Spangalang Brewery in one of Denver’s most historic neighborhoods.

A second-generation Ram and fifth-generation Five Points native, Norm shares how transferring to CSU shaped his confidence and direction, and how a 20-year career at Janus led to a bold pivot toward community leadership.

He also shares his work as executive director of the Five Points Business Improvement District and president of Denver's Juneteenth Music Festival— one of the largest in the country.

The conversation explores revitalizing Welton Street into a “modernized cultural marketplace,” reintroducing jazz to a new generation, and collaborating with CSU's College of Health and Human Sciences' Fermentation and Food Science program to create “The Art of Darkness” stout. Norm also shares his advice for students on finding passion, building strong habits, and staying focused.

How does a CSU chemistry student from New York end up leading one of the largest liquefied natural gas export facilities in the world?

In this episode of The Next 150, President Amy Parsons sits down with Michael Smith, founder, chairman, and CEO of Freeport LNG. Michael shares the pivotal moments that shaped his path—from studying chemistry and math at CSU in the 1970s to founding Basin Exploration in Fort Collins to launching and leading Freeport LNG. The conversation explores what it takes to build companies that last, the role luck plays in success, and why giving back to CSU matters to him. His support has created full-tuition scholarships in the Colleges of Business, Natural Resources, and Natural Sciences, along with the Michael Smith Natural Resources Building and the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center. Plus, hear Michael's advice on following your passion, taking chances, and preparing for a changing world.

More about Michael Smith:

Michael Smith founded Freeport LNG Development, L.P. in 2002 and serves as the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Freeport LNG has become the seventh largest LNG export facility in the world and the second largest in the United States. The facility is the largest all-electric liquefaction plant of its kind, reducing carbon emissions by more than 90 percent compared to gas turbine-driven facilities.

Prior to Freeport LNG, Michael founded Basin Exploration, Inc., in Fort Collins in 1981, building it into a publicly traded oil and gas company and serving as Chairman, CEO, and President until its sale in 2001.

Michael has served on numerous business and community boards across Colorado, including National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Colorado Ocean Journey, and the Colorado Governor's Minerals, Energy, and Geology Policy Advisory Board.

Colorado State University awarded Michael an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2008. His wife, Iris, also supports CSU through the Flint Animal Cancer Center and One Cure within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

How do you balance more than a century of tradition while preparing for what comes next? That’s precisely what Wes Allison has been doing since he stepped into his new role as President and CEO of the National Western Stock Show last May.

In preparation for the Stock Show kicking off this week, the Next 150 podcast hits the road to the National Western Center's new Legacy Building to talk with Wes about the transformation underway at one of the largest livestock shows in the world.

Wes shares his journey from growing up in Texas as an extension agent’s son to leading the Stock Show during a pivotal moment marked by new facilities, expanded year-round programming, and a renewed focus on education.

The conversation also explores strengthening the rural–urban connection, the importance of youth programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America, and how the partnership with Colorado State University and CSU Spur helps shape the future of agriculture and Western heritage.

Shortly after winning her third WNBA championship as coach of the Las Vegas Aces, CSU Women's Basketball legend Becky Hammon '99 returned to campus to receive Colorado State University's Founders Day Medal, which recognizes an individual, family or group whose service and contributions have created a significant, lasting impact on the University's history and progress toward future goals.

While in Ram Country, she joined President Amy Parsons for an energizing and deeply personal conversation. Becky reflects on her rise from an undersized, undrafted point guard to one of the most influential coaches in basketball today. She shares how she found her way in the WNBA, forged a groundbreaking path in the NBA as the first female coach, and ultimately built a coaching dynasty in Las Vegas. She discusses the grit required to push through closed doors, the importance of character and chemistry inside a winning locker room, and the lessons she carries from every chapter of her journey.

She also looks back on her years at CSU, the friendships that still anchor her life, the memories of a packed Moby Arena, and the on-court learning experiences that shaped her approach to the game. Becky explains how those early years taught her to think differently, compete with joy, and lead with authenticity — traits that continue to define her coaching today.

Dr. Kwane Stewart — CSU veterinary medicine alum, 2023 CNN Hero of the Year, Netflix’s animal safety advisor, and co-founder of Project Street Vet — returned to campus to accept a Distinguished Alumni Award during CSU's 2025 Homecoming and Family Weekend. While in Ram Country, he joined President Parsons for a meaningful and grounding conversation about purpose and compassion.

Kwane shares how one unexpected encounter outside a 7-Eleven in California changed the course of his life and sparked the idea for Project Street Vet, a national nonprofit providing free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness that now spans six cities. He discusses rediscovering why he became a vet, the power of trust between providers and pet owners, and the many unexpected chapters of his career — from shelter medicine, to Hollywood movie sets, to a book now being considered for a feature film.

He also reflects on his years at CSU, the moment he learned he’d been accepted into the D.V.M. program and how holding one of the most diverse professional licenses has allowed him to build an unexpected career that still traces back to his CSU education 28 years later.

This episode captures the heart and humanity of one of CSU’s most inspiring graduates.

More about Dr. Stewart:

Kwane, co-founder of the nonprofit Project Street Vet, helps unhoused pets and people in need – that’s his calling.

He has been a California practicing veterinarian for more than 28 years, working in nearly every part of the profession to refine his clinical and business expertise.

Kwane was the CNN Hero of the Year for 2023, recognized for his impactful work, and for his outspoken, compassionate, charismatic and genuine nature.

A graduate of CSU in 1997, Kwane started his career as an associate and emergency clinician, and he quickly become the chief medical officer of VETCO Hospitals Inc. in 2002. In 2007, he took the reins of a struggling municipal shelter and reversed one of the worst euthanasia rates in the country during his five-year tenure. Later in 2013, he became chief veterinary officer of American Humane and director of their legacy movie program. Today, he serves as Netflix’s chief veterinary advisor in charge of global animal oversight, protecting animals behind the scenes.

Kwane is committed to efforts that connect unhoused people and their pets with quality care at no cost. That work – and inspiring stories of hope – is chronicled in a docuseries called The Street Vet. He also published a book in 2023 called, "What It Takes to Save a Life," which is being considered for a true-to-life movie.

What does it take to lead thousands of students and still make time for midterms? Just ask Jakye Nunley and Shay Wilson.

On the next episode of The Next 150, CSU President Amy Parsons sits down with the student body presidents from CSU Fort Collins and CSU Pueblo for a powerful and engaging conversation about leadership, belonging and self-discovery.

Together, Jakye and Shay share how the Divine Nine — the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council — helped shape their confidence, visibility and purpose as Black student leaders navigating two very different campuses across the CSU System.

From unexpected mentorship to stepping into roles they never saw coming, they open up about their growth and what it means to represent their peers across Colorado’s statewide university system.

Jakye Nunley is a third-year business administration student at CSU Fort Collins, concentrating in management and finance. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and currently serves as the student body president, representing more than 30,000 students through the Associated Students of CSU (ASCSU). His campus involvement includes roles as Deputy Director of Health, Judicial Liaison and Chief of Staff within ASCSU, along with leadership in United Men of Color, the Black/African American Cultural Center and collaboration with the CSU Health Network.

Shay Wilson is the President of the Associated Students’ Government (ASG) at CSU Pueblo and a first-year Master of Social Work student. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology with minors in media entertainment and cannabis studies this past August. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Shay has served within ASG as Vice President, Chief of Staff and Senator at Large, and she is also active in the NAACP, the Black Student Union, and the Pueblo African American Concern Organization. She is the namesake of the “Shay Wilson CSU Pueblo Foundation Trustee Scholarship.”

Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile — and proud CSU alum — joins President Amy Parsons for an energizing conversation recorded at T-Mobile headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, ahead of the CSU vs. University of Washington football game. Mike shares how his start selling cellphones in retail stores while at CSU launched him into a 27-year career that’s shaped one of the most remarkable brand turnarounds in telecom history. Together, they dive into CSU’s growing partnership with T-Mobile, how to build a culture that fuels innovation, and Mike’s advice for students on how to make the most of opportunities — especially the unexpected ones.

Mike leads teams at T-Mobile responsible for shaping the company’s brand, long-term strategy, and driving innovation in customer experience. Over more than two decades with the company, he’s played a role in some of the company’s biggest moments, including the launch of its signature Un-carrier strategy, and expanded the company’s scope beyond wireless into broadband, advertising and digital-first customer experiences. For three years in a row, Forbes has named him one of its 50 Most Influential CMOs.

Previously as president of the T-Mobile Business Group, Mike oversaw rapid growth in enterprise and government partnerships and helped launch initiatives like Project 10Million, the company’s flagship philanthropic effort to connect millions of under-connected K-12 students across the country with free or subsidized internet service and hotspots.

Originally from Carbondale, Colorado, Mike graduated from CSU in 2000 with a B.A. in sociology. For the past six years, he has served on the College of Business board and, a decade ago, co-founded a scholarship that provides full-ride support for Carbondale students pursuing business or construction management. Through his leadership, T-Mobile’s partnership with CSU has established 10 scholarships across multiple campuses and supports the university’s land-grant mission through rural engagement initiatives, an annual CSU Showcase event, and the Green and Gold Guard NIL Collective for student-athletes. Finally — and probably most important — he is also a proud husband and father.