Dr. Larry Edward Penley became the 13th president of Colorado State University and Chancellor of the CSU System on August 1, 2003. As leader of Colorado State, he is committed to enhance the University’s stature as one of the nation’s premier public research institutions.

Dr. Penley has continued Colorado State’s legacy of environmental research and has directed Colorado State to model the way as a Green University. It is Dr. Penley’s belief that the nation's research universities have, within their reach, the power to make a difference in the world -- through education of a "green collar" workforce, and through development of groundbreaking research solutions deployed through market-based enterprises.

For that reason, Colorado State has adopted a clear philosophy: Take great research ideas, narrowly focus in specific applications - such as the problem of carbon-emitting two-stroke engines in Asia - and move them rapidly into the marketplace.

While Colorado State has an obligation to be environmentally responsible in the way it runs campus, its greater challenge is to educate tomorrow's green workforce and focus our enormous capacity in support of enterprise-based solutions that will truly make a global difference.

During Dr. Penley’s tenure, CSU achievements include: a 38 percent increase in the number of endowed chairs; A new record in CSU research expenditures ($297M during fiscal year 2007; continued increases in enrollment; steady progress in improving graduation rates; and continued ranking in the top tier of American research universities.

Dr. Penley came to CSU from Arizona State University, where he served as professor of management, and as dean of the W.P. Carey School of Business. Dr. Penley and his wife, Dr. Yolanda Sanchez Penley, are parents of two grown children. Dr. Penley is an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins.

"learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it" -- Confucius

"A school is a place through which you have to pass before entering life, but where the teaching proper does not prepare you for life." -- Ernest Dimmet

"Freedom to learn is the first necessity of guaranteering that man himself shall be self-reliant enough to be free" -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Board granted leaves of absence to Anne Alexander and Jim Butzek and accepted the resignation of Christine Chin.

Stacy presented a brief history, some geographic data, life there, and the racial and religious make up of Singapore plus the four key decisions that he thinks have been critical in its dramatic rise in world leadership in globalization, competitiveness, education and economic freedom.

The four critical decisions were about language, rule of law, personal ownership and government. In each of these decision areas Stacy told stories that made his presentation entertaining and his points easier to understand. Singapore’s citizens have multiple languages, none being dominant, so they picked English as the official language for government and business. Thus almost everyone had to learn a new language. He said that Singapore has fewer laws than, for instance, India, but enforces what they have fairly and vigorously. They did away with jury trials and leave decisions up to three judge panels. In the personal ownership area, over 95% of citizens own their own homes. Finally, he said that the parliamentary style of government is run like a well run major corporation and that the maximum tax rate is 22%.

Warren and Genny Garst Wildlife Collection at CSU Click here or on the "tiger."

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Copyright © by Lannie Boyd and Alan Ashbaugh for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado, May 28, 2008