From the COO

  • Pictured are COO Patrick O’Rourke and bus driver Carlos Baca speaking on campus.
    As many of you know, I am a recovering lawyer. For almost 25 years, that’s one of the ways I defined myself, along with being a husband, a father and a friend. It was part of my identity and still is in many ways.
  • Patrick and student inside the CASE building, Flatirons in the background.
    Each weekday across Strategic Resources and Support, thousands of people wake up, grab a cup of coffee, drive to campus or log onto their computers at home and perform the many tasks necessary to keep the University of Colorado Boulder running.
  • Puppy Harley meets CU mascot Chip. CU photo by Casey Cass.
    Hi Everyone! Last week, I brought my new puppy to campus, and together we had one of our most enjoyable times of the past year when we attended the Buffs Back Together gathering on Farrand Field. It was my first time to be able to meet hundreds of the people who make the campus a wonderful and vibrant place.
  • Patrick O'Rourke
    Last week, CU Boulder wished three of its longtime leaders––Katherine Erwin (Human Resources), Larry Levine (Information Technology) and Gwen Pomper (Enrollment Management)––a wonderful retirement after years of service to the campus. Together, they contributed 58 years of skill and expertise to CU Boulder, and I’m tremendously grateful for all they did to lead their organizations.
  • Pat and his son, Ryan, riding a segment of the annual Courage Classic cycling race over Vail Pass.
    ​Here’s my confession: I’m a MAMIL. Some of you may know what that means, but for those who don’t, please allow me to explain.
  • Patrick O'Rourke
    Everyone stands in respect when a jury enters a courtroom to deliver a verdict. I spent a large portion of my career in courtrooms, and I’ve stood in respect when the jury rendered a verdict in my cases, even when the verdict was against my clients.
  • CU Boulder Star. CU photo by Glenn Asakawa
    CU Boulder: These two words link the University of Colorado and the Boulder community. You can’t talk about CU without Boulder, and across the world, when people think of Boulder, they also think about CU. It has been this way since the 1860s,
  • Patrick O'Rourke
    As a college freshman in 1988, I was positive I would major in journalism, become an investigative reporter and write cutting-edge news stories about important issues. A year later, I realized my heart wasn't in journalism, so I quit to study
  • Pat as a kid dressed as a superhero
    Most people would describe me as a pretty serious person, so it might surprise them to learn that––while I still read law review articles sometimes––I read a bunch more comic books! My mom took this picture when I was 5 years old. Each morning, she
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