Naropa University not so secret any more

Naropa University used to be called one of Boulder's best-kept secrets.

Established in 1974, it has occupied historic Lincoln School on Arapahoe Avenue for most of the time since. Now it spreads into adjacent buildings there and has also developed two additional campuses in the Boulder area. Its 1,100 students study for both undergraduate and master's degrees, and the university has been accredited since 1986.

Naropa's new president, Stuart Lord, told Boulder Rotary Club members last month that Naropa and Rotary share the same ideals: both seek to serve humanity, to nurture and exemplify high ethical standards, and to promote peace and good will. He said both organizations find that "there is no disconnect between serving and making money … it is not how much you make, but whether you use the money to serve that defines the person."

While he has been on the job since July 1, Lord’s formal inauguration was on Oct. 31. In keeping with Naropa's mission, the event was marked by a Day of Volunteerism and Learning on the campus Oct. 30.

Lord has held faculty and administrative posts at DePauw University in Indiana and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and his appointment continues Naropa's goal of seeking high standards of education and living by drawing from all religious traditions.

"Naropa should be a partner with the community in which it lives," Lord said. "Students should spend time in the world and learn from it, and not confine themselves within an educational bubble. We must be sure that our students have experience of the world and build service to others within their lifestyles."

Naropa is already recognized as a national leader in contemplative education. Lord wants to emphasize its obligation to prepare leaders to further its mission of service. He hopes that in the coming years the enrollment will grow as much as 40 percent, including both on-campus and distance learning programs. He is working to develop a campus master plan that will assist students to learn, thrive and grow.

"Naropa provides great economic value to the community of Boulder," he said. Each student in residence spends about $1,000 per month, he said, more than $1 million each month, and Naropa's annual payroll is about $10 million.

As Naropa begins its thirty-fifth year, Lord emphasized its core value: "Our mission together is to make our planet a better place."



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