CU Foundation president Michael Byram announced his retirement Tuesday, saying he has achieved his goals and “it’s time to let the next generation take over.”
Byram said he will retire at the end of the fiscal year in June.
“People like me, we’re placeholders for a period of time,” he said. “To stay much longer would have been about me.”
Byram, 53, said his retirement has nothing to do with the challenges that have hammered the University of Colorado in the past year and a half.
CU president Hank Brown praised Byram for his ability to increase donations in a rough period that included a football recruiting scandal and controversy over professor Ward Churchill.
“These last three years have been enormously challenging, both with the recession and the challenges the university has had in the public arena,” Brown said.
Byram threatened to sue the state attorney general’s office last spring after a grand jury investigating the football scandal accused the foundation of not providing documents. Byram said the foundation handed over everything requested.
Byram said his goals included setting the stage for the next campaign and completing a major fundraising campaign. The foundation helped CU complete a $1 billion fundraising effort in 2003, Byram said.
Regent Steve Bosley said he wasn’t shocked at Byram’s announcement because he figured Byram would leave after reaching his goals.
Byram was a volunteer director for eight years and became president in January 2001. The foundation has raised more than $226 million in gifts and commitments in the past three years, and its investment assets total more than $770 million.
The foundation’s board of directors will select Byram’s successor, said chairman George Sissel.
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-820-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
