Reporter
Olivia Doak
Olivia Doak covers higher education for the Boulder Daily Camera and Longmont Times-Call, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Naropa University and Front Range Community College. She reports on everything from tuition costs and new research to student life and matters affecting faculty and staff. She also helps cover Boulder's federal labs, including NOAA, NIST and NCAR. Olivia moved to Colorado in 2023 to join the Camera after covering city government for the NewsTribune in La Salle, Illinois. There, she was a 2023 DePaul FOIA fellow and won a first-place award in 2022 for public service from the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors.
Olivia grew up in the Chicago suburbs and graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Augustana College. She's passionate about holding public officials and institutions accountable through her reporting. When she's not writing, she can be found hiking in the mountains, curled up at the library with a good book or cheering on the Nuggets and Broncos. Send news tips, say hi, or share book recs to odoak@prairiemountainmedia.com and follow oliviatdoak on X.
All Stories

AI in admissions: CU Boulder study creates tool to read college essays
A new AI tool developed by CU Boulder researchers can read college essays — and it has the potential to change the way admissions is run at colleges and universities...

When raises fail: CU Boulder study looks at downsides of performance-based pay
Many companies use raises or bonuses to motivate employees. But, new research suggests it doesn't always work.

Boulder County coroner resigns following internal investigation
Hall said itap crucial for the next coroner address two primary challenges still existing in the office: office accreditation and staff morale.

CU Boulder study finds harsh workplace pushing women out of academia
Women are more likely to leave academia than men at any point in their faculty career due to harassment and feelings of not belonging, according to research from the University...

CU Boulder research finds increased melatonin use among kids with unknown risks
Parents are giving their kids melatonin to help them sleep at increasing rates, and some as young as preschool are taking it regularly, according to new CU Boulder research.

Complaint says CU Boulder scholarship program is discriminatory
A complaint filed to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights on Monday claims that a scholarship program at the University of Colorado Boulder is racially discriminatory.

Director who built CU Presents to retire after 30 years
Joan McLean Braun built CU Presents into what it is today: the home of all performing arts at the University of Colorado Boulder, with 500 events a year spanning from...

CU Boulder research finds state prisons unprepared, vulnerable to natural disasters
About 75% of Colorado prisons are likely to experience a natural disaster but are not prepared to keep inmates safe, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.

Cat-borne parasite may cause people to become more frail, CU Boulder research finds
A cat-borne parasite that infects about 40 million people in the United States may cause adults to be more frail as they age, according to a University of Colorado Boulder...

CU Boulder to host Taylor Swift laser shows
The University of Colorado Boulder will hold Taylor Swift laser shows in November and December that bring some of her biggest hits to life with laser lights.