Staff

Verna Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.

President

Verna Fitzsimmons, Ph.D. became the president of HERS on June 29, 2018. Before joining the HERS team, Fitzsimmons served as the CEO of Kansas State Polytechnic Campus and dean of the College of Technology and Aviation, focused on serving the needs of its students, faculty, and staff. Fitzsimmons’ career focused on driving business change and manufacturing process improvement through nearly 30 years as a senior faculty member, applied researcher, and successful consultant. She has served in various positions of leadership at Kent State University and taught at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Wright State University Lake Campus, Case Western Reserve University, and Cleveland State University. Her industrial background includes employment at General Electric Health Care and Kenner Toys, among other companies. Fitzsimmons earned her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fitzsimmons is a proud 2011 HERS Institute alumna.

Raymonda “Ray” Burgman, Ph.D.

Director of HERS Institute

Ray Burgman joined HERS as the Director of HERS Institute in June 2013. Ray brings over 20 years of experience in a variety of public and independent higher education settings–community college, liberal arts college, and urban and metropolitan university. Ray has expertise in strategic leadership, program, and curricular development. As the Director of HERS Institute, Ray is responsible for program service development and delivery, admission, and research and assessment. Prior to joining the HERS team, Ray served as the Associate Provost at New College of Florida and Associate Professor of Economics and Management and Special Advisor to the President for Strategic Faculty Initiatives at DePauw University. Ray has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Florida and a B.A. in Economics from New College of Florida.

Janet Ash, M.B.A.

Director of Finance & Operations

Janet Ash joined HERS as the Director of Business Operations in September 2015, moved to the Director of Finance and Operations role in June 2017, and the Director of Finance and Administration in July 2019.  In her role, Janet is responsible for the budget, accounting, and finance of HERS as well as data management and process planning. Prior to joining HERS, Janet served as Director of Operations for a local non-profit.  She is a former owner/manager of several businesses. Janet earned her MBA from Regis University and BS in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University and is currently pursuing her PhD in Business from the University of Denver. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP) as certified by the Project Management Institute.

PhuLan Olson, M.H.A., P.M.P.

Associate Director of Marketing & Partnership Development

PhuLan Olson joined HERS as the Associate Director of Marketing & Partnership Development in late August 2019.  She brings to HERS 20+ years of experience in strategic leadership, sales & marketing, program management, information technology, and process improvement.  Prior to joining the HERS team, PhuLan served as Sr. Account Executive in Strategic Accounts at Kaiser Permanente and was instrumental in lifting the organization to the next level by achieving growth, retention, and client relations objectives.  In her role at HERS, she will focus on marketing, recruitment, and partnership expansion.  PhuLan has a Master of Health Administration from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside, and is an alumna of the University of Denver Leadership Edge program.  She enjoys family, running, skiing, and a wide variety of cuisine. 

Karen Ramon

Accountant

Karen Ramon joined HERS as the Accountant in September 2019. Karen brings 20 years of experience in education and nonprofit sectors.  Karen has created new programming, developed accounting procedures, and worked to develop clear strategic goals in her prior roles. Prior to joining HERS, Karen was the Director of Finance and Operations for the nonprofit Girls in STEM.  Karen also worked in the education sector in roles such as secondary and post-secondary instructor and special leadership projects.  Karen received her MBA in Business Administration from the University of Houston and her B.S. in Mathematics Education from Colorado State University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 boys. Her favorite hobbies are playing tennis, volleyball, and traveling.

Beth Pearson, M.S.W.

Program Coordinator

Beth Pearson joined HERS as the Program Coordinator and Registrant Liaison in November 2017. In this role, she brings together her experiences in workshop development and delivery, event planning, and service to the social work profession. Prior to joining HERS, Beth served as an Admissions Counselor at the Graduate School of Social Work’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Denver. She received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver and Bachelor’s in Social Work from Elizabethtown College.  In her spare time she explores Colorado with her rescue dog Bailey and sings with the Denver Women’s Chorus.

Laurie Persico

Executive Assistant to the President and Board Relations Coordinator

Laurie Persico joined HERS as the Executive Assistant to the President and Board Relations Coordinator in September 2019. Laurie brings over 20 years of experience in administrative support to high level executives. In this role, she brings together her experiences of serving on and supporting Board of Directors along with her expertise in administration, business, and organization skills. Laurie received her Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management from Colorado State University. She also earned an Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Arts from Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, MA. Laurie enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 sons playing golf, running in charitable races, and being a soccer mom.

Kimberly Gaiennie

Event Coordinator

Kimberly Gaiennie joined HERS in February 2019 as the Event Coordinator. In this role, she brings six years of experience in event planning and management, as well as her passion for creating inclusive events that focus on identity development, community building, and social equity. As a New Orleans native, she enjoys bringing her southern hospitality to the HERS programs. Prior to joining HERS, Kim served as the Coordinator for Campus Programs at the University of New Orleans and traveled the country as a Leadership Consultant for her sorority, Theta Phi Alpha. She received her Master’s of Higher Education from University of New Orleans and her Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Loyola University New Orleans. In her free time, Kim volunteers as a crisis helpline advocate for survivors of interpersonal violence, plays dodgeball competitively, and enjoys dining out and seeing live music in the Denver area.

Lindsay Sarin

Program Coordinator & Faculty Liaison

Lindsay Sarin joined HERS as the Program Coordinator and Faculty Liaison in August 2019. Lindsay brings over 10 years of experience in higher education in a variety of roles from librarian to director. In this position, she brings together experience in program management, instruction, curricular development, and faculty support. Prior to joining HERS, Lindsay served as the Director of Academic Programs at the University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies. She received a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Bachelor’s in History and English from Eastern Michigan University.

Lili Diaz

Research Assistant

Lili Diaz joined HERS as a Research Assistant in August 2019. Lili brings 10 years of experience in a variety of higher education settings including admissions, financial aid, higher education public policy and education related non-profits. Lili also serves as Project Manager for the Center for Rural School Health & Education working to increase school mental health professionals in rural communities across Colorado. Lili is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education Department at the University of Denver and holds a M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Denver and a B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications, a B.A. in Film Studies, and a Technology, Arts and Media Certificate from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Lili spends her free time chasing after a rambunctious toddler and her partner in-crime, Pawl, the cat.