Visionaries Honored at 2025 Endowed Chair Celebration
Written by Danielle Davis
Nov 7, 2025
On October 29, 2025, the University of Colorado Anschutz welcomed more than 220 distinguished guests to the Anschutz Health Sciences Building for one of its most cherished traditions: the Endowed Chair Celebration.
Hosted by the CU Anschutz Office of Advancement, the evening brought together endowed chair benefactors with the beneficiaries of their support. While the event celebrates all endowed chair holders and the philanthropic leaders whose investments fuel excellence in health and medicine, this year’s event honored Tom and Cydney Marsico and the various chairs they have established at CU Anschutz.
The Marsicos have established multiple endowed chairs at CU Anschutz, including those in innovation, pulmonary sciences, depression care and biomedical information technology. Their visionary support has helped attract and retain world-class faculty whose work is transforming lives in Colorado and beyond.
Endowed Chair Philanthropic Investments by Tom and Cydney Marsico
- Tom and Cydney Marsico Endowed Chair in Innovation (chair holder: Kim Muller, Esq.)
- Marsico Chair in Excellence in the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine (chair holder: Abigail Ruth Lara, MD)
- Marsico Chair in Excellence in the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center (chair holder: Christopher Schneck, MD)
- Marsico Chair in Excellence in Biomedical Information Technology (chair holder: Casey Greene, PhD)
A Symphony of Collaboration
The evening began with a cocktail reception in the Benson Atrium, where guests were greeted by the sounds of an ensemble from the Colorado Symphony. The music set the tone for a night that celebrated not only scientific achievement, but also the artistry and collaboration that define CU Anschutz.
Vice Chancellor of Advancement Scott Arthur welcomed attendees and introduced Kathy Green, vice chancellor of marketing and communications, who debuted the latest installment of the university’s Where Dreams Live campaign. The featured commercial, Never Dream Alone, was created in partnership with the Colorado Symphony and underscored the power of teamwork in both music and medicine.
“Just like music, healthcare is built on teamwork,” Greene said. “When people from different disciplines and institutions come together with a shared vision, we create real momentum.”
Honoring the People Behind the Progress
Following the reception, guests moved upstairs to the Elliman Conference Center for a seated dinner and formal program. CU President Todd Saliman and CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman delivered remarks that highlighted the transformative role of philanthropy across the university system.
“Endowed chairs are the crown jewel of CU Anschutz,” Saliman said. “They fuel innovation in medicine and healthcare, and they help us attract and retain world-class talent.”
Chancellor Elliman echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the campus’s greatest asset is its people.
“Philanthropy at this level isn’t just generous — it’s visionary,” said Elliman. “That kind of impact is only possible because of the people behind it: the faculty who lead with vision and the benefactors who believe in their work and our mission.”
A video featuring three endowed chair holders brought those stories to life, showcasing how long-term philanthropic support enables groundbreaking research, compassionate care and mentorship for future leaders.
A Fireside Chat on Innovation and Impact
The evening culminated in a fireside chat moderated by Scott Arthur, featuring Kim Muller, Esq., vice chancellor for innovation and biotechnology and inaugural holder of the Tom and Cydney Marsico Endowed Chair in Innovation, and Dr. Wells Messersmith, the newly appointed Emily Coe Atherton Endowed Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Together, they shared insights into their work, their motivations and the collaborative spirit that defines CU Anschutz. Muller spoke about a pioneering data science initiative focused on pancreatic cancer that was recently launched with an investment from the Marsicos. The program will harness AI and next-generation technologies to uncover treatment breakthroughs and improve patient outcomes.
“Simply put, our goal is to deliver real options to patients who have been told there are no more options,” said Muller, Esq. “Without the Marsico’s vision and support, none of this would have been possible. This is a moonshot that he has given us through his philanthropic donation, ultimately giving hope to our patients.”
Adding to the narrative that philanthropy builds bridges, Messersmith reflected on the unique strengths of the CU Cancer Center, with collaboration being the focal point not only for the science, but the patient experience as well.
Breakthroughs don’t happen alone. They’re made possible by the generosity of philanthropic leaders like Tom and Cydney Marsico and the Atherton family, whose support for my endowed chair helps drive research that changes lives. For pancreatic cancer specifically, we’re seeing survival rates that far exceed national averages — thanks to early detection, multidisciplinary care and the kind of collaboration that happens only at a place like the CU Cancer Center.
Throughout the evening, one theme remained constant: belief. Belief in the power of science, the promise of innovation and the importance of investing in people.
“Tom and Cydney Marsico don’t just give — they invest,” Arthur said. “They believe in the talent, leadership and infrastructure of CU Anschutz, and they’ve helped us think bigger.”
As the program concluded, guests were reminded that every endowed chair represents more than a title — it’s a legacy of generosity, a catalyst for progress and a testament to the enduring partnership between faculty and philanthropy.
View Photos from the Evening >>
We’ve captured these moments in a special album of professional photos. We hope you enjoy browsing the album, seeing some friendly faces from the night and downloading any photos you’d like to keep or have printed as a memento.
