Don Elliman: role as CU-Denver's chancellor is the latest in a storied, varied career.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn
• Position: EXECUTIVE edge

DON ELLIMAN HAS DINED WITH ROYALTY, walked the Oscars red carpet, attended countless spoiling events including the Olympics and been on stage with 22 supermodels.

But on a Fall day in downtown Denver, the chancellor of the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus gets a charge out or seeing the bustle of students headed for class.

"Having an urban campus university is a huge advantage, so that gets me excited," said Elliman, who took the reins of CU-Denver last April. "To have a job where you can have some impact or have a hand in CU and the Anschutz Campus is a spectacular privilege. I get inspired by the science at An-schutz every day and by the students and the faculty here."

When CU president Bruce Benson called Elliman about the job, "It took me about 10 seconds to say yes. I love higher ed, and I love health care."

Elliman's arrival at CU comes following a career that included 32 years with Time Inc., where he was publisher of People magazine, president of Sports Illustrated and toured the world as publisher of Time International.

"I had a great time at it," Elliman said. "You had dinner with Diana and Fergie and would go to the Oscars. But what was really fun about it was that the business was soaring. You'd look in the mirror and say this really isn't about you but you're lucky enough to be in this place, so enjoy it."

Elliman. a native New Yorker, moved for family reasons to Denver in 1997 with his wife, Mary, a Colorado native, and commuted to his job in New York City for 2 1/2 years.

He would retire from Time, where he started in a training program after graduating in 1967 from Middlebury College in Vermont. Retirement didn't sit well with Elliman, who was recruited by Gov. Bill Ritter to head the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

"I'm glad I did that because I met some really wonderful folks." Elliman said. "And we passed some legislation, such as the job-growth tax credits, that are working today."

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