Phil DiStefano
Dr. Philip P. DiStefano is the Chancellor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to his appointment on May 5, 2009, Dr. DiStefano was the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for eight years, the top academic officer at CU-Boulder He served as interim chancellor twice during pivotal times in the University's history.
Dr. DiStefano co-chaired the steering committee for CU-Boulder's visionary strategic plan, Flagship 2030, conceived with campus, community and statewide input, to guide CU-Boulder for decades to come. Today, Dr. DiStefano is shepherding its implementation as Flagship 2030 moves from vision to reality.
Dr. DiStefano has served CU-Boulder for 35 years. He joined the University of Colorado in 1974 as an Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the School of Education. His academic career flourished as he assumed a series of academic and administrative positions, including Professor, Associate Dean, Dean and Vice Chancellor. He was appointed Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 2001.
As Chancellor, he works closely with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, governing officials, and business and community leaders in extending CU's legacy as a preeminent national comprehensive research university.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. DiStefano earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio State University and a Master of Arts degree in English Education from West Virginia University. He holds a Doctorate in Humanities Education from Ohio State University, where he served as a teaching and research associate. He began his educational career as a high school English teacher in Ohio. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles on various topics in literacy education.
Dr. DiStefano and his wife, Yvonne, have been married for 40 years and are the parents of three grown daughters and one granddaughter.
To learn about more about Boulder's 'New Pioneers', check out our previous Award Winners page.
