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CU doctoral programs open the gates for future leaders in education. Dr. Terry Larsen (EdD ‘84, CU Boulder) has enjoyed the influence and expertise that comes with holding a doctoral degree and is most grateful to CU for his career success as an educational administrator, adjunct professor and consultant. He has pledged generous gifts to establish Dr. Terry James Larsen, Endowed Doctoral Education Fellowship Funds at the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Colorado Boulder to support future doctoral students who demonstrate inclusive excellence.

“I have an abundance of gratitude for everything that my CU EdD has made possible in my life, including the values, integrity, and openness to differences that were instilled in me during my days on campus,” said Larsen. “Giving back is my way of supporting career and character development for individuals who will become leaders in the field of education. I am proud to be able to contribute to the success of caring and diverse leaders who will move on to positively impact so many lives in school districts and higher education.”

Larsen grew up in Minot, North Dakota. In middle and high school, he attended Minot Model Junior/Senior High School, a university Campus Lab School connected to his first alma mater — Minot State University. The experience of being surrounded by individuals who were training to become teachers inspired him to consider a teaching career himself. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a minor in English from Minot State University. After graduation, he became an elementary school teacher, rented a small one-bedroom apartment, bought a car, and began paying off his college loans.

Next, he received a scholarship to attend a master’s program that was housed at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks. It was led by Vito Perrone, who would later become director of Teacher Education at Harvard University. “The master’s curriculum was totally liberating. We learned about inclusionary excellence, including gay rights. The program had a huge emphasis in the humanities. It was a big turning point in my life where I learned in-depth about the concept of child-centered learning.”

After graduation, he taught first and sixth grades in Colorado Springs and became a father to his beloved daughter, Stephanie Larsen. While in Colorado Springs, he also taught as an instructor in Education at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. In 1975, he wanted to pursue an administrative position and moved to Denver to become an assistant principal in Cherry Creek School District and then a Title 1 consultant with the Colorado Department of Education’s Special Projects Unit, a job he absolutely loved. “I decided that I wanted to earn an EdD at CU Boulder in Educational Administration and further my preparation for becoming an effective state consultant, a local education agency administrator, or potentially a superintendent,” he said.

Larsen loved his doctoral classes at CU Boulder, especially those in group dynamics, school law, research and evaluation methodology, and school leadership. During his dissertation phase, he moved to Los Angeles, California. He was receiving faculty support from his dissertation chair Dr. Michael Martin and financial assistance to continue his studies. He defended his dissertation in 1984, which documented the strong impact that school principals had on student achievement at both high and low performing schools in California. He earned his EdD in Educational Administration, Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Dr. Larsen with his dissertation chair Dr. Michael Martin

Through a series of fortuitous personal connections in California, he secured his first consulting job in evaluation and assessment in Pomona Unified School District, followed by positions in the San Diego County Office of Education, Alhambra Unified School District, schools in Cupertino, Rosemead School District, and other major clients. During his consulting days, he also taught courses in school leadership and clinical observation as an adjunct faculty member at Pepperdine University and California State University, Long Beach. He also led and produced a major video series and associated training guide about successful school principals that was marketed nationally.

In 2011, Larsen founded his company, Compliance Advantage LLC, which provides consulting and technical assistance services for state and federal compliance reviews. His firm also provides training in developmental instructional leadership as well as training in English Language Development for teachers and administrators. As President and CEO of this niche business, he has supported school districts all over California that wish to proactively improve quality instruction and comply with federal and state regulations.

Chip Hilliard and Dr. Terry Larsen

Dr. Larsen credits his husband, Chip Hilliard, for his passion for philanthropy. They have just celebrated their 40^th anniversary in 2025. Hilliard majored in Diplomacy and World Affairs and French Literature at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He is now a major donor to the Barack Obama Scholars Program at Occidental where President Obama spent his freshman and sophomore years in college. “Chip donated for several years before it dawned on me that I would like to do something similar,” said Larsen.

“I also stand on the shoulders of my parents who were very, very bright and insisted that all of their children get an excellent education,” said Larsen. “But they were never in a position to engage in philanthropy. Because of my success, I'm able to do that now.”

Larsen is also engaging in philanthropic ways to model for his daughter, Stephanie Larsen and his great-nephew Collin Yeager. Stephanie is a world-class interior designer (https://www.stephanielarseninteriors.com) with clients in Sedona, Flagstaff, and Scottsdale, Arizona as well as throughout California. “I’m so proud of her because she is doing what she loves and following her dreams,” he said. “I know she will use her financial success to benefit others.” Collin graduated summa cum laude in 2021 from CU Boulder and is just beginning to build his own career in biochemical engineering.

Larsen specifically decided to support CU Denver, even though it's not his alma mater, because the CU Denver doctoral program is so focused on working adults and is designed to be very inclusive. This was important to him in a wide variety of ways, especially because he was a working adult while getting his own EdD.

“I am so grateful to Terry for his commitment to helping us continue to build an inclusive doctoral experience in the School of Education & Human Development,” said Dean Marvin Lynn. “His generous gift recognizes and reinforces our school’s legacy of equity-driven practices that drive student success, particularly for students from under-resourced communities. Dr. Larsen’s gift will support the development of PreK-12 school leaders at multiple levels including, but not limited to, current and future principals, directors and superintendents."

We hope that Dr. Larsen's gifts will inspire others to consider making contributions to the University. In pledging your own estate gift, you would also become a CU Heritage Society Member. Interested in strengthening support for CU students through a legacy gift or learning more about becoming a CU Heritage Society member? Please reach out to Susan Cleveland at CU at susan.cleveland@cu.edu.