DU Oral History - Gregg Kvistad Interview

Dr. Gregg Kvistad grew up in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota. He did his PhD work at the University of California, Berkeley. He received a Fulbright fellowship and spent a year in Germany researching his dissertation on German politics. Gregg then taught at Wellesley College for two years before coming to the University of Denver in 1984.

In this interview, Gregg discusses how he came to DU, his role as an assistant professor of political science and some of the challenges the university was experiencing during that time period. He reviews the progression of his career at DU including receiving tenure, serving as chair of the political science department for six years and serving as dean of the division of arts, humanities and social sciences. He touches on several construction projects he was involved in including the renovation of Sturm Hall and the Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

Gregg also reflects upon his service as Provost under Chancellor Bob Coombe and the development of programs designed to fundamentally transform the undergraduate experience at the University of Denver. He shares the values he espoused during his time at DU: respect for accountability, no excuses, and respect for shared governance.