Mullen Hired as Interim Managing Director of ICR

Former Colorado State University-Pueblo Mass Communications Department Chair Jen Mullen has been hired to serve as interim managing director of the newly formed CSU-Pueblo Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR) to help faculty and administration advance the Institute's goals.

Mullen will begin her duties on Nov. 1 to provide assistance to the ICR in areas that include coordination of processes necessary to the functioning of the Institute, along with internal and external communication on the progress and plans of the institute to elected officials, the media, and local, state, and national audiences.

"I'm looking forward to assisting the university in ensuring the Institute of Cannabis Research continues its excellent progress," Mullen said. "It's vital that our elected officials, funders, community, and media are kept informed about the successes of the Institute and the outstanding faculty research on cannabis that is being conducted at CSU-Pueblo."

Most recently, Mullen served as chief of staff at the university and retired in December 2013 as professor emeritus after serving almost 25 years as a faculty member and department chair. After Nov. 1, Mullen can be reached at jen.mullen@csupueblo.edu

"I am so pleased with the rapid growth and progress of the Institute," said CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare. "It is imperative at this critical time to have a managing director in place to help coordinate all aspects of the Institute from management of events and messages to potential and existing partners to coordination of details relative to the upcoming spring conference in April and subsequent conference proceedings."

About the Institute

Research agreements with Pueblo County and the State of Colorado brought resources to help establish the ICR, the nation's first cannabis research center at a regional, comprehensive institution. Research topics range from neuroscience research on cannabinoid receptors to studies on industrial hemp. County-requested studies include power and water usage impacts, optimal buffer zones between approved sites growing low and high THC cannabis, as well as the social and economic impacts on the community. Research findings will be used to translate discoveries into innovative applications that improve lives. The University will host the first academically-based conference on cannabis in April, 2017.