Phil DiStefano

DiStefano was born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio. He holds a Bsc at the Ohio State University and masters of arts in English from the West Virginia University. He holds a PhD of humanities studies at the Ohio State University.[3]

He started his career as an educationists in a high school at Ohio, his hometown teaching English and has authored several articles of various topic based only in literacy education. In 1974 he joined the University of Colorado Boulder as an assistant professor in curriculum and instruction at the school of education, as a perspective donor, professor, provost, parent, dean and chancellor, he works closely with the staffs, alumni, students, faculty, donors, industry, businesses and community leaders, and government for the development of the institution as comprehensive research university.[4]

DiStefano was also a member and director in several boards in and out the institution, like the Association of American Universities, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, North America's research universities which the University of Colorado was the only member in West Rocky Mountain, Boulder Community Hospital and the Pac-12 Conference.[5]

He co chaired the steering committee of University of Colorado visionary and strategic plan, conceived with campus, Flagship 2030, community and statewide input and to guide CU- Boulder for decades to come. He is shepherding the implementation as 2023 flagship moves to reality.

He also held the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed leadership chair and overseeing University of Colorado prestigious leadership programs.[6]

In 2018 DiStefano slashed the budgets of the student government of the institution up to 90%, many students unions gathered on short notice, rallied to call for the removal of Chancellor DiStefano for the decision of reducing the student union budget up to 90%, the rally was led by five groups of student union candidate in another separate campaign to CUSG of CU. The official at the university handed documents containing an explanation for the changes and in the documents were told to direct calls and request for the college spokesman but the students ignored that immediately and protests at very public, loud out in the campus memorial center. The chancellor then announced that is moving the major funds that were already managed by the student's unions, an about budgets of $21 million of the $23 million over to the director in charge of the student affairs.[7]

CU Professor Ward Churchill wrote an essay in September 2001 entitled On the Justice of Roosting Chickens. In it, he argued that the September 11 attacks were provoked by U.S. foreign policy. He described the role of financial workers at the World Trade Center as an "ongoing genocidal American imperialism" comparable to the role played by Adolf Eichmann in organizing the Holocaust. In 2005, this essay drew attention after Hamilton College invited Churchill to speak.[8] This led to both condemnations of Churchill and counter-accusations of McCarthyism by Churchill and his supporters. Following the controversy, the University of Colorado interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano said, "While Professor Churchill has the constitutional right to express his political views, his essay on 9/11 has outraged and appalled us and the general public."[9]

A documentary called Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech, broadcast on HBO, prominently features Churchill's case in addressing the issues of free speech and First Amendment rights.

DiStefano got married in 1969 to Yvonne and had three daughters with two grand children.[4]