The Bay Area Network

Whether you cross Golden Gate or Bay Bridge or drive the 101, The Bay Area boasts 4500 community members to welcome you to NoCal. This expansive network annually hosts DU hockey watch parties in multiple locations that are convenient wherever you live. The DU Night out with the Giants or A’s is a regular occurrence as well as the annual Bay Area Alumni Golf Tournament during Alumni Weekend and the annual community service project. The DU Bay Area Network is eager to connect with you and is open to alumni, parents, current students, and friends of DU. Connect with your Network Leaders below or reach out to your staff liaison to learn how to get more connected. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Featured Volunteer Leaders

Meet Chris Florez

Hello DU Friends! My name is Chris, I graduated from DU in ’19 from our DCB. As a student, I helped found our 1GenU community, DU Student Foundation, and also participated in Club Sports! Coming home to the Bay Area has been nothing short of amazing and I cannot wait to meet all you new friends! I currently live in San Jose with my partner Allie our two wonderful dogs, Artie and Milo.

Connect with Chris

Meet Jared Casner

Hello! I recently cofounded Blacksmith InfoSec where we built a simple SaaS application to help SMBs get their security program started. Prior to this, I was the CTO at Trayt Health. Outside of work, I volunteer with DU, the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the Cub Scouts. I am very into sports, both as a player and as a coach for my kids' soccer, basketball, and softball teams. I graduated from DU in ’04 and received my MBA from CU in '08. I live in the Bay Area with my wife Lisa and our 2 daughters.

Connect with Jared

Meet Terry Hinton

Hi, I’m Terry Hinton. My work sits at the intersection of sustainability, energy strategy, and financial data analytics. I’m driven by the idea that good technology and good data should ultimately serve people, communities, and long-term outcomes, not just short-term wins. I earned a Master of Science in Environmental Policy Management with a focus on Energy and Sustainability at DU, along with an MBA in Accounting from UP, which helped me learn how to balance purpose with practical decision-making.

What stayed with me most from my graduate experience wasn’t just the technical skills; it was the responsibility that comes with them. I try to approach my career with intention, asking how the work I do can be useful, equitable, and genuinely supportive of the communities it touches.

Outside of work, I stay active through fencing and rollerblading, which helps keep me grounded and present. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I care deeply about creating spaces where people feel seen, respected, and supported. I believe real progress happens when we lead with empathy, listen well, and build things together."

Thanks again, I really appreciate your support and help.

Connect with Terry

Annual Events

Check out some of our annual events below!

DU Day at the Ballpark
- Annual summertime tradition that welcome alumni, parents, incoming and returning students, and friends of DU for an afternoon of community, connections and crimson and gold cheer!
DU Athletics Watch Parties, Bay Area Style
- Join the DU community at a watch party for your favorite DU athletics team.
Education Sessions
- Opportunity to hear from some of DU's experts in fields that are relevant to you or tour a local museum relevant to the DU Bay Area Network
DU Volunteer Day
- Annual day of service event for the Bay Area Network that typically takes in and around the San Francisco area providing an opportunity to connect with DU supporters for a local cause.

View all events here

Staff Leader

Meet Brent Thompson

Director of Regional Engagement

Brent helps guide strategy and execute engagement efforts of all alumni, families, parents and friends across the country and in select international networks as well as develops a programmatic portfolio for the regions in collaboration with Denver-based advancement team. Brent's goal is to create a culture of lifelong engagement and volunteerism among constituents in the regional markets and networks that builds our pipeline for campaign philanthropy and long-term engagement for the University's Global Network.

Brent has served in a number of different roles throughout his nearly 20-year career in higher education for the University of Oklahoma, University of Texas system and now with the University of Denver. He is also adjunct faculty for the Executive Education in Daniels. Brent has worked in several different capacities including employer relations, career development, accreditation, and alumni engagement. Brent is a proud University of Denver and University of Oklahoma graduate and his entire wardrobe is crimson!

Connect with Brent

Meet Ross Williams

Senior Director of Development, Western Region

Ross Williams joined the DU Advancement team as a Regional Director of Development in February of 2022, focusing on growing philanthropic partnerships with our partners in the western states. Ross looks forward to learning more about our alumni and friends from across the west in the coming months and years ahead. He leads the Regional Development team and its philanthropic strategy.

Connect with Ross

Connect With Us

VOLUNTEER

If you want to share your time and talent in any way outside mentoring and networking, check out VolunteerDU at volunteering.du.edu This portal is a menu of volunteer opportunities and your open door to engage with the DU community. Choose from a variety of one-off and ongoing projects that are meaningful to you.

The DU Career Network provides connections for life! Whether you're a current student, recent grad, or friend of the University, we all have something in common: a desire to connect and help each other. Unique job opportunities, career support, a chance to mentor or seek mentorship, and countless resources are all available to you here, in one place. https://crimsonconstellation.du.edu/v2/

If you have any questions about volunteering with DU, please email alumni@du.edu.

CONNECT WITH THE BAY AREA NETWORK LEADERS

Please email Chris.Florez@du.edu, Terry.Hinton@du.edu, or jcasner@gmail.com to connect with a DU Bay Area Network leader today!

CONNECT WITH DU STAFF LEADER

Please email brent.thompson@du.edu or ross.williams@du.edu to connect with a DU staff member.

Looking for more ways to connect with DU? Please email alumni@du.edu.

Social Media Channels

Sign up to be a Network Leader today!

If you're interested in learning more about how you can become a DU Network Leader in The Bay Area, please click the button below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your interest!