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A significant gift to the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder will expand experiential learning, enhance student success and mental health, and support faculty excellence—all in service of the mission to elevate business as a force for good.

“This transformative gift to Leeds expands experiential learning for students, empowering them with real-world opportunities,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz.

“This investment aligns with CU Boulder's broader applied education initiatives across campus, providing tomorrow’s leaders with access to a broad toolkit of resources for their academic and professional success.”

Amplifying experiential learning

In honor of his mentor and friend, CU Boulder alumni John Cumming and the Cumming Foundation are launching the Nicholas Dante Badami Office for Experiential Learning. The new, high-impact initiative will bring together and amplify existing experiential efforts, serving as a hub to strengthen student career outcomes, foster leadership and entrepreneurial mindsets, and ensure professional readiness, better equipping students for lifelong success.

Cumming’s desire to advance experiential learning stems from Badami’s guidance and his own professional experiences.

“Nick used to say, ‘Management starts where the fingertips end,’” said Cumming. “What he meant by that was that management is not just formulaic. It’s not just what is in the job description. It is human.

“I also took it to mean that it requires enhanced EQ [emotional intelligence]...To know how to manage people, I had to have interpersonal relationships and experiences, and I had to navigate existing human organizations. I worked in every department, in every location, with different managers, in different roles, and I learned that the job description wasn’t the only parameter for success.”

Experiential learning deepens students’ understanding of the concepts learned in the classroom and how that knowledge can be applied to careers. Through project-based engagements, students will work in dynamic environments to learn to solve challenges and develop skills that empower them to contribute in professional settings on day one of their careers.

“Students will gain invaluable real-world experiences that deepen their learning, broaden their perspectives and prepare them to lead with confidence, empathy and purpose,” said Vijay Khatri, Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean at the Leeds School of Business. “This gift will help close the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world impact, shaping the future of business education.”

Business faculty and student excellence

In addition to supporting the new Office for Experiential Learning, the Cumming Foundation’s donation will establish programs that promote well-being and community within Leeds, with a special emphasis on mental health initiatives that foster connection and belonging.

Lastly, the investment will establish two endowed faculty professorships and four fellowships for faculty whose work advances high-impact, cross-disciplinary education in the business school.

These roles strengthen CU Boulder and Leeds’ ability to attract top-tier educators and students while maintaining a reputation for academic excellence. Having exceptional faculty means students can obtain a high-quality education with engaged mentors.

This holistic focus on the student experience, including experiential learning, reinforces CU Boulder’s standing as a national leader in applied business education.

Impactful year for Leeds

This transformational gift marks the culmination of Leeds’ best-ever fundraising year, totaling a record-breaking $41.6 million. That total includes a $15 million gift last fall to establish the Klump Center for Real Estate and support student wellness—part of the inspiration for the Cumming Foundation’s own donation.

Cumming is the founder and chairman of POWDR, an adventure lifestyle company. With his foundation’s gift, he honors his mentor Nicholas Dante Badami by naming the new Office of Experiential Learning and associated endowed funds after him.

A pioneering figure in the ski industry and former chairman of the United States Ski Association, Badami shared Cumming’s passion for the outdoors and experiential learning. He played a key role in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and was later inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

The Cumming family’s generosity amplifies CU Boulder’s commitment to experiential education and student success. The foundation's transformative gift will strengthen the university’s leadership in applied learning—ensuring students graduate with the skills, experience and confidence to thrive in the job market and lead in the business world.