Everything ‘begins with God’ for first Black woman to be president of Denver’s Regis University

Shawna Cooper Whitehead has been inaugurated as the 29th president of Regis University in Denver. She is the first woman, the first African American, and the first Black woman to lead a Jesuit university in the United States.

The inauguration ceremonies included a Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 17, followed by an inauguration ceremony on September 18 and a community picnic the next day. During her address, Cooper Whitehead expressed gratitude for the support she received throughout her life and noted that her leadership begins with a sense of humility.

Regis University, which is run by the Jesuits, will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027.