President Dr. Salvador D. Aceves, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and university administrators, ensures that Regis remains true to its Jesuit Catholic heritage, honors its commitment to academic excellence and operates with agility and an eye to the future.
Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D.
Dr. Aceves became President of Regis University on Jan. 1, 2023, and is the University’s first lay and first Latino President. Prior to being appointed President, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Regis University from 2014 to 2023.
Jake Bucher, Ph.D.
A sociologist who researches social injustice and the experiences of marginalized groups, Jake Bucher is the Provost and chief academic officer for Regis University. In this role, Bucher oversees units and systems across the student experience, to include academic programs and student life.
Vice President, Mission
Rev. Kevin F. Burke, S.J., is the Vice-President for University Mission at Regis and Professor of Theology in Regis College. Fr. Burke first came to Regis shortly after his ordination and served as Associate Campus Minister (1988-1992). He was involved with the Regis Service-Learning Office in its early years and was a co-founder of Romero House.
After Tertianship and Doctoral Studies (1992-1997) he joined the faculty of Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA (1997-2006) as Assistant/Associate Professor of Fundamental and Systematic Theology. In 2006 he became Dean of the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA (2006-12) and Acting President (2008-09). He returned to the faculty of JST-SCU and served as director of the Doctoral Program from 2012-2017.
A member of the Regis University Board of Trustees (2011-2017), Fr. Burke stepped down from that position to become VP for Mission. In this role, he seeks to promote the future of the Jesuit Catholic mission at Regis and extend our sense of mission to our sister schools in the AJCU.
Author or editor of seven books, including The Ground beneath the Cross: The Theology of Ignacio Ellacuría (Georgetown, 2000), Pedro Arrupe: Essential Writings (Orbis, 2004), and The Ignatian Tradition (Liturgical Press, 2006), he is currently writing a book on the theological vision of the poet, Denise Levertov. He chairs the board of directors of the journal, Theological Studies, serves on the board of the Catholic Theological Society of America and the board of trustees of the University of San Francisco.
Vice President, Advancement
Regis alumna Kelly Purdy returned to her alma mater to lead University Advancement in June 2022. She is a lifelong fundraising professional with experience across the full spectrum of philanthropy. She has a passion for connecting generosity with impact to create strong communities and vibrant institutions. She previously was Senior National Director for Philanthropy and Foundations at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where she oversaw institutional fundraising, principal gifts, and planned giving. Prior to joining BGCA, Kelly served as Vice President of Engaged Philanthropy at The Denver Foundation, where she led fundraising and donor services efforts helping that institution reach nearly $1 billion in total assets stewarded across nearly 1,000 donor-advised, scholarship and endowment funds. Kelly also served as Vice President of Development and Communications for Global Greengrants Fund, a Boulder-based international nonprofit working at the intersection of human rights and the environment.
She serves on the board of the Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable where she chairs the DEI Taskforce, and she also supports the Curriculum Committee for the Institute of Leaders in Development. Kelly's commitment to a career in service to social justice missions started as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine, where she met her husband. She is a Colorado-native and attended University of Colorado for her undergraduate degrees in political science and international affairs. In 2011 she received her Master's in Nonprofit Management from Regis University.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Stephanie Morris joined Regis University in 2008 as manager of accounting, bringing her experience and skills to the finance and accounting team. Morris was promoted to associate vice president in 2011 where she oversaw all aspects of the university’s financial operations including accounting, budget, cash management, accounts payable, student accounts, and business insurance functions. Regis University President Salvador D. Aceves promoted Morris to succeed him as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2023, becoming Regis’ first female CFO.
Prior to coming to Regis, Morris served as controller for The Fund for Colorado’s Future, an education not-for-profit organization in Denver, and controller for Center for the New West, a not-for-profit public policy think tank. With over 29 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, her career experiences fuel her passion for Jesuit values which challenge us to think critically and serve those in need. Her care and commitment to Jesuit Catholic education grew through her participation in the Ignatian Leadership Program. Morris has served as a leadership coach and mentor, guiding her team to meet the campus community's growing and evolving needs. Her expertise in higher education can be seen through her work as a Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Peer Reviewer. HLC recognized Morris as the recipient of Peer Corps Hero Rookie of the Year in 2021.
A proud Regis alumna, Morris became a legacy parent when her daughter enrolled as a freshman in Fall 2022. Morris holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix where she graduated with honors. She also earned a Master of Science in Accounting with honors from Regis University. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Colorado.