Regis Alumna and Affiliate Faculty Member, Carolyn Love Advocate for Equity and Leadership, Inducted into Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame

As a young girl growing up in Gary, Indiana, Carolyn Love, Ph.D., made a bold decision: she would spend her life working to end racism. Decades later, her lifelong pursuit of justice, equity and leadership has earned her one of the state’s highest honors – induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. 

Love, an affiliate professor of nonprofit management at Regis and a nationally respected consultant, has long believed in the power of community service to shape a better world. That belief was reinforced during her time at Regis, where she earned a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management. 

"Regis asks a very provocative question, ‘How ought we to live?’ That question resonates because, for me, it gets to the fundamental nature of our shared humanity,” Love said. “It is a mindset and way of being that influenced my thinking about community service.” 

Her work spans corporate, nonprofit, and academic sectors. A mentor to countless women and girls of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities across Colorado, Love is known for helping leaders reimagine how organizations function, tackle challenges with clarity and build cultures that inspire learning and transformation. 

“Being inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame is an honor I do not take lightly,” she said. “This recognition offers an opportunity to speak out about injustice. If we think about democracy as a verb and not a noun or abstract concept, then we enter conversations that speak to positive change.” 

Love’s career has been marked by courageous advocacy and visionary leadership. She was part of a delegation that attended a White House briefing that championed women and minority-owned businesses, leading to collaboration with the Clinton administration. Her early work with the Denver Foundation’s Inclusiveness Project helped shift Colorado’s nonprofit landscape, making racial equity a guiding principle for many of the state’s largest philanthropic institutions. 

She has consulted for leading organizations including the Colorado Health Foundation, the Denver Foundation, and the Rose Community Foundation. Her board service includes the ACLU, the Iliff School of Theology, the Colorado Nonprofit Association, the United Black Women of Boulder Valley and the Boulder NAACP. 

At Regis, Love teaches “Leading from Within,” a course that asks students to reflect deeply on their personal gifts and leadership potential. 

“As a professor, I am often teaching what I need to learn,” she said. “Looking back and reflecting on the past and creating a new narrative for the future is a challenge.” 

She believes the Jesuit tradition of service and leadership is foundational to creating a more just and compassionate world. In all her roles — educator, consultant, advocate and entrepreneur, she strives to move communities toward a future of nurtured leaders and expanded opportunities. 

Along the way, she has faced challenges, often as the only woman or person of color in the room. But she’s learned to see those obstacles with perspective. 

“What feels like a mountain might be a small speed bump to slow you down and ask questions,” she said. “There is power in storytelling. It is important to remember that everyone has a story. When you meet them, you might be in the middle of their story.” 

Her academic journey is also a testament to perseverance. After completing her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Indiana State University and her master’s at Regis, Love earned her Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University — at the age of 60. 

To the next generation of changemakers, especially young women hoping to make a difference in their communities, she offers a message rooted in faith and wisdom. 

“Open yourself to learning something new about yourself every day. Embrace the wisdom in making a mistake,” she said. “God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear is a natural emotion which warns us of danger. However, do not get stuck in fear — use it to propel you to your desired future.” 

Today, through her company Kebaya Consulting and Coaching, her teaching and her leadership across countless organizations, Love continues to shape minds, transform communities, and inspire generations to come. 

To learn more about Love and the other women who were in inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, visit: https://www.cogreatwomen.org/project/carolyn-d-love-phd/